August 26, 2010
I am a big proponent of de-plugging during downtime. If you feel internal pressure to constantly stay in contact, I highly suggest this. Aloha!
How to Write an RFQ to Select a Healthcare Architect
As Director of Marketing, I know how to put together a response to an RFQ. Some are easier than others. What makes a really good request? Simplicity, accuracy and the right questions. Clients who write a really good RFQ (to ensure the client gets the information they want/need and to ensure that each architect gives answers that can be evaluated/analyzed against the competition) have truly mastered an art! It requires a lot of eyes and a lot of editing. Even the smallest mistakes cost the clients (and responders) time and money. So when putting your project “out on the street”… less is more. At least for the first step. You are going to get 100 responses in today’s economy, so make the first go-round easy on you and easy on us, to really compare the apples to the apples. (FYI, apples = firms with the expertise and portfolio and personality/culture to do your job right.)
I was asked by a client recently to create my own version of the perfect healthcare/hospital RFQ. Feel free to steal, borrow, improve.
[INSTITUTION COVER PAGE]
[DESCRIBE SCOPE OF WORK HERE & CONTRACT TERMS]
[SCHEDULE FOR A/E/ FIRM SELECTION]
Please submit your response in the following order:
1. Firm Name:
2. Contact Person:
3. Contact Information:
4. Firm History:
5. What percentage of your work is healthcare:
6. How many people are employed by your firm:
7. How many personnel are dedicated exclusively to healthcare:
8. List team members you intend to assign to this project, their role, 5 recent (and similar) projects they were responsible for and reference info (name, phone and email):
9. Please give a statement of commitment that the team you submit will be the same team performing design services from project inception through Owner Occupancy. Please have an owner/officer within your firm sign this page.
10. List 5-10 similar projects your firm has completed in the past 5 years, give size, cost and client reference info (name, phone and email):
11. Describe your process for design and project management:
12. Describe the value you give for the fee you charge:
13. List consultants you plan to use for this contract, what is their role and give a contact person and contact information for each consultant.
Limit response to 20 pages. 5 copies delivered to the person listed below by [DATE/TIME OF DEADLINE HERE]:
Person, Title
Delivery Address
Phone
Email
Hope this helps! Good luck and we look forward to working with you!
August 25, 2010
For all the people stuck in Houston traffic on a daily basis… but think the drive is “worth” it… The longer your commute, the lower your wellbeing. “Roughly 30% of employees who commute for more than 90 minutes each day have a Body Mass Index that classifies them as obese.”
And no good deed goes unpunished. For all the heroes helping with the Gulf Oil Spill cleanup, be careful, be safe. “Although it’s not at all clear what the long-term or even mid-term effects of the Deepwater disaster are likely to be, people involved in the clean-up at least need to be aware of potential risks, experts noted.”
Although this is an article for those of you dealing with ill parents, the lesson is one that we all can and should learn today. “When dealing with a difficult transition, give yourself breathing room.” In other words, It is OKAY to say no. It is OKAY to limit your time to your priorities and things/people that make you feel good. It is OKAY to take charge of your life and NOT be exhausted. I have no idea why we applaud people who are “busy”… that label is not a badge of honor, nor is it something to be admired. It’s boring.
Not enough exercise at work… Treadmills at your desk! Problem solved.
August 18, 2010
I am amazed by how many of my Facebook friends have chronic insomnia… posting regularly at all hours of the night… lamenting how they wish they could be asleep. Friends, this is for you. Especially like the tip about “sleepy superfood combos”… bananas and cottage cheese… who knew?
Want to do your homework on other medical maladies? Here you go! I just read a few dozen articles on migraines.
August 16, 2010
Looking for new people/organizations to follow on twitter…
https://twitter.com/invitations/suggestions/health
Has suggestions for other topics too. I frequently change up who I follow and unfollow. Keeps life (and my feed) interesting and relevant. We can be found @philowilke.
August 12, 2010
First, I can’t believe it is already mid-August. Where did the year go? And keeping with the theme of other things I can’t believe: Teens Using Botox!!!
Now back to our regularly scheduled blog on topics concerning healthcare. Our clients weigh in on the upcoming healthcare reform.
July 20, 2010
Back from a great vacation in Santa Fe and ready to talk about healthcare and our clients again! Have been thinking a lot about social media the past few days (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs) and will dedicate the next few posts to clients who have embraced these forms of modern conversation. CHRISTUS is up first – they also utilize YouTube, but I can’t access that from work, so you’ll have to find the link on your own…
BLOG
http://www.wiresidechatwithdrtom.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/christushealth
http://twitter.com/christushealth
July 6, 2010
Someone on Twitter asked, “Anyone discover over the long weekend that you’re addicted to stress? How do you detox?” (Thanks goes out to @ThePowerOfSmall)
So a few things to think about in response… this is how I try to unwind from work.
GET OFF THE COMPUTER: Why is everyone so mad at Prince (read the comments). All he wants is for people to disconnect from digital gadgets every once in awhile. I totally agree with that. Go outside, clear your head, get some sun, use your imagination, create something. I spent a 4 day holiday watching bad cable. Seriously rethinking my own dependence on all things electronic. Might need to go on a “download detox diet.”
GET MOVING: One of the best things I did all weekend was an hour long bike ride through Terry Hershey Park. It almost killed me, but I am ready to do it again. If you see me on the trail, proceed with caution. I am not the most balanced rider. And I have trouble on blind curves going downhill.
GET ENGAGED: In anything… music, reading, painting, gardening. I try to do something that needs my full and complete attention for a few hours. Sometimes it’s seeing my horse, sometimes it is art, and sometimes it is just playing cards with my boyfriend (I have to concentrate extra hard at this last one because he is really getting good lately. My fault, I taught him too well!)
Respond to @philowilke and tell me what you do to detox from stress…
July 1, 2010
In keeping with our theme of “Emerging Healthcare Trends”… house calls are making a comeback!
June 30, 2010
I attended an ACHE seminar last week by John Sena, PhD… Emerging Trends in Healthcare. Really interesting topic and he had done his homework. These weren’t just fads, but issues we – as an industry – are confronting and directions we are heading based on facts/statistics. A few topics:
- Patient as Consumer
- Information Therapy
- Complementary or Alternative Medicine (CAM)
- Transparency
- Retail Clinics
- Medical Tourism
- Foreign Centers/American Partnerships
- Medical Home
- Telemedicine
- Sensor Monitoring
- Tax-Exempt Status in Jeopardy (Documenting Community Benefits)
- Bundled Payments
- Individual Responsibility/Accountability for Health
- Green/Sustainability
- Succession Planning
- Patient Safety
- Unionization of Healthcare Employees
- Doc/Nurse/Med Tech Shortages
- Technology! eICU, RTLS, RFID, Robotics, e-prescribing, pharmaceuticals
- Diversity Leadership
If you have a chance to see John at a conference, I highly recommend it. I have a PDF copy of the presentation if anyone wants one. Just email me at kkautz@pwarch.com
**Added later in the day: Just saw this. I love the VA, but this is really unbelievable. Dirty instruments? Maybe Patient Safety in the list above should be moved to the #1 spot.