Many hospitals today are undergoing major expansions, renovations, or building replacement facilities. Your hospital is probably one of the many that are going through the pains of a major construction project. One of the important decisions that you will face in this process is whether of not the services of a technology consultant are needed to supplement your internal IT capabilities and get the job done. Do we need help? Will an outside consultant reduce costs? Shouldnt our internal staff be able to meet the needs of the project? How can a consultant know more about our needs than we do? These are just some of the questions you might face in making the decision to hire a technology consultant for your upcoming project.
Rapid advances in technology require being on top of whats happening now and whats coming in the future. Without that information, your facilitys technology and possibly your infrastructure will be obsolete much too soon. A technology consultant supplements the expertise of your people. They bring additional knowledge, diverse experiences, alternative perspectives, and new ideas to your technology planning process.
A technology consultant translates your goals and objectives into writing early in the design process. This allows everyone involved to understand and agree on the technology objectives for the project and establishes appropriate budgets early in the planning process. This eliminates nasty last minute budget “surprises.” Technology consultants have cost information not available to internal staff, most of whom will only experience a large construction project once in their career.
A technology consultant will collaborate with internal personnel and build on their expertise. They can translate your objectives into design and construction language and interface with the facility financial planners who need to hear about investments and payback.
Technology systems and infrastructures are highly interrelated and are now converging. In order to understand system requirements, one must also understand their impact on building and space planning and on what is needed to make them work together. A technology consultant will bring a thorough understanding of how to integrate these technologies and weave them into your building design.
When technology equipment and systems are purchased without a complete design or on a design-build basis, the specific project details are often left up to the vendor. Sometimes the vendor supplies such documentation, but not always, and not always in time to integrate the system requirements with the rest of the project. All too often the equipment or vendor appears on the site at the last minute with little chance for coordination. This costs both time and money.
Interfacing with architects and other design team members, qualifying and choosing vendors, integrating with other construction trades, and knowing what they need and when represent important aspects of planning and construction for a large project. A technology consultant will bring an understanding of the planning and construction process and the associated scheduling and time constraints, and coordinate with the design team and contractors to make sure you get what you want and need.
Planning technology for a new project requires substantial effort. It is nearly impossible for in-house personnel to devote the time needed during a major construction project while also covering their daily duties. On the other hand in-house staff can usually find the time to review issues and alternatives, make decisions, and provide direction. A technology consultant will help you and your staff make the best use of your time as you engage in the planning process. In addition, a technology consultant will work with your staff to make sure issues are addressed and decisions are made in a timely manner.
A well-developed design saves money. When contractors are bidding from a well-developed design they typically spend less time putting proposals together and will typically be more competitive knowing that all “suitors” are playing by the same rules. In addition, by having a well-developed design up front that is coordinated with the architect and design team, issues that arise during construction are minimized or eliminated.
Many times, in order to maintain quality and consistency, an owner will pay more than the market price in an attempt to assure good quality. Through detailed drawings and specifications along with knowledge of product and market conditions, a technology consultant can achieve the desired results at market prices. The design and construction process is complex and ever-changing. A technology consultant with a design and construction background helps you integrate detailed technology requirements into this process and helps you avoid costly change orders or system compromises late in the project. Experienced technology consultants:
Provide you with valuable insights into what is available now and what will be available soon to assist you in the technology planning and decision-making process.
Enhance collaboration and knowledge-sharing among user groups and planners.
Objectively evaluate specific technology with your needs in mind and assist you in choosing what works best for you in an unbiased manner.
Provide a framework for timely technology, space, and equipment decision-making preventing costly last minute changes.
Establish realistic budgets early in the process to enable better planning.
Identify and qualify vendors and provide apples-to-apples comparisons of their offerings.
Negotiate with vendors to provide price reductions.
Many hospitals today are undergoing major expansions, renovations, or building replacement facilities. Your hospital is probably one of the many that are going through the pains of a major construction project. One of the important decisions that you will face in this process is whether of not the services of a technology consultant are needed to supplement your internal IT capabilities and get the job done. Do we need help? Will an outside consultant reduce costs? Shouldnt our internal staff be able to meet the needs of the project? How can a consultant know more about our needs than we do? These are just some of the questions you might face in making the decision to hire a technology consultant for your upcoming project. 
