Struggling with hospital logistics as patient populations grow but your infrastructure stays the same? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation with Albert Nkansah, Project Manager at St Onge Company, we dive deep into the challenges facing healthcare facilities and the surprising solutions that can transform operations without breaking the bank.

Albert pulls back the curtain on his current projects, revealing how he helps hospitals determine whether centralization makes sense and how to optimize existing spaces. His work spans everything from designing sterile processing departments to conducting comprehensive operational assessments – always with one guiding principle: "We're not telling you what we think, we're telling you what we know."

The conversation exposes a common dilemma across healthcare: facilities expand patient areas without corresponding growth in support infrastructure. "When they first built this hospital, they built it for 8 ORs. Now we have 16. However, the hallways are the same... the SPD is still the same size, the supply storeroom is still the same size." This mismatch creates cascading problems throughout hospital operations, from equipment storage violations to workflow bottlenecks.

Perhaps most exciting is Albert's perspective on technology integration. Contrary to common belief, even older facilities can implement modern automation solutions like follow-bots that reduce staff strain and AI-powered predictive analytics that help hospitals stay ahead of demand fluctuations. The key is understanding the return on investment and designing with future scalability in mind.

Whether you're planning a new facility, struggling with space constraints, or looking to modernize your operations, Albert's insights offer a roadmap for creating more efficient, resilient healthcare supply chains. Connect with Fred directly at fcrans@st-onge.com to discuss your own supply chain challenges or suggest topics for future episodes.

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