8 Questions to Ask When Working With a Hospital or Healthcare Facility

With lighting projects like this, it’s important to have all the facts up front. Miscommunications or incomplete information can result in losing the bid or in problems downstream when the project is already underway.

Here are eight questions you need to be sure that you ask and the reasons why they’re important.

Question 1: What’s being replaced or updated?

Why You Should Ask: This might seem self-evident, but before you can quote out a bid or start planning a project, you need a full understanding of what the hospital or healthcare facility wants to have done. What they consider an “upgrade” could be a retrofit or completely new installations. Be sure you know on a granular level exactly what your customer’s looking for.

Question 2: How many phases will this project have?

Why You Should Ask: In a large building like a hospital or healthcare facility, projects often need to be phased — particularly if they might be disruptive for patients. You need to understand what your customer expects and how they want to phase in new lighting, since this will ultimately affect your own capacity planning and when you order materials.

Question 3: What is the timeline?

Why You Should Ask: Like Question 2, what you’re getting at here is an understanding of your customer’s project expectations. Do they want to have work done in the next six months? Or are they taking a phased approach that might extend over years? If you don’t know your target date, it will be very hard to put together an accurate road map for the work.

Question 4: What technology are you looking to invest in?

Why You Should Ask: We’ve touched on smart controls throughout this page, but some lighting is smarter than others. In addition to offering daylight harvesting and occupancy sensors, IoT technology offers a suite of networked lighting options your customers may find appealing. The only catch is the cost.

Question 5: What other vendors are being considered?

Why You Should Ask: It’s never a bad idea to keep an eye on the competition. When you know which other manufacturers or distributors may be bidding on the same job, you can speak to what makes you different.

Question 6: Is there an existing written spec, or do you need assistance writing one?

Why You Should Ask: A good spec is the foundation of your work. Without it, there’s a far greater chance that the finished project won’t align with what the customer wanted. But sometimes customers don’t know how to articulate what it is that they’re after. Asking to see what they have, and offering help if they need it, is one of the best ways to ensure you deliver what the customer needs.

Question 7: Who else is involved in this project? Is there an architect, general contractor, electrical contractor, consulting engineer, etc.?

Why You Should Ask: If this project is because of new construction, or because the hospital or healthcare facility is building on an addition, your lighting project will need to go through other people. Certainly the architect, but likely also other stakeholders that you need to consult. Be sure you know who else is involved in the process before you begin any project.

Question 8: Who approves the final specifications?

Why You Should Ask: Decision-makers know how to delegate. Unfortunately, this may mean that the person you’ve been talking to about your project can’t give final approval. Be sure you know who’s going to approve the final specifications so you don’t get caught off guard later.