Experts to discuss tech’s impact on U.S. healthcare delivery, costs

Leading U.S. healthcare experts will discuss how technology can improve healthcare delivery and contain costs in a nation with shifting healthcare demographics and economics in the Fall 2017 Architecture-For-Health Lecture Series at the Texas A&M College of Architecture.

This fall’s lectures, "Improving Health & Health Facilities Design for the People of the United States: Merging Technology with Architecture for Health Toward
the Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease,” are open to the public and will take place most Fridays at 12:40 p.m. in [Scoates Hall] (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Scoates+Hall/@30.6184909,-96.3405125,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x864683912b8bbb51:0x134615aa03a3b538!8m2!3d30.6184863!4d-96.3383238) Room 208.

The series is also offered to students as a 1-hour credit course: ARCH 681 for graduate students and ARCH 481 for undergraduates.

Licensed architects attending the lectures are eligible to earn continuing education credits in health, safety and welfare topic areas.

The speakers, experts in healthcare design, administration and insurance, will also discuss providers’ opportunities and challenges that arise from serving millions of insured and uninsured patients of all ages through a multitude of healthcare networks, and how technology can help mitigate effects of the physical distance between healthcare facilities and patients in remote areas, said George J. Mann, professor of architecture and the lecture series coordinator.

“These distances present special challenges for emergency providers and create opportunities to supply care through videoconferencing equipment, mobile devices, and other digital means,” said Mann, holder of the Ronald L. Skaggs, FAIA Endowed Professorship in Health Facilities Design.

The series is also coordinated by Zhipeng Lu, senior architecture lecturer and associate director of the Texas A&M [Center for Health Systems and Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) , Bita Kash, director of the university’s [Center for Health Organization Transformation] (https://sph.tamhsc.edu/research/centers/chot.html) , and Victoria Villarreal, president of the Student Health Environments Association.

The lectures are sponsored by Ronald L. Skaggs ‘65, chairman emeritus, [HKS Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/) , and Joseph G. Sprague ‘70, principal, senior vice president and healthcare director, HKS Inc., through the Skaggs – Sprague Endowed Chair of Health Facilities Design.

Sept. 1

Lecture series overview

Ray Pentecost , director of the Texas A&M [Center for Health Systems and Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) , and Robert Warden , head of the [Department of Architecture] (http://dept.arch.tamu.edu/) , present an overview of the series, 12:40 p.m. Sept. 1, Scoates Hall 208.

Sept. 8

How Does the Built Environment Promote Population Health?

Jay Maddock , dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center [School of Public Health] (https://sph.tamhsc.edu/) , presents the lecture series’ keynote address, “How Does the Built Environment Promote Population Health?” 12:40 p.m., Friday Sept. 8, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Jorge Vanegas , dean of the College of Architecture.

Sept. 15

The Art of Health Care: Using Our Surroundings to Improve Public Health

Robert Morrow , Southeast Texas Market President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, presents “The Art of Health Care: Using Our Surroundings to Improve Public Health,” 12:40 p.m., Friday Sept. 15, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Jorge Vanegas , dean of the College of Architecture.

Sept. 22

Reinventing Health Care Delivery Through Technology

Ray Pentecost , director of the [Center for Health Systems & Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) , presents “Reinventing Health Care Delivery Through Technology," 12:40 p.m., Friday Sep. 22, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by D. Kirk Hamilton , the Julie & Craig Beale Endowed Professor of Health Facility Design.

Sept. 29

Technology + to Prepare Healthcare Facilities for Net Zero

Michael Shirley , Sr. Designer/Planner, Senior Principal, [FKP|CannonDesign] (http://www.fkp.com/) , presents “Technology + to Prepare Healthcare Facilities for Net Zero” 12:40 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Zhipeng Lu , senior architecture lecturer and associate director of the Texas A&M [Center for Health Systems and Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) .

Oct. 6

The Military Health System: Leveraging Technology to Deliver Modern Healthcare

David Rubenstein, clinical associate professor of health administration at Texas State University and a retired U.S. Army major general who completed a 35-year military career as the head of its Medical Department Center and School, and Glenn Marsh , director, Project Planning and Support Division of the U.S. Army Health Facility Planning Agency, present “The Military Health System: Leveraging Technology to Deliver Modern Healthcare,”12:40 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6, Scoates Hall 208.

They will be introduced by Ronald L. Skaggs , adjunct professor of architecture and chairman emeritus, [HKS, Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/)

Oct. 13

Care Without Coverage: Addressing the Needs and Consequences of Uninsured People in our Community

Elizabeth Dickey , executive director, [Health for All] (http://www.hlth4all.org/) , and Alva Ferdinand , assistant professor, Texas A&M Health Science Center [School of Public Health] (https://sph.tamhsc.edu/) , present " Care Without Coverage: Addressing the Needs and Consequences of Uninsured People in Our Community," 12:40 p.m., Friday, Oct. 13, Scoates Hall 208.

Oct. 20

Safety Risk Assessment and Its Influence on Design

Doug Erickson, CEO, [Facility Guidelines Institute] (https://www.fgiguidelines.org/) , presents "Safety Risk Assessment and Its Influence on Design,” 12:40 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Joseph G. Sprague , principal and senior vice president, [HKS Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/)

Oct. 27

Improving Communities through Kaiser Permanente's Total Health Initiative

Donald H. Orndoff , senior vice president, [Kaiser Permanente ] (https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/) National Facilities Services, presents "Improving Communities through Kaiser Permanente's Total Health Initiative,” 12:40 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Joseph G. Sprague , principal and senior vice president, [HKS Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/)

Nov. 3

Peeking Under the Tent: Intermountain Health Care Network

Thomas Harvey , senior vice president, [HKS, Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/) , presents "Peeking Under the Tent: Intermountain Health Care Network, " 12:40 p.m., Friday, Nov.3, Scoates Hall 208. He will be introduced by Ronald Skaggs , adjunct professor of architecture and chairman emeritus, [HKS, Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/)

Nov. 10

Enhanced Integration – Changing and Improving Health Facilities Design

Paul Sabal , director of healthcare and partner and Marin Pastar, director of innovation, [Bates Architects] (http://batesarchitects.com/) , present "Enhanced Integration – Changing and Improving Health Facilities Design," 12:40 p.m., Friday, Nov. 10, Scoates Hall 208.

Lunch is provided before Sabal’s lecture and annual meeting of the [Center for Health Systems & Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) ’s Health Industry Advisory Council.

Nov. 17

The Modern-Day House Call

Truby McDougal , vice president, [Corgan] (http://www.corgan.com/) , presents "The Modern-Day House Call," 12:40 p.m., Friday Nov. 17, Scoates Hall 208.

Dec. 1

The Future of Changing Medical Technology

Rodney Hill , presidential professor, College of Architecture, presents "The Future of Changing Medical Technology" at 12:40 p.m., Friday Dec. 1, Scoates Hall 208.

Richard Nira
rnira@arch.tamu.edu