30 Medical Construction & Design
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September/October 2014 mcdmag.com
By Von Lambert & Dave Powers
N
ew hospitals increasingly rely on technology and
digital systems to facilitate their clinical, operational
and business processes. While investments in new
technologies are essential, hospitals must also be
careful to avoid risks and challenges. The best way for any
healthcare institution to avoid problems is by addressing these
issues — and planning for the future — from the very outset of
a project.
For example, imagine a passenger on the newest and
fastest airplane — but the pilot has never landed it, the main-
tenance crew didn't fi ll it up with enough fuel to reach the
intended destination and the radio system was not synced with
the ground support team. As crazy as that seems, this is how
hospital owners can feel when transitioning from older build-
ings to brand-new facilities.
It is diffi cult for hospitals to budget for new medical
equipment and building systems, which can be operationally
overwhelming. Along with a higher quality of care, new digital
systems also have a learning curve. It takes time for clinical
and operational staff to transition from older methods and gain
familiarity with new technology. A lack of proper planning can
lead to staffi ng defi cits, underfunded budgets that may com-
promise the design intent and/or ineffi ciencies caused by the
From Dark Ages to Digital Age
Managing growth and technology in today's healthcare facilities