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FDI Employee Presenting at Upcoming Conference
by Barbara Bruning, Senior Project Manager with FDI

Barbara Bruning, Senior Project Manager with FDI, and Bud Bedingfield, Senior Project Manager with Kitchell Contractors, Inc., are giving a joint presentation at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo, scheduled October 24-26, 2006, in Chicago.

They are presenting, "Planning the Transition to a 'Green' Replacement Hospital," on Thursday, October 26.

The presentation will be a case study of best practices in the 'green' healthcare field and lessons learned from the viewpoint of a LEED-certified healthcare contractor and the transition/occupancy planning consultant working with Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Metropolitan is building a major replacement facility with several innovative components including a commitment to LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building standards, and the incorporation of ongoing transition/occupancy planning consultation to enable their staff to adapt and thrive in the new environment.

The conference (formerly known as the Symposium on Healthcare Design) is the longest-running conference and exhibition dedicated to the improvement of the overall health and welfare of patients and successful business outcomes through the design element.

Over the past 56 years, Kitchell has become one of the nation's largest construction/program managers and general building contractors. With more than 25 million square feet of healthcare facility construction under our belts, we are consistently ranked among the nation's 15 largest healthcare construction managers by Modern Healthcare magazine.

In 2000, Kitchell acquired hospital equipment planning firm Facilities Development, Inc. (FDI). FDI has provided its equipment planning, occupancy planning, and simulation modeling services to prestigious public and private hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.

Click here for more information about the Healthcare Facilities Symposium.   more>>
Staying Operational and Efficient During Renovation
by Janet Dalton, Principal

Performing a major construction or renovation project at any health facility is a long and arduous process. It is important to remember that overall success does not begin or end with the physical completion of the structure. The various aspects of transitional occupancy planning essential to a project’s success are discussed.  more>>
Savvy Asset Management Will Help You Buy Better Later
by Janet Dalton, Principal

Managing your current assets is hard enough without having to worry about the investments you'll make in the future. Having an effective asset management program now will help you to buy better later.  more>>
Occupancy / Transition Planning for Children's Hospitals
by Janet Dalton, Principal

While every hospital relocation, expansion or major remodeling project benefits from a comprehensive occupancy/ transition plan, children’s hospitals have special needs and requirements. Their patients are not just miniature adults. Plans must incorporate the needs and desires of the patients, their families and support teams. Every effort should be made to make the transition a smooth and enjoyable process for patients by involving them in the occupancy planning process itself, encouraging family involvement and participation in the move to reduce anxiety for the children (and their parents), and by creating fun elements for the children such as specially-designed coloring books about the move and mementoes to commemorate the occasion.  more>>