Pathology Department Serves as the Bridge in Translational Medicine
Administrators at the University of Michigan, who are committed to advancing the progress of translational medicine, are building a new pathology department facility as the place where direct patient care and research converge. The driving force behind siting of the new facility for the department was the belief that the stronger the relationship is between these two functions, the better patient care will be. In addition, the National Institutes of Health financially rewards institutions that work to promote that philosophy.

Synergy Improves Science, Morale and the Bottom Line
Dr. Jay Hess came to the University of Michigan on a mission to transform the pathology department into a pathology institute, a difference that is much more than just semantics. Hess, chairman of the department, believes that pathology is uniquely positioned to bridge the philosophical, physical, and funding gap that exists between research and direct patient care. He is taking his lead from the National Institutes of Health, which directs much of its funding to projects that recognize the benefits of interdisciplinary translational medicine.

Changes in Thinking, Planning and Infrastructure Deliver Better Patient Care
The same paradigm shift that has brought international acclaim to the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is now being used as the cornerstone for constructing a new, comprehensive pediatric center.

Shands HealthCare Develops Powerful Integrated Planning Model
The design of large-scale capital projects involving multiple user interests and split-campus operations often requires a non-traditional planning approach. For example, a sophisticated, team-based planning process was recently utilized for the 30-acre master plan at Shands HealthCare, a 1.3 million-sf academic medical center at the University of Florida.

Lean Approach Halves Labor Cost and Trims Months Off Project Schedule
BJC HealthCare serves the St. Louis region with 13 hospitals totaling 14 million sf and invests approximately $310 million per year in construction and facilities maintenance. With such a high volume of building activity, BJC continually strives for improvement of processes and methods. The organization has recently experimented with lean-management approaches and integrated design techniques in its quest to deliver quality medical facilities, on budget, with minimal disruption to hospital operations.

Reinvented Patient Care and Education Programs Call for New Medical Environments
As revolutionary treatment models and technologies like robotic surgery continue to transform healthcare, some of the most notable facility responses show up in the areas of patient care and medical education. Shaped in large part by a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, the latest versions of these new environments reflect the common themes of flexibility and multi-functionality.

Increased Push for Collaboration Poses Challenges
An increased emphasis on collaboration and teamwork within the medical field has affected the institutions preparing future doctors, nurses, and researchers. Universities are re-thinking the design of medical education facilities so they can integrate the learning experience within and across disciplines, plus connect educational, clinical, and research activities on their campuses.