In this three part blog series, we’ll be focusing on healthcare, BIM, and facilities management. We’ll first explore the gap that exists between design/construction and building operations teams and how that makes it more difficult to use building information models throughout the building lifecycle.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is commonly used in the design and construction phases of healthcare projects. A building information model contains a wealth of data, but all too often the information isn’t usable for facilities management and building operations. There are several reasons why:
- Design and construction concerns dominate the process. The data needed to support design and construction is included in the information model, but the broader lifecycle considerations like facilities management are excluded. Or worse, the building operations aspects of the project are considered at the last minute and O&M manuals simply get embedded.
- Teams don’t begin with the end in mind. Building and renovation programs commonly start with a discussion about the design and construction information that must be in the information model, but that conversation rarely covers what will be turned over post-occupancy.
- AEC firms aren’t comfortable reaching out to new contacts. To identify the information needed to support building operation, AEC firms must reach out to the facilities management team. This often means stepping outside a comfortable circle of contacts.
AEC firms often view owner organizations as monolithic, but in reality they are fragmented and siloed. In healthcare, for example, facilities management teams often have no insight into how data they control could increase their organization’s reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For these reimbursements, square footage allocations are essential and could be easily retrieved from a BIM.
One of the fundamental issues that must be addressed is connecting the silos that exist within healthcare. If this can be accomplished, information models will be more useful during the building operations phase.
Bridging the gap between the design/construction and building operations teams is more a process issue than a technology issue. Here are three recommendations for moving forward in a productive way:
- Engage with a broader set of stakeholders. Facilities management teams should be included in BIM execution plan meetings. Given the intersection between building operations and financial reimbursements, it may also make sense to engage with space planners and reimbursement analysts.
- Ask the right questions. Key topics to explore include who will use the data, what data is required for different aspects of building operations, and how will the data be maintained over time?
- Develop use cases to guide the data that should be incorporated in the information model. These are the different scenarios and tasks that key stakeholders need to accomplish, as well as the information they need.
IMAGINiT understands the entire building lifecycle from design and construction through facilities management. If you have questions about BIM best practices and how to build a better information model to serve all stakeholders, feel free to contact us. In our next post, we’ll take a closer look at how integrating BIM and FM applications can simplify accreditation surveys and other compliance activities.
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