HEALTHCARE IT
Pain points and signs & symptoms Despite the massive technological changes and evolution and the expected increase in expertise, demands, and capabilities associated with healthcare convergence and digitisation, the one space that remains unchanged in its approach to new hospital construction and goes without external expertise, specialised tools, and opportunities to automate work is – you guessed it – IT. We see obvious signs and symptoms
that the technology processes and players in healthcare construction are in dire need of modernisation. But the sentinel diagnosis evades us. To alleviate technology pressure points and perceived gaps in performance, construction project leaders have a limited view of technology scope and understandably look to quickly ‘reinforce the dam’ by simply expanding the scope of the technology design firm. Technology is technology, right? Wrong. And this approach only addresses what construction teams ‘see’. The lion’s share of technology work occurs outside the vantage point of construction and falls squarely to the IT/IS department. Other signs and symptoms of a failing
approach are the rise of the low-voltage contractor and utilisation of an integration consultant – the result is band-aid solutions and a neglect of the actual root cause. These mitigation attempts do NOT support the IT/IS department in any meaningful or long-term way and can exacerbate technology-related performance issues. “You can’t lead what you don’t live; survival of the digital fittest.”13
Technology design firms, low-
voltage contractors, and ancillary companies offering ‘integration’ services do not ‘see’ into or understand the workings of a hospital IT/IS department, never mind living in that space.
Reimagining technology on hospital construction projects To optimise the technology performance, we must recognise the differences between the design firm engineers, low- voltage contractors, integration companies, and the HIT expert skillset. HIT experts will know and anticipate technology modifications and digitalisation occurrences, i.e., BYOD (bring your own device) strategies, IT device types and counts affected by unified/VoIP EHR communications, and how automated rounding software impacts and optimally functions in newly constructed spaces. HIT experts report to the IT/IS department, enforcing their standards and improving IT/IS performance on construction projects. Emerging technologies such as AI and
ML are poised to revolutionise healthcare delivery.14,15
even closer collaboration between construction and IT/IS teams to ensure
IFHE DIGEST 2025 These technologies will require
that the physical infrastructure can support these advanced systems now and well into the future, enhancing patient experiences and eliminating unnecessary suffering. We advocate shifting away from the same approach used since the 1990s and adopting a modern approach that brings the necessary technology support through hiring HIT construction experts. A technology resource, homegrown in health IT with construction expertise and related tools, providing genuine support for IT/IS, which touches every department and is arguably one of the most complex areas of a hospital construction project. By positioning IT/IS as a strategic partner with expert support from the project’s inception, construction teams can ensure that healthcare facilities are equipped to deliver high-quality care and achieve operational excellence in today’s digital healthcare landscape. Why do we continue to utilise an
outdated approach? Remember Dr Semmelweis? We can be our own worst enemy. Change is hard, and the power of the familiar is strong. For decades, hospital construction teams have said ‘involve IT early’ as if this is a remedy. Recently, during a webinar encouraging the modernisation of technology approach on projects, a construction colleague grumbled about IT/IS and their inability to provide a technology budget and routine budget updates. They complained that the IT/IS department is slow to respond and does not seem to have the same level of accountability as other project teammates. The reimagination and automation of technology resources and workflow in hospital construction are dramatically overdue.
All hospital departments rely on the
construction team to navigate them through the construction process. They need and depend on their expertise, services, and modern approaches. It could be said that hospital construction teams may inadvertently or unwittingly neglect their responsibility to provide a modern approach to construction where technology is concerned, placing projects at a higher risk and an undue burden on the IT/IS department. Instead of relying on the IT/IS department to have an unrealistic and perhaps unfair knowledge of how to approach and manage an effort so large and foreign, it is essential to recognise this oversight and provide the construction team and the IT/IS department with the necessary support to ensure the successful integration of technology in healthcare construction projects.
Embracing the future The evolution of technology in healthcare construction is a fascinating journey. The rapid convergence of technology in healthcare necessitates a new approach to how construction teams support
healthcare IT/IS departments. The best practice for future projects is clear: a holistic approach where the technology support is recognised as an integral component from the project’s inception and past design. Together, let us embrace the future with a modern approach so we can create healthcare facilities that are truly prepared for the digital future of healthcare delivery.
References 1 Poczai P, Karvalics LZ. The little-known history of cleanliness and the forgotten pioneers of handwashing. Front Public Health 2022; Oct 20: 10: 979464
2 El Kassar N. Semmelweis, Socratic Ignorance and Listening in an Unjust World. Cardiff University (Blog), Oct 2, 2023.
3 Nissar G, Khan RA, Mushtaq S, Lone SA, Moon AH. IoT in healthcare: a review of services, applications, key technologies, security concerns, and emerging trends. Multimed Tools Appl 2024; February 27, Springer.
4 Imam SN, Rubin A. History and Overview of Telehealth. Leading an Academic Medical Practice. (Switzerland: Springer Cham, 2023).
5 Mohammadzadeh Z, Saeidnia HR, Lotfata A Hassanzadeh M, Ghias N. Smart city healthcare delivery innovations: a systematic review of essential technologies and indicators for developing nations. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23 (1): 1180.
6 Gallegos A. Understaffed and overworked: how can organizations improve HI staffing? J AHIMA 2024; March 4.
7 Healthcare’s IT Organizational Structure of the Future. Scottsdale Institute/Kirby Partners Report, December 2022.
8 Khan N, Lunawat G. Toward an integrated technology operating model. McKinsey Digital, October 2, 2017.
9 Virzi M. Breaking boundaries: The convergence evolution – A health technology perspective. Vynamic (Blog), n.d.
10 AI and ML in Healthcare: 10 Improved Fixes for Enhanced Wellness. Hyscaler (Blog), February 25, 2024.
11 Law M. How are AI and ML shaping the future of healthcare? Technology Magazine, September 2, 2022.
12 Kaspian, P. Healthcare Cybersecurity — Three Trends to Watch in 2024 The Healthcare CISO’s Guide to Cybersecurity Transformation. PaloAlto Networks (Blog), January 26, 2024. /
13 Marx EW, Padmanabhan P. Healthcare Digital Transformation: How Consumerism, Technology, and Pandemic are Accelerating the Future (New York: CRC Press, 2020).
14 Yoon S, Amadiegwu A. Emerging tech, like AI, is poised to make healthcare more accurate, accessible and sustainable. World Economic Forum, June 26, 2023.
15 Alowais SA, Alghamdi SS, Alsuhebany N et al. Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Med Educ 2023; 23 (1): 689.
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