Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — New, state-of-the-art imaging technologies are changing the way healthcare providers care for their patients, according to Ferhat Salah, president and founder of Meplan Inc., a US-based technology assessment and project management firm specialized in medical equipment planning. "The design of healthcare facilities is governed by many technical requirements," says Salah, who recently participated in the US trade mission in Saudi Arabia. "The key element in architectural design and planning for new medical equipment is the proper planning from the very beginning of the project." When asked about the challenges architects and engineering firms face, Salah says, "Without the right planning, objective perspective, expertise and project management resources, key elements can be overlooked. This can result in costly redesign work and project delays". He further stated that today's hospital construction projects involve thousands of medical devices that are closely connected to a building's engineering systems. The selection of these medical devices and equipment can affect a facility's infrastructure, costs and ability to support future technologies. With regard to the the new designs of medical equipment, Salah says healthcare has changed in recent years in which treatment is less invasive. This ultimately leads to more invisible boundaries between the different specialties of medicine, namely in surgery, radiology and cardiology. As medical care is witnessing a rapid technological advancement, surgery is leaning toward more image-guided components. Operation rooms would soon turn into multidisciplinary rooms, involving different specialized physicians and healthcare providers such as radiologists, cardiologists and surgeons, among others. New healthcare construction or renovation projects, consequently, is a complex and detailed process for architects and engineers, involving close coordination and long-term planning. "We help manage and control the equipment planning process while minimizing costs," says Salah. "A good medical equipment planner, involved early in the process, can make the difference between a poorly managed, over budget project with one that effectively serves clinicians, staff and patients alike". When asked about which approach architects take in starting such projects, Salah says, "We coordinate equipment-related issues with all parties. We work with owners, clinicians, architects, contractors, facilities engineers and others to incorporate the equipment requirements early in the design to help prevent costly change orders and project delays". Meplan is currently working on several projects in the Middle East, including the New National Cancer Institute in Cairo and the Ministry of Defense Medical Center in Qatar. Since its establishment 20 years ago, Meplan completed several projects in the United States, including the Smart Building — MRI suite at NY Presbyterian Hospital worth $4 million, the New Clinical Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital worth $100 million, "E" & "S" Buildings at the Kings County Hospital Center in New York worth $31 million.
