When a facility is renovated or expanded, technology is often treated as something to figure out once the walls are up. That is backwards. Running cable through an open ceiling costs a fraction of what it does afterward, and an undersized network closet is a problem you live with for decades. Bringing IT into the project early lets you build in what you need, instead of paying to work around what was left out.
Here are the main considerations to raise with your architect, contractor and technology partner.
Ask your IT partner to review the drawings during design, not after. They can flag where network closets, outlets, wireless access points, cameras and nurse call devices should go. Share your operational plans too: how many workstations at each nursing station, where mobile carts will be used and whether any new services are planned.
Structured cabling is the foundation. Points to consider:
Quantity. Install more data outlets than you need today. Adding drops later is expensive.
Quality. Use cable and components rated for current and future needs, installed by qualified technicians and tested and documented.
Locations. Plan outlets for workstations, printers, phones, wireless access points, cameras, door controls, televisions and any monitoring devices.
Pathways. Ensure conduit and cable trays are sized with room to grow.
Labeling. Every cable and port should be labeled consistently, with a map of the building.
Fiber. Consider fiber between closets or buildings for reliability and distance.
Each closet needs adequate space, ventilation or cooling, power and security. Plan for:
Enough floor and rack space for switches, firewalls and growth
Dedicated electrical circuits and backup power connections
Cooling suitable for the equipment inside
Locked access with a record of who enters
Protection from water, such as avoiding placement beneath plumbing
Distance limits, since copper cable runs have maximum lengths
Do not let the closet become shared storage for supplies.
Technology depends on reliable power. Discuss with the electrical designer:
Uninterruptible power supplies for network gear and key systems
Which circuits connect to emergency generator power
Enough outlets at nursing stations, offices and charging areas for mobile carts
Surge protection
For healthcare facilities, confirm how emergency power affects networks, phones and electronic records, since your emergency preparedness plan depends on it.
Wi-Fi needs a design based on the building's layout and materials, since walls, elevators and metal affect signals. Have a wireless survey done on the plan, and verify coverage after construction in resident rooms, corridors, therapy areas and outdoor spaces. Plan wired connections for access points in advance.
Many building systems now use the network:
Nurse call, wander management and door access
Security cameras
Phones and overhead paging
Televisions and resident entertainment
Building controls such as heating and lighting
Identify vendors early and coordinate their requirements, including network connections, power and integration with your systems. Separate these devices onto their own network segments for security.
Check whether the expansion requires more bandwidth, a backup connection or a new provider. Providers can take weeks or months to install circuits, so ask early. Confirm where the lines enter the building and where they terminate.
Renovation can disrupt existing services. Plan how to keep systems running in occupied areas, label and protect existing cables, and avoid surprise outages during demolition. Dust and power interruptions can harm equipment, so plan for protection and scheduled downtime windows.
Build technology milestones into the construction timeline: cabling before walls close, closet readiness before equipment installation and testing before occupancy. Walk through the work, test the cabling and collect documentation before final payment.
Include technology in the project budget from the beginning. After the project, update network diagrams, asset lists and as-built drawings so future work is easier.
UnityCare IT reviews plans, specifies cabling and closets and coordinates network installation for healthcare and senior-living projects in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.
An outsourced IT department with proactive maintenance and one number to call.
Call or text: 405-285-3845
New customers: start@unitycareit.com
Existing customers: support@unitycareit.com
Address: UnityCare Technologies, 2524 N Broadway Ste 554, PMB 947974, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-4172