Hospitals and other healthcare organisations provide critical services that people around the world depend on. These facilities use specialised equipment and operations. A loss resulting in damage to the facilities and interruption of services is not only financially costly, but potentially fatal to patients.
Because of the strict regulation and the financial commitment involved in ensuring that hospitals are equipped to provide services to clients, frequent disputes arise around healthcare. Often disputes involving the operation of buildings and compliance with regulations involve a technical component, as hospitals and other healthcare centres rely heavily on the building systems to ensure the continued operation of services.
Technical Expert Services
Our Network of Experts have been asked to provide technical reports to courts in multiple jurisdictions on matters involving the design of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including the suitability of electrical systems, water supply and HVAC systems critical for the operation of complex machinery.
We have also been asked to opine on compliance with building standards, such as the Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs) that provide comprehensive advice regarding specialised building and engineering technology used in providing healthcare.
Forensic Investigation
We offer comprehensive root cause analysis for incidents that may arise in hospital environments, including fires, machinery breakdowns, and damage to critical building systems, all of which can significantly affect the overall operations of the facility.
In the unfortunate event of a loss, we recognise that the top priority is to restore business operations as swiftly as possible. While investigating the cause of the loss—be it machinery failure, fire, or corrosion from water damage—we remain mindful of the needs of the hospital. Our investigation will be conducted with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Reinstatement of Machinery
Following a fire or flood, the decision to replace equipment or focus on reinstatement is critical. The substantial costs of replacing sophisticated medical technology pose challenges for healthcare institutions and insurers. Nevertheless, the essential role of this equipment in addressing the needs of patients with complex medical conditions necessitates a thorough evaluation.
We work with management to identify the best course of action to return a property to pre-loss condition, whether by sourcing replacements for medical devices that has been damaged, or working with OEMs and suppliers to verify that critical medical equipment has critical reliability.
Risk Management
CEERISK experts have provided detailed risk assessments for several hospitals and other medical centres, considering special occupancy concerns as well as machinery breakdown risk for complex medical devices.
With a sensitive understanding to the needs of a hospital, we consider the occupancy of the property to assess fire risks while still prioritising the vulnerable patients that depend upon the hospital.
Property Condition Assessment
To ensure that hospitals and healthcare buildings can continue providing services required to patients, as well as to assist in planning for maintenance, we offer Property Condition Assessments to inform clients on the condition of the hospital. These assessments look at the condition of the building itself, as well as the utility systems that are critical to ongoing services.
Our Property Condition Assessments allow our clients to make informed decisions about the maintenance and replacement of different systems, drawing attention to areas of concern.
