FSI was recently joined by Ted Pappas, Healthcare Facility Information Specialist, who brings 25+ years of experience in hospital space management and utilization. His perspective as an architect has allowed him to work with healthcare systems to discover the opportunities within their space and make informed decisions on operations.
In our latest FSI interview, discover how Ted got his start, why he thinks FSI’s suite of products is the future for healthcare service professionals, and where you’ll find him when he’s not consulting on space utilization.
How did you originally come to this industry, specifically in the space management sector?
I started in the healthcare industry right out of college. I had an architecture degree, which led to a transition into healthcare facility information with a foundation in architecture layouts and space utilization - a direction of non-traditional architecture.
This background, and through working with engineers in the industry, gave me the perspective of looking at information graphically – visualizing floorplans, layouts, space. This skill has helped me work not only on developing valuable solutions for architectural layouts and space, but also expanding to other disciplines, like MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), that are necessary within a hospital to operate efficiently.
What is one thing hospitals aren’t considering when it comes to space management/utilization? How should they think about using software to help them?
One thing that hospitals need to look at regarding space utilization is the fact that space is the largest, most valuable asset within a healthcare organization. That value goes above and beyond the most basic understanding of space and occupancy, it can expand beyond facilities & engineering to many other departments, including design & construction, finance & reimbursement, compliance & safety, real estate & property management.
As for how software fits into this – a comprehensive solution will help all these different stakeholders’ access what they need for their tasks and responsibilities while still being able to have one centralized source of data for all departments to benefit from.
What stands out with FSI’s approach to space management software? Why should hospitals give it a look?
What really stands out to me about FSI’s offering is the fact that it’s rooted in a CMMS, which ties space into another important component of hospital operations. This intuitive partnership, which allows hospitals to utilize two essential systems in one without a third party, becomes a very distinct benefit and feature. CMS starting out as a work order system and having space management integrated natively separates FSI from others in the industry.
How do you see space in hospitals usually managed? How does it fit into the additional services FSI offers?
Typically, space is being managed at a very basic level within hospitals. If you talk to anyone in the industry, anyone in healthcare will tell you that the most common subject is “we don’t have enough space.”
The gut response for most healthcare systems is that there is a need to build, expand, or buy. Really, they just need the right tools to help identify the underutilized space, but that’s difficult to work into daily operations when you’re managing space internally. An advanced solution, like CMS Space Manager, gives stakeholders the tools to make educated, cost-effective decisions.
You’ve been in this space for a long time. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve witnessed in the field and what upcoming developments do you find the most important?
The biggest change is how hospitals deliver and manage their information, and how they can use that information on a much more intuitive basis. When I started, the process was delivering large scale paper plots in a tube with reports in a binder and disk with files.
Now, robust cloud-based solutions have become such a valuable tool to access information from a computer, tablet, and phone no matter where you are in hospital.
Where technology is going to get us to the next level is this ecosystem of tools for different departments to access information above and beyond space utilization, while keeping everything tied together. Think Facilities & Engineering, Design & Construction, Compliance & Safety, Finance & Reimbursement, Real Estate & Property Management, all using one platform that can store foundational information. The departments will share the initial development costs, but as time goes on the system will have exponential value because they’re working from the same foundation, instead of starting from scratch with new systems for each department.
What are the biggest challenges ahead for the industry?
The biggest challenge in recent years, which continues today, is hospital staff having to do more with less. What we can provide with our solutions at FSI is intuitive data that is transformed into knowledge for hospitals to make educated decisions on daily tasks that might be a burden or time consuming without having invested in FSI.
Outside of work, you love to cook, and you recently competed on The Great American Recipe on PBS. What is your signature dish and your favorite people to share it with?
My signature dish is my pastichio, which is a noodle and meat baked dish with a bechamel sauce. It’s my mom’s recipe and I love sharing it with my family.