The Tell-Tale Signs of a Troubled Hospital

Even when projects appear to be running smoothly, there can be hidden issues of significant financial consequence when it comes to meeting standards and regulations.

"Much like being sick, if you don’t spot and treat the symptoms of a troubled project early enough, the issue can quickly spread out of control."

Hospitals are very complex places that contain some of the most advanced medical equipment and technology that the world has ever seen. So, it may come as a surprise to you that in the rush to get things started, not every hospital project is well-planned, fully designed or completely in-sync with clinical requirements.

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ven when projects appear to be running smoothly, there can be hidden issues of significant financial consequence when it comes to meeting standards and regulations. Your project could be nearly complete, only to realize that some portion— or even the entire project— didn’t meet certain regulatory standards or codes. Because you didn’t catch it early enough, you have to start over, costing you and your team money, time and credibility.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that it’s hard to know what warning signs to look for unless you have the proper training and experience. Clinical staff often don't understand architecture and Architects often don't understand medicine. Spatial relationships can be difficult to grasp and even simple misinterpretations can directly lead to problems with functionality, hospital operations and the use of medical equipment.

Some tell-tale signs of a troubled project may include a slow-down of shop drawing approvals, unfounded delays, absence of approved method statements or coordination drawings, pre-emptions and poor field coordination or simply unforeseen changes in the work. Or more significantly, general confusion about the true design intent and how to move forward.

So what to do if difficulties or uncertainties should arise? It’s probably time to get an independent second opinion. Reverting back is never easy, but a troubled project won’t get better on its own.

A firm experienced with clinical planning, design and medical equipment installations can provide the needed direction to put a troubled project back on track. They can add real value by correcting missteps, reprogramming confused areas and filling some of the likely voids that have occurred. They can also prevent you from making the same costly mistakes in the future.

In situations where important steps were overlooked, you have to remind yourself that you are doing important work for your community and failure just isn’t an option. Hospitals are complex places and building them requires sophistication, experience, and the most up-to-date knowledge. If you find the right consultancy, you can count on them to effectively evaluate previous decisions made and compare options with modern clinical standards and safety codes.

Modern Clinical Planning (MCP) ensures you meet environmental standards by using accepted programs and international protocols for biological, chemical and radioactive waste management. This will ensure that you are a good, responsible neighbor to your community.