Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APMMichael S. Venter, PE

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Large Complexes Require Horizontal Connections

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Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Large Complexes Require Horizontal Connections

Resort Areas Universities Hospitals

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Huntsville HospitalA Case Study – the Problem!

– 2 Independent Hospitals separated by a quarter of a mile

– Both hospitals operated under separate licenses

– Carried patients between the hospitals with on call ambulances

– Lost productivity due to time lost traveling between the facilities

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Huntsville HospitalA Case Study – the Solution!

– Installed a dual Tram to reduce duplication of services throughout the hospital complex, to assist patient, staff, and Doctor trips between facilities, and duplication of parking facilities.

– Tram cost $11.7 million and $280k per year in operations and maintenance

– The Tram consists of • 2 shuttle systems serving 4 stations,

• traveling 1600 feet in 80 seconds,

• carrying 2200 people per day, and

• Available 99.7% of the time

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Huntsville Hospital Connectivity Benefits

– Saved duplicative costs to pay for the capital investment in the Tram. Savings came by operating under one license and:• Eliminating duplicative laboratories,

• Cafeteria sharing, and

• Supply storage and medical equipment sharing

– Cost savings for O&M services include:• Transfer costs for patients,

• Inclusion of a tube system to connect all the facilities for specimen and documentation shipments

• Staff and Doctor movements, and resulting elimination of lost productivity issues.

– O&M cost savings exceeded the $280k O&M costs, in fact standby ambulance costs alone were $325k

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Huntsville Hospital Connectivity Benefits

– Both capital and O&M costs were reduced due to the addition of the tram system connecting the facilities horizontally

– Huntsville Hospital won the 2004 Industrial Air Pollution Control Achievement Award from the City of Huntsville Air Pollution Control Board due to vehicle emissions from ambulances, shuttle vans and private vehicle trips. It was the first time this award was given to a mobile source.

– The Tram is now an integral and very successful horizontal connector for this complex 881 bed hospital.

Integrating Complexes Horizontally: The Huntsville Hospital APM

Integrating Complexes Horizontally - Summary

– Large complexes can benefit both functionally and financially from horizontal connectors within their facility.

– New advanced transportation systems such as APMs or PRTs are proven to be a successful means to accomplish this goal.

– And, emissions harmful to the environment can be significantly reduced by inclusion of a horizontal connector within large complexes!

Thank You!!