Lora Schwartz
Vice President, PlanningMeadows & OhlyWith over 25 years of specialized experience in healthcare design and planning, Lora Schwartz is recognized as a prominent thought leader in the industry. As Meadows & Ohly’s Vice President of Planning, Lora brings a new perspective to healthcare clients with her expertise in strategic master facilities planning, site and facility optimization, operational planning and programming. As a trusted advisor to executives and project teams, she guides strategic planning, major development, and capital spending decisions, providing crucial insights for site development, programming, planning, and scope definition tasks. Service line specialization includes women’s and children’s, oncology, rehab and psychiatry planning.
E91 – One System, Many Campuses: The Owner’s Perspective on Balancing Standardization and Customization in Healthcare Design
As health systems grow through expansion, mergers, and redevelopment, owners are increasingly challenged to balance systemwide design standards with t…As health systems grow through expansion, mergers, and redevelopment, owners are increasingly challenged to balance systemwide design standards with the need for campus-specific, project-level, and end-user customization. Standardization provides a s…As health systems grow through expansion, mergers, and redevelopment, owners are increasingly challenged to balance systemwide design standards with the need for campus-specific, project-level, and end-user customization. Standardization provides a strong foundation for efficiency, cost control, and operational consistency. It is most effective when complemented by targeted flexibility that responds to unique market, regulatory, and clinical cond…As health systems grow through expansion, mergers, and redevelopment, owners are increasingly challenged to balance systemwide design standards with the need for campus-specific, project-level, and end-user customization. Standardization provides a strong foundation for efficiency, cost control, and operational consistency. It is most effective when complemented by targeted flexibility that responds to unique market, regulatory, and clinical conditions. Planning and design leaders from AdventHealth, Novant Health, and Emory Healthcare will share candid lessons learned- what has worked, what has not, where compromise has delivered the greatest value. Panelists will discuss how systemwide design standards are established, governed, and applied across diverse campuses, and how decisions are made when standards conflict with local operational needs or clinical preferences. The session will explore practical decision-making frameworks for evaluating when to enforce consistency, when to allow customization, and how to effectively engage clinicians, facilities leaders, and design teams in those choices. Attendees will gain owner-focused insight into best practices for developing adaptable standards, aligning design decisions with operational strategy, and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to rework, cost escalation, or stakeholder dissatisfaction. This discussion will provide actionable guidance for organizations delivering high-quality, efficient healthcare environments across multiple campuses while preserving local identity and performance. Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
