Jackson Health System Modernizes Diagnostic Center

Challenge: Jackson Health Seeks to Modernize Central Hub

Florida’s Jackson Health System is a non-profit academic medical system comprised of nearly 60 facilities united by the mission to “build the health of the community by providing a single, high standard of quality care for the residents of Miami-Dade County.” The Ira C. Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center (DTC) serves as a central hub of care for virtually every department on the system’s Miami campus, including Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals by bed count in the United States. Within the walls of the Clark DTC, patients receive MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, X-rays and other tests to determine the best course of treatment.

Built in 1995, the DTC was due for expansion to accommodate both the growing population of the area and available medical advancements. Part of the DTC’s overhaul was a complete renovation of the café/marketplace where patients, visitors and staff eat, work and congregate every day. Jackson Health leaders had a vision to bring people together in a tech-friendly environment that promoted both healthy eating and meaningful social interaction.

To bring this vision to life, they turned to Gordian’s Job Order Contracting (JOC). Job Order Contracting is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) construction procurement method that empowers organizations to complete many projects with one competitively-awarded contract. This unique, single-solicitation approach accelerates project delivery while satisfying all relevant laws and creates partnerships between owners and contractors, resulting in higher-quality work. As the creator of JOC, Gordian has decades of experience implementing and supporting successful programs.

Solution: Gordian’s Job Order Contracting Delivers Speed and Transparency

Jackson Health System is no stranger to a Gordian JOC program. Years ago, they worked with us to add a helipad to the Jackson South Trauma Center and complete a spate of upgrades and renovations. The reason they turned to it for that project is the same reason they used it for renovating the Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center: Speed to construction.

Project start using traditional contracting methods like Design-Bid, Design-Bid-Build and Construction Manager at Risk can take a few months. With Job Order Contracting, it takes a few weeks. That’s because instead of bidding on individual projects, JOC contractors bid on a collection of unit prices, satisfying local procurement regulations and enabling owners to complete many projects with a single solicitation. Completing much of the administrative actions once and upfront can save as much as 25% in procurement time, according to a report by NIGP and Gordian.

Jackson Health also found it beneficial that Gordian JOC programs are managed on a secure, cloud-based software platform. Not only does this tool empower owners to chart project progress and record how project scope changes over time, but it also makes reporting a breeze. This capability was necessary for the Clark Diagnostic project because it was funded by Miami-Dade County’s General Obligation Miracle Bond. Passed in 2013, this bond funding provided $830,000,000 for the modernization of Jackson Health facilities. Using Gordian’s JOC software empowered Jackson Health leaders to prove they were acting as good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Such proof goes a long way to maintaining public trust.

Job Order Contracting is just one of the solutions Gordian offers to help hospital and healthcare systems effectively manage the entire building lifecycle. Click here to see how we can help you budget, build and maintain your capital-intensive building assets.

Result: Jackson Health System Brings Its Mission to Life

Lobby renovations began in April of 2021 and continued into the following year. LEE Construction Group was selected as the general contractor, and they brought on a team of nine local subcontractors to complete the work. In fact, using Gordian’s JOC, Jackson Health exceeded its inclusion goals, as 53% of the work – nearly $400,000 worth – was performed by Small Business Enterprise (SBE) contractors.

Jackson Health emphasized creating a high-tech, food-focused social space intended to bring together patients, employees and visitors in a welcoming environment. Modernization of the entrances from the main corridor to the marketplace and gift shop area included demolishing walls and ceilings, installing new high-impact drywall, metal pan ceiling, soundscapes, new glass, stainless steel and illuminated signage.

The renovation also included a total reconfiguration of the space to accommodate people of all abilities, the installation of banquette seating with ample access to electrical outlets for device storage and use, lighting updates and upgrades to the existing HVAC and fire protection system.

The project finished in September of 2022 at a total cost of around $713,000. The renovated lobby and café provide visitors with a bright, inviting space to relax, eat and socialize. Jackson Health leadership can point to the renovations as the physical manifestation of the system’s mission to build community health.