The use of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) has gained momentum in recent years with some national healthcare systems adopting IPD as the preferred delivery method for all projects, according to a blog on the Medical Construction & Design magazine website. 

Involving key participants from the earliest stages of a project delivers great value from a broad range of expertise, consistent and open-minded sharing of information, the article said.

"However, the primary challenge for many healthcare organizations is the multi-party agreement, which contractually binds all key project participants to the principles of IPD," wrote bloggers Barry Clyde and Neil Wright of CBRE Healthcare.

Many will argue that there cannot be a truly integrated and collaborative project team in the absence of the contractual agreement to ensure these roles, the article said.

"This may be true, but it is difficult to argue that all project outcomes can be greatly improved by taking whatever measures are available short of the multi-party agreement to set a standard for the team to follow,"  the bloggers wrote. 

It is essential to build a project team that possesses the fundamental tools that will provide the best chance for an integrated and collaborative team, according to the blog.

Read the blog.