A interview by NIHD President-Elect Kevin Meek, RN-BSN, BA, MHI, LSSBB, CCHM, EDAC, FACHE, Vice President – Advisory Services at Haskell.
At the last HCD Conference, Board member Kevin Meek had an opportunity to work in the NIHD booth with Ron Kraus MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, ACNS-BC, a Healthcare Operations Planner with BSA LifeStructures. Ron and Kevin connected as they shared stories of both coming into nursing from a pre-hospital EMS background and passion for flight nursing, along with years spent in Boy Scouts. Recently joining the team at BSA LifeStructures in August 2022, Ron brings decades of clinical experience to the healthcare design operations team supporting clients and internal teams.
Pictured: Ron Kraus (left) and Kevin Meek (right) in the NIHD Booth at 2023 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo.
How did you learn about your role at BSA Lifestructures ?
My longtime colleague and friend, Teri Joy, started to work for BSA a few years ago. She was able to bring on another colleague and friend of mine, Wendy St John, about a year or so before I came on board. We talked about her role, and it was very interesting and a different way to make on impact on patients and the staff caring for patients in the healthcare setting.
How have you been able to bring the voice of the clinician to the design team?
I have been excited to bring my experience to the design process. My experiences as a clinical nurse specialist, emergency department nurse, flight nurse, prehospital care and special event nursing have all helped the design team and our clients when working through projects. I believe serving 6 years on the board of directors and president of the Emergency Nurses Association has afforded me the skill set and understanding of strategic thinking of our clients, and I can assist them on strategic thinking when we are working on projects to spend their capital dollars wisely.
Pictured: Ron Kraus (far right) with BSA Lifestructures team members at 2023 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo.
Why do you feel your role is needed?
There is a strong need to have someone at the table from the very beginning and throughout the design process who has done the work. As a clinical nurse specialist, I have always felt it is so important to go to the Gemba and reach out to the ones who do the work to get their input on any changes or improvement ideas. Being a clinical nurse specialist and having more than 27 years of experience in the clinical setting, I feel I have a very strong grasp on clinical operations and care delivery models, and that knowledge can help our clients and design team to work together to produce an optimal space.
Please share why you joined NIHD!
I strongly feel it is important to be a member of a professional association that supports and strengthens your specialty. I look forward to gaining knowledge and being a part of NIHD to grow professionally.