Lessons learned on foreign projects

If there's one thing the United States seems particularly good at exporting these days, it's health care planning, design and construction expertise.

As I write this blog, in fact, I'm wrapping up an article for our upcoming issue written by a U.S.-based engineer who's currently working on a project in Mideast and hustling to put the finishing touches on another article by chasing a health care architect via email throughout Asia.

This is not to say that U.S. planning, design and construction professionals imparting their knowledge around the world don't learn a thing or two themselves along the way.

As a previous Health Facilities Management cover story related, these professionals can learn much about team building with hospitals, design partners and governments during these projects. Moreover, they can find out how efficiency and cost issues are handled under a wide variety of scenarios that wouldn't be encountered domestically. Technology is another variable that can differ from country to country.

On the interior design side, according to an article in this month's HFM, designers can learn about the cultural values of their host countries and how to incorporate them into a patient space. Likewise, they can study sustainable materials, diverse project delivery methods and a variety of care environments.

So, while U.S. health care design, planning and construction professionals are cutting a globe-trotting swath around the world, the lessons learned are being imported as well as exported.