Co-Authored by: Kevin Anthony, Zlatko Puljic, and Greg Tarnopolsky
4-5 minute read
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, ensuring that facilities meet the highest standards of design and functionality is paramount. This is where the specialized service of Healthcare Compliance Consulting comes into play. Specifically, the role of Owner’s Compliance Consulting (OCC), also referred to as (Mechanical) Engineering Advisor, is crucial in transforming blueprints into state-of-the-art hospitals that cater to the unique needs of their users.
Healthcare facilities are among the most complex and challenging building types to design and construct. They must ensure patient safety, support advanced medical technologies, support facilities maintenance, operate efficiently, and comply with stringent regulations. To achieve these objectives, healthcare projects require a highly-specialized consultant. This blog delves into what OCC entails, its importance in healthcare projects, the distinct roles of consultants, and the expertise provided by our team at AME.
Understanding Owner’s Compliance
What is Owner’s Compliance Consulting?
OCC is a service where an expert represents the interests of the Health Authority in major healthcare projects. This expert, or the OCC, is well-versed in designing similar projects and possesses the latest knowledge in standards and technology – expertise not typically found within the Health Authority’s staff. The OCC Team consists of top-tier professionals from various disciplines, ensuring a comprehensive and specialized approach to project execution.
The OCC Team conducts interviews with various user groups to gather specific design requirements, compiling these into a Statement of Requirements (SOR). These requirements often exceed standard regulations, addressing the specialized needs of hospital operations – such as a need for specialized sinks for cleaning surgical equipment.
Why is it Crucial for Projects?
OCC is beneficial for any large capital project, especially those utilizing a Design-Build Alliance or P3 Procurement Method (Public-Private Partnership). These projects are typically complex and have specialized requirements that necessitate expert oversight.
Without an expert meticulously developing the SOR, hospital designs might only meet minimum code requirements. This means no customization, no special considerations, and no tailored solutions derived from consultations with hospital staff, doctors, or equipment suppliers. OCC goes beyond the basics, laying the groundwork to develop super-specialized, customized requirements and performance targets that ensure the best possible outcomes for new hospital facilities.
New St. Paul’s Hospital and Medical Campus
rendering credit: HDR
New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre
rendering credit: ZGF
When Do OCCs Join Projects?
In healthcare projects, OCCs are engaged early in the process to ensure comprehensive oversight and expert input. For instance, in the New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre project, OCC involvement began three years prior to project announcement when the government declared the need for a new hospital.
First, the OCC helps the Health Authority compiles a business case, including example stories, scope, and budget, which is then presented for government funding approval. Once the budget is sanctioned, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Compliance, the Statement of Requirements (SOR), and indicative design is initiated, lasting one to one and a half years. This phase sets the necessary constraints while allowing for customization, ensuring the project’s feasibility within the designated space.
How Does Owner’s Compliance Work?
The OCC Team is involved from the development of the SOR through to the RFP stage. Design Teams submit their designs to the Health Authority and OCC Team for review. The OCC Team confirms that the designs meet the necessary requirements, and the Health Authority selects the winning team based on this confirmation. The OCC Team remains involved throughout the design and construction stages, which can be an 8-9 year commitment depending on the project’s size. At occupancy, the OCC Team’s job is complete.
Benefits to the Owner
For Health Authorities, the need for a new hospital is often accompanied by the challenge of lacking full-time technical expertise on staff. While they may have some members focused on tasks like RFP development and project management with smaller scopes, they usually do not possess the in-depth technical knowledge required for large-scale healthcare projects. This is where an OCC becomes invaluable.
“Owner’s Compliance Consulting goes beyond the basics, laying the groundwork to develop super-specialized and customized requirements that ensure the best possible outcomes for new hospital facilities.“
Choosing an OCC means that from the very beginning of the project, the OCC Team can contribute to creating a comprehensive package of design requirements SOR and ensuring compliance throughout the design and construction phases. By engaging an OCC, the Health Authority can outsource the necessary expertise without needing to hire full-time technical staff.
The long-term impact of having an OCC is profound. With a well-developed SOR and indicative results, the design process is significantly expedited, leading to quicker owner occupancy. Traditionally, healthcare projects could take around 8-10 years from inception to completion. However, with the efficiencies brought by an OCC, this timeframe can be reduced to approximately 6-7 years. This acceleration is due to the streamlined processes and expert oversight provided by the OCC, which ensures fewer delays and more efficient project execution.
This arrangement enables the Health Authority to focus on their core responsibilities while the OCC handles the specialized technical aspects. This collaborative approach not only speeds up the project timeline but also enhances the overall outcome, making the facility better equipped to serve its intended purpose.
Consultant’s Role
What it Looks Like to be the OCC
Being an OCC differs significantly from regular engineering consulting. It requires being part of the project early and involves a blend of administrative and technical tasks uniquely suited to the needs of healthcare projects.
| Project Phases | OCC Involvement | Standard Design Consultant Involvement |
| Project Inception | ✔ | |
| Government Funding Approval | ✔ | |
| Pre-Design Phase | ✔ | |
| SOR Development | ✔ | |
| RFP for Design and Construction | ✔ | ✔ |
| Design Development | ✔ | ✔ |
| Construction Phase | ✔ | ✔ |
| Project Completion | ✔ | ✔ |
Key responsibilities
As an OCC, the role involves meeting with staff and various facility users to understand their needs. This input is critical for putting together the SOR, which is a lengthy process spanning over a year and involving multiple stages. Initially, the OCC meets with user groups to draft the first version of the SOR, incorporating their feedback through several rounds of tweaks and reviews. Typically, the process includes three to four drafts, with the final version reflecting all comments and adjustments made along the way.
The OCC is also responsible for assisting with the RFP for design and construction, ensuring that submitted designs comply with the stringent requirements outlined in the SOR. Additionally, the OCC continuously responds to design team questions and checks that the design development aligns with the owner’s expectations throughout the project’s lifecycle.
AME in the Healthcare Sector
Experience
Our team brings specialized knowledge in the latest codes, standards, and technologies essential for healthcare facilities. When we are not engaged as an OCC, our ongoing design work ensures we remain up-to-date with industry advancements and best practices.
Our team brings a wealth of experience to the table:
- Total Healthcare Projects: over 500
- Total Compliance Projects: 9 projects over 12 years
- Total Years of Experience: 80-100 years
- Total Construction Value: $6-8 billion
New Cowichan District Hospital
rendering credit: ZGF
Team Perspective
Working on healthcare projects is never easy. Each project comes with its own set of challenges and complexities. Our team’s broad spectrum of expertise allows us to cover various specialties, from ensuring seamless operation during renovations and beyond to knowing the latest technologies and standards. Kevin loves these projects: “Healthcare projects are never boring because they are never a cookie cutter design; they are unique and come with their own constraints and variety.”
Conclusion
The role of the OCC is indispensable in the realm of healthcare projects. From early-stage planning through to project completion, their expertise ensures that every aspect of the facility exceeds basic compliance, meeting the specialized needs of healthcare providers and patients alike, and speeds up the design process.
At AME, our team’s extensive experience and dedication to sustainability set us apart, allowing us to deliver exceptional results. By leveraging the talents of seasoned professionals like Zlatko, Greg, and Kevin, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare design, making each project better than the last.
Zlatko Puljic P.Eng., CEM, HBDP, LEED AP, Lean Yellow Belt
Principal
Zlatko, Principal of our Healthcare Team, boasts 25+ years of practical and technical expertise. Recognized as a leading healthcare design expert in Canada, Zlatko’s passion and dedication for complex and sophisticated healthcare systems is matched only by his enthusiasm for teamwork and collaboration. With a deep understanding of the necessary systems and strategies to accomplish project objectives, Zlatko prioritizes quality, innovation, and efficiency to achieve timely and cost-effective results.
Contact Zlatko for more information.
Greg Tarnopolsky P.Eng., CEM, LEED AP
Principal
Greg, Principal, excels in steering complex healthcare projects with a focus on energy performance and sustainable innovation. With a strategic approach to project management, Greg ensures that constructability and building efficiencies are integrated into every design, delivering exceptional outcomes tailored to the healthcare sector’s unique demands.
Contact Greg for more information.
Kevin Anthony P.Eng., LEED AP
Technical Lead - Healthcare
Kevin, our experienced Technical Lead on the Healthcare Team, brings 30 years of industry expertise. With a deep understanding of the technical aspects of this complex sector, he specializes in mechanical systems for laboratories, classrooms, and healthcare facilities. Kevin actively shares his expertise and experience with his team, serving as a mentor and providing valuable technical resources.
Contact Kevin for more information.