8 May - 2022IN MY OPINIONWhy Your Hospital Can't Wait to Reinvent Their Construction PracticesBy Karin Henderson, Executive Delivery of Strategic Facility Delivery, Cone HealthSystems theory supports the concept that "innovation occurs at the edge of chaos". And what could be more chaotic than last two years of pandemic? As a result, Healthcare in particular is poised to break down and break through legacy practices in the design and construction of our healthcare facilities. One thing the last two years of pandemic has taught leaders in healthcare and clinical practice, is that we must be nimble and innovative in addressing the crisis at hand. The COVID pandemic has stretched both human and capital resources to the brink; and even before the pandemic, health systems were already poised for crisis. Multiple key factors have set the stage for the call to reinvention for the design and construction methods for built environment in healthcare. At Cone Health, we have realized significant value in reinventing our approach to Design and Construction for our capital and major renovation projects. Traditional Design and Construction Methods are not sustainable: Value based care and stringent healthcare reimbursement models have stretched the capital capabilities of health systems across the nation to capacity. Many are struggling to produce even the most modest of bottom line performance and for some, a break even year in 2022 would be a win. The associated shrinking capital budgets along with significant escalation in the supply chain have caused health system across the country to rescale or hold on necessary healthcare construction projects. These organizations are vulnerable for loss of market share and potential regulatory issues with their next required survey.At Cone Health we have joined a growing number organizations who have implemented a Lean Construction (Integrated Lean Project Delivery) approach for our capital projects. This value-based contracting method puts profit at risk for all build team members yet incentivizes quality, efficiency in project schedules, and delivers projects at significant savings. Lean Construction via an at risk poly-party contract parallels the same work context required of our clinicians and health systems: you will earn top profit for quality and value. As an owner-partner with our construction teams, our organization has realized cost savings, optimal project timelines, and excellent quality projects outcomes. We have implemented Lean Construction on multiple capital projects saved our organization tens of millions with teams who readily join us from project to project. Lean Construction is a win for owner, construction team, and our community.Build and renovate for the staffing ratios you will have, not for the staffing ratios you are dreaming of. While the nursing and clinical staff shortages have been with us for more than a decade, today's manpower shortages are apocalyptic. For as long as I have been in nursing (a couple
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