Navigating the Complexities of Healthcare IT Construction Portfolio: Challenges for Today’s IT Teams
Healthcare construction is undergoing significant growth, driven by factors such as an aging population, building code requirements, and an increased demand for healthcare services. As healthcare systems expand and integrate new technologies, IT teams are becoming increasingly vital to construction projects. However, these teams face a unique challenge: balancing their expertise in healthcare IT with the complexities of construction—a field with its own timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.
The Challenge: Bridging the Gap Between IT and Construction Expertise
Healthcare IT teams excel in managing network infrastructure, cybersecurity, electronic health records (EHR), and more, but construction projects bring an entirely different set of challenges:
Misalignment of Timelines
Construction projects often operate on schedules that do not align with typical IT project timelines. Coordinating system installations, technology rollouts, and infrastructure setups requires careful synchronization with construction phases to avoid delays and added costs.
Budgeting and Resource Planning Difficulties
IT teams are often unfamiliar with construction budgeting processes and may struggle to define accurate costs and resource needs for integrating IT systems into new or renovated facilities. Without a deep understanding of construction dynamics, these teams risk either underestimating or over-allocating resources.
Navigating Construction-Specific Hurdles
In addition to aligning timelines and budgets, IT teams must navigate construction-specific challenges such as inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages. These variables can impact project timelines and costs, requiring IT teams to be flexible and proactive.
A Closer Look: The Diverse Landscape of Healthcare Construction Projects
Large healthcare systems handle a wide array of construction projects, each with its own unique IT needs:
New Hospital Builds: New hospital constructions, while less frequent than other project types, are among the most complex and resource-intensive endeavors. These projects require a comprehensive IT infrastructure plan from the ground up, covering everything from robust data storage, network architecture, and advanced EHR systems to cutting-edge technologies like AI-powered diagnostic tools and IoT-enabled devices. IT teams must work closely with construction teams to align critical milestones—such as cabling, equipment installation, and network testing—with construction phases, ensuring that new hospitals are fully operational from day one. Moreover, new builds often require adherence to stringent regulatory standards and cybersecurity protocols, further complicating IT planning and execution.
Outpatient Facilities: Freestanding Emergency Departments (EDs), urgent care centers (UCs), clinics, medical office buildings (MOBs), ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and telehealth facilities require sophisticated IT planning to support telemedicine capabilities, patient check-in kiosks, and integrated medical devices. These facilities are increasingly in demand as healthcare systems shift towards decentralized, patient-centric care models.
Emergency Repairs: Projects such as repairing faulty boilers, chillers, HVAC systems, water pipes, roofing, and nurse call systems can arise unexpectedly. These situations require rapid mobilization of resources, with IT teams ensuring that critical systems remain functional during repairs and that any impacted IT infrastructure is swiftly restored.
Emergent Scaling: Healthcare systems must be agile in scaling operations to address sudden needs, such as overflow units, temporary structures like tents, vaccine clinics, and testing facilities. IT teams play a crucial role in ensuring that data connectivity, power supplies, and security measures are in place and functional in these temporary setups.
Renovations, Remodels, and Expansions: Moving, adding, or changing spaces within existing facilities involves careful planning to minimize disruption to patient care and daily operations. IT must align closely with construction teams to ensure that critical systems and workstations are safely relocated or upgraded and that network integrity and data security are maintained throughout the process.
Specialty Facilities: Behavioral health centers, rehabilitation facilities, and other specialized units have unique requirements that demand specific IT considerations, from enhanced security protocols to specialized medical equipment integration. Each facility type requires tailored IT solutions that ensure both functionality and compliance with healthcare regulations.
Equinox HIT: Your Partner in Bridging the IT and Construction Divide
At Equinox HIT, we understand these complexities and the need for a partner who is fluent in both IT and construction. We work closely with healthcare organizations and construction teams to align IT workflows with construction timelines, define accurate budgets, and create effective resource plans.
We serve as a single point of contact for both construction and IT teams—streamlining communication and coordination across all phases of the project. This dual advocacy ensures that IT requirements and standards are clearly defined and met throughout the entire construction project lifecycle, reducing risks of delays, budget overruns, and compliance issues.
Preparing for the Future of Healthcare Construction
As healthcare construction accelerates, healthcare IT teams must be agile and forward-thinking. Partnering with Equinox HIT ensures that your projects are not just ready for today's needs but are scalable for future growth and evolving technologies, such as advanced EHRs, remote patient monitoring, and AI-driven patient care systems. Together, we can build a more resilient, patient-centered healthcare infrastructure that is prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Equinox HIT is your HIT construction partner. For more information on how Equinox HIT can help your organization successfully integrate IT into healthcare construction projects, please contact us today.
References
American Institute of Architects. “AIA Consensus Construction Forecast, July 2024.” American Institute of Architects, 2024. Link
Health Facilities Management. “2024 Hospital Construction Survey results.” Health Facilities Management, 2024. Link
JLL. “Healthcare Industry Embraces Shift to Outpatient Care Sites.” JLL, April 11, 2024. Link
Robins & Morton. “Healthcare Construction Industry Outlook.” Robins & Morton, 2024. Link