Although capital equipment procurement is a critical aspect of new construction, this function often falls into no-man's land. Clients believe it's the responsibility of the architectural and design team, while A&D teams consider this the client's prerogative. What usually happens is that equipment vendors pick up the slack.
Building a healthcare facility takes time and money. But careful planning by the right team with the right tools can provide savings to both.
As medical technology grows more complex, so does the planning and building of a medical facility. That's why persons involved in medical facility and equipment planning can benefit from the building information modeling (BIM) program.
The emergence of new technology means hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities face the continuous challenge of upgrading to keep their facilities in top form to provide current state-of-the-art care. When considering new technology, medical personnel quickly grasp the benefits and how it can be used to improve patient outcomes.
However, the specifications, sourcing and installation of this equipment presents a number of unique challenges that may be outside the scope and experience of clinically focused healthcare personnel.
As indicated in a healthcare design article, when planning a new medical facility, it's important that equipment planning is considered at an early stage. This is necessary so that the planner can work together with the architect, interior designer and space planner to ensure that the right equipment is specified and adequate space is provided for the equipment, the medical staff who will operate the equipment and the patients who will be at the center of it all.
The PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center serves the local community of Ketchikan, AK as well as the many tourists and visitors to the remote island of Revillagigedo in Southern Alaska. To meet growing demand, the city agreed to fund a $62 million project to add a new wing and improve treatment facilities. This entailed adding 70,000 square feet of space and installing over 2,000 items of new medical equipment. Despite a four-week construction delay, healthcare facility logistics specialists at CME were able to condense their installation schedule and ensure the hospital opened on time in June 2016.
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