Healthcare Design - May 2022 - 9

ED ITO RIAL
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Hank Adams HDR
CATCHING UP
Amid a frenzy of project work, industry members
share how they're trying to stay ahead of ongoing
challengesBy Jennifer Kovacs Silvis
AS I WRITE THIS, I'm enjoying a brief pause from a
whirlwind of recent travel. It seems, just like that,
life is back to some semblance of normal. And while
my body's still trying to get used to jet lag, hotel
sleep, and meals on the road, I know you're right
there with me. As I've bounced around from meeting
to meeting and conference to conference, I've had
the joy of running into many of you along my way.
I've learned a lot from these serendipitous encounters,
most notably that you are hair-on-fi re busy.
While it varies from person to person and firm
to firm regarding how significant the work slowdown was at the height of
COVID-19, there's no question that a universal surge in project work is happening
now. In fact, I've talked to many industry members who told me their
organizations are nearing the point of turning down requests for proposals (if
they haven't already). Staff ers have run out of available hours in the day, and
talent acquisition and retention remain pain points.
This flurry of activity isn't just an effort to catch up after the last couple of
years but a race against rising interest rates, labor shortages, and supply chain
issues, as well. Schedules are, at times, at the mercy of material and product
availability. I attended a session at the ASHE PDC show in March on supply
chain impact on healthcare project delivery, where panelists urged attendees
to get as ahead of the game as possible by asking questions not only of direct
suppliers regarding availability but anticipating that suppliers to those suppliers
may also be facing challenges. I was reminded of this at our recent Environments
for Aging Conference + Expo, where I chatted with a friend who works
for a flooring company-and, sure enough, when I asked about disruptions
on their end, it was a shortage of materials they use to manufacture products
that's causing delays.
I've been given estimates of nine months to two years before industry
members expect things to calm, and that means you all will be tasked with
either being patient or creative-or likely a little bit of both. By far, the most
common solution to some of these issues that I've heard discussed (specifi -
cally to resolve challenges of cost and schedule) is to better leverage modular
and prefabricated construction. I have to say, I've been covering healthcare
design for many years, and it's been a while since these topics have been embraced
with such vigor.
We've long seen the usual suspects like modular walls and prefabricated
bathroom pods adopted in healthcare, and I'm excited to see how this initial
work progresses going forward. And as a bit of a sneak peek, it's a topic we'll be
diving into in a few ways in October at our 2022 HCD Conference + Expo in San
Antonio. In fact, that will be my next plane ride: a team site visit to the Henry B.
Gonzalez Convention Center to start laying plans for our time together there.
In the meantime, if you see me around, let's grab a coff ee. I think we'll both
need one. 
Wayne Barger SMITHGROUP
Carolyn BaRoss PERKINS&WILL
Sam Burnette EARL SWENSSON ASSOCIATES
Sheila F. Cahnman JUMPGARDEN CONSULTING LLC
Thomas W. Chessum CO ARCHITECTS
James Crispino GENSLER
Christine Hester Devens AECOM
Mary Frazier EWINGCOLE
Jocelyn Lum Frederick HC TANGRAM DESIGN
Catherine L. Gow FRANCIS CAUFFMAN
Natalie Miovski Hagerty
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
Suzen L. Heeley
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
Scott Holmes BWBR
Walter Jones METROHEALTH SYSTEM
Randy Keiser TURNER CONSTRUCTION CO.
Julie Kent TRINITY HEALTH
Eric Koffl er NBBJ
Tiana Lemons ORCUTT/WINSLOW
Michael Lied GBBN ARCHITECTS
Mike McKay UW HEALTH
Victoria Navarro ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH
Solvei Neiger, ZGF
Kurt Neubek PAGE
Don Orndoff KAISER PERMANENTE
Diane R.K. Osan CANNONDESIGN
Chris Powers BURNS & MCDONNELL
William D. Repichowskyj E4H ARCHITECTURE
Kim Shinn TLC ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Janet H. Sisolak UT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
Kurt Spiering HGA
Steve Stokes GRESHAM SMITH
Jeff rey C. Stouff er HKS INC.
Paul E. Strohm HOK
Jocelyn Stroupe CANNONDESIGN
Melanie Taylor BOLDT
Joshua A. Theodore LEO A DALY
Anthony Treu SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL
Travis Tyson CLEVELAND CLINIC
Gary L. Vance VANCE CONSULTING
Roderic Walton MOODY NOLAN
MAY 2022
09
Healthcare Design - May 2022

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