Driving Operational Excellence in Healthcare with KODE OS

A leading healthcare institution partnered with KODE Labs to address the diverse and highly specialized operational needs of its extensive portfolio, comprising 100+ buildings and approximately 21 million square feet. Unlike typical real estate portfolios, healthcare facilities present unique challenges, from stringent regulatory requirements to critical environmental controls that directly impact patient outcomes.

Healthcare operations require precise monitoring and management of spaces such as operating rooms (ORs), pharmacies, and patient areas, where factors like temperature, humidity, pressure, and air changes must remain within strict parameters. Additionally, effective utilization of patient spaces and compliance with evolving industry standards further complicate facility management.

The institution previously relied on Desigo for certain compliance and monitoring functions but faced limitations in addressing updated regulatory requirements and evolving operational needs. KODE OS stepped in to bridge this gap, providing a unified, customizable platform capable of meeting complex compliance standards, such as USP updates for pharmacy operations.

By tailoring solutions to the institution’s specialized needs, KODE OS empowered healthcare teams with real-time data, actionable insights, and advanced automation. This approach enabled the healthcare provider to meet compliance standards, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the patient experience across its complex and varied portfolio.

The challenge

Managing environmental conditions in critical areas such as operating rooms and pharmacies is paramount in healthcare. Existing systems lacked the customization and flexibility to support evolving standards and operational requirements, including:

• Monitoring critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and air changes in real-time.
• Meeting updated regulatory requirements like USP standards for pharmacies.
• Improving space utilization in patient-centric areas like treatment rooms and waiting rooms.
• Supporting LEED certifications with enhanced monitoring and commissioning processes.

The institution needed a solution that could seamlessly integrate existing systems, automate compliance tracking, and empower staff with real-time insights.

The solution

KODE OS was selected and implemented to address these challenges through tailored solutions for different operational areas:

Operating Rooms:

• Custom dashboards monitor critical parameters, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and air changes.
• Device-level graphics with duct work visualization allow immediate troubleshooting.
• Alerts are displayed directly in ORs, with real-time color-coded feedback
  (e.g., turning red when parameters exceed acceptable thresholds).

Pharmacy Operations:

• Custom calculations for relative humidity and mean kinetic temperature (MKT) align with updated USP standards.
• Monitoring of differential pressure, humidity, supply and return airflows, and other key metrics on floor plans with trend analysis.

• Advanced alerting systems, including custom emails and push notifications, replace outdated pager systems.

• Flexible user assignment for after-hours alerts, with “admin on call” capabilities for rotating responsibilities.
• Custom BI dashboards separate sterile and drug room types, focusing on out-of-range values.

Patient and Space Utilization:

• Dashboards monitor exam, treatment, and procedure room usage, helping assess space efficiency and identify opportunities for adding providers.
• Analysis of waiting room utilization vs. patient room occupancy to evaluate and improve patient experience.

Results

Leveraging KODE OS to address its unique challenges, the institution has seen measurable improvements across its operations. The tailored solutions have empowered teams to streamline workflows, enhance compliance, and make data-driven decisions that positively impact patient care and operational outcomes:

• Operational Efficiency: Automated alerts and streamlined user assignments empower staff to respond faster to potential issues.
• Enhanced Compliance: KODE OS ensures adherence to USP standards and LEED requirements, reducing administrative burden.
• Improved Patient Experience: Insights into space usage are helping optimize facility layouts and enhance patient satisfaction.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Custom BI dashboards provide actionable insights for better resource allocation and planning.

As the implementation progresses, the institution plans to extend KODE OS capabilities across additional facilities. By leveraging data-driven insights and automation, they aim to further enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and sustainability.