When renovations and updates just don’t cut it, a healthcare system may decide to build a replacement facility. It goes without saying that these projects can be some of the most challenging as they combine the elements of new construction with the logistics of relocation all of which must be accomplished with minimal disruption to patients and healthcare staff.
Fostering collaboration across the supply-chain can make these large-scale construction projects much more manageable saving time and money along the way. With CME’s equipment expertise and breadth of product lines and the project management prowess of Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Healthcare services, one replacement hospital project was recently planned and executed seamlessly.
Building a Partnership
A large healthcare system in the mountain states was looking to build the largest replacement hospital in its system located in a remote area. The system’s executives were accustomed to using their own staff, but this particular replacement was too large. With limited warehouse space, a lack of human resources and no system in place to manage the movement of viable equipment to the new facility, the system looked to CME and GWS to step in and facilitate.
GWS took the lead on activation and relocation for the replacement clinic and hospital along with some procurement support integrated within the hospital system’s existing supply chain. With CME’s robust roster of equipment and menu of services, the two enterprises got to work using CME’s expert knowledge to refine and standardize the equipment list and consolidate purchase orders and procurement.
End-to-End Success
Establishing CME and GWS as collaborators led to end-to-end control of the project, from need-by dates to procurement to warehouse-receive to final placement. A key contributor was present managing the process at each step of the way.
Launching a two-phase system for the replacement project allowed the partners to plan and execute systemically to reduce risk and a deliver a patient-ready facility on Day One. The key to delivering a project like this was a holistic approach to planning in which any medical equipment, furniture, and IT assets overlay with interdependent clinic departments and evolving construction schedules.
For example, an early risk for the clinic activation and relocation was identified: the move of independent medical offices during tight timelines could challenge tight ingress and egress points due to large crews’ competing use of the same spaces. Through collaborative planning, the risk was identified early, and schedules were adjusted accordingly before any inefficiencies came to fruition.
The use of real-time ad hoc reporting was essential to the success of the project identify potential problems while providing useful insight to ensure the fit-up stage of the project progressed smoothly. These data driven reports saved an estimated 15 percent of the total fee by anticipating issues, so resolutions could be made proactively instead of reactively.
“Every collaboration project is different and for any of these to be successful, communication is key. GWS, CME and the customer had weekly meetings throughout the initial phases of this project to make sure we were all in sync. Adjustments were made along the way to ensure success,” said Cindy Juhas, Chief Strategy Officer for CME.
The team effort of this dedicated network brought multiple successful outcomes to the entire project including a consolidation of purchase orders from 206 to 81 and a 30 percent total savings because all items were tracked, assembled, tagged and delivered on time.
“There is no question that GWS and CME partnered exceedingly well throughout the process. Each company leveraged its expertise in unique ways. CME drove adherence to our system’s equipment standards; GWS helped us avoid risk and landmine issues before we reached them,” said one executive involved.
At CME, collaboration is vital to the success of our customers and we are committed to building the most powerful partnerships we can to provide top-of-the-line services. CME is an equipment-centric distributor that has a comprehensive portfolio of related services to better serve our healthcare customers across the country. Please view our We Are CME video. Call us at 800-338-2372 to begin your next strategic collaboration with CME.
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About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers.
With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.
