Looking Forward The demand and the peak of infection may vary by region, social dis- tancing protocols, and urban or rural geography. Wherever clients are in that curve, it is clear the current situation is financially untenable. Further, much is being reported now about the dangers for patients who need care but are unsure if it is safe to go to the hospital, often presenting much later than they should to achieve the best possible outcomes. While telehealth services and home visits can supplement some hospital visits, other in-person appointments cannot be replaced.
The modules have a 10-year useful life, originally designed to dimen- sions that could ship without delays caused by oversized loads so they could be on site to meet crisis demand. The design has since evolved to support a longer-term strategy solution that enables hospitals to sepa- rate patient populations without sacrifice to the levels of quality, safety, efficiency, or dignity of patients. While these are temporary hospitals, this is not disposable construction. They are designed to be portable (move to where the need is greater) and stand-alone so they can be used in other situations and reconfig- ured to meet needs beyond this pandemic: clinical exam rooms, medi- cal school simulation classrooms, housing and shelters, administrative space, swing space for future renovations—the opportunities are many.
JILL IMIG, PE, EDAC, is Mechanical Engineering Department Leader at HGA in Milwaukee, where she specializes in plumbing systems. JEFF HARRIS, PE, LEED AP, is National Director of Engineering at HGA.
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csengineermag.com
may 2020
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