Leading Innovation in Healthcare Construction

Jay Bangert, Vice President of Healthcare Operations at The Hagerman Group, drives operational excellence across healthcare initiatives. With deep expertise in streamlining processes, enhancing patient care, and implementing strategic solutions, he leads to optimize performance, improve outcomes, and ensure compliance, making a measurable impact on healthcare delivery and organizational efficiency.

Building Expertise and Leading with Excellence

Throughout my 21 years with The Hagerman Group—beginning with three formative summer internships—I’ve grown through hands-on experience in various departments, building a broad foundation in construction management. After college, I worked in our Central Indiana office, rotating through multiple markets, including commercial, education, and industrial. However, I found the healthcare sector uniquely compelling due to its complexity and high standards. Working in healthcare construction taught me the importance of coordination and communication among diverse stakeholders, each with distinct priorities. Guiding teams to identify and deliver on these requirements has become a central part of my leadership approach.

To further develop my leadership and industry insight, I served on external boards and committees, connecting with mentors and peers who broadened my understanding of industry challenges and innovation. These experiences, both within and outside The Hagerman Group, have prepared me to lead healthcare operations with a focus on flexibility, excellence, and innovation as the industry continues to evolve.

Today’s healthcare construction market features two main types of owners: those eager to adopt innovation and those who prefer traditional methods, despite initially showing curiosity. Recognizing this helps us tailor our strategies.

For owners facing labor or material constraints, we host workshops to explore modular options collaboratively. Sometimes, this leads to the adoption of volumetric modular systems that best fit their goals. Other clients, while interested in faster timelines, stick to familiar methods. With them, we use structured A3 exercises to assess when modular solutions deliver value, applying them where they boost efficiency and help us meet targets. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to modular construction. Its benefits are most apparent when aligned with the project’s goals and owner expectations.

Ultimately, success comes from open communication, flexibility, and collaboration. By adapting our approach, we ensure each project achieves lasting value for clients and users.

Steering Complex Modular Healthcare Projects

Leading modular healthcare projects requires clear communication, flexibility, and meticulous planning. We keep everyone aligned through regular updates and open discussion, allowing us to address challenges quickly.

We always prepare contingency plans for critical milestones, enabling us to respond to changes in site conditions or regulations without losing momentum. Team members are encouraged to share ideas, ensuring our solutions fit each project’s needs.

Resources like Patrick Lencioni’s books have helped me build resilient, collaborative teams that adapt well to rapid change.

Ultimately, excelling in modular healthcare projects requires not just technical skill but also transparent communication, proactive planning, and creative problem-solving—key to achieving excellent outcomes.

According to Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) principles, this methodology integrates clinical requirements early, streamlining the move from design to prefabrication. Whether using modular or traditional construction, the aim is to create future-ready solutions that meet client needs, starting with robust pre-construction planning. A clear example is The Hagerman Group’s work at Indiana University Health’s Downtown Indianapolis Hospital Campus—the largest healthcare construction project in the U.S. at $4.3 billion. The project features an 864-bed hospital, a medical education and research center, and support buildings across 44 acres.

Here, modularity was essential for streamlining construction and allowing for easy upgrades as technology evolves. Achieving this vision requires tight collaboration among clients, architects, and engineers to integrate adaptable systems from the start. Flexible OR (https://www.flexibleors.com/) supplies the MONOFLEX™ ceiling grid and MONOTRACK™ raceway system—an integrated, modular operating room ceiling. Approximately 80% of the system is built off-site and installed on-site, allowing for fast assembly and future modification without disrupting ceilings or essential systems. The design reduces lifecycle maintenance and coordination costs, especially for low-voltage cabling. This approach demonstrates how modular solutions can reduce on-site labor, expedite construction, and create facilities that are prepared for technological advancements. The key to success lies in making early, collaborative decisions to maximize the benefits of modular construction.

Toward a Promising Future

When leading pre-construction modular workshops with clients and design teams, our priority is to cultivate a future-focused mindset. Modern modular construction, with its integrated systems, streamline labor, enhances quality, and improves energy efficiency compared to traditional approaches. This shift motivates teams to adopt innovation and drive continuous improvement.

Labor shortages in the construction industry highlight the need for manufacturing-inspired strategies, such as prefabrication and modular assembly. Federal support for domestic manufacturing also accelerates the adoption of modular technology.

While fully volumetric modular projects are rare, practical modular solutions—such as preassembled wall panels, MEP systems, modular patient rooms, and mortarless CMU block (https://3bstrong.com)—are becoming standard, making healthcare construction more adaptable and efficient.

Sage Advice

Earlier this week, I spoke with a Purdue University intern about the unique challenges of healthcare construction. Building healthcare facilities demands precision, compassion, and innovation, as these spaces support healing, research, and community care.

Unlike other buildings, hospitals must remain operational during emergencies—requiring deep understanding of codes, life-safety, and resilient systems. Renovations are complex, as work is conducted in occupied spaces where minimizing disruption and maintaining infection control are critical.

Success depends on close collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and operators from day one. Open communication and joint problem-solving help teams meet tight timelines without compromising quality or safety.

Modular methods are increasingly favored in healthcare for their speed, reduced on-site labor, higher quality, and greater adaptability. Leaders play a crucial role by encouraging innovation and supporting teams in adopting new approaches.

Ultimately, the future of healthcare construction hinges on technical advancements, collaboration, and a focus on patient care. By fostering a culture that is open to modularity and change, we can create facilities that are ready for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.