Criterion

We Are Criterion

We are a team of planners and professionals who offer a shared passion for improving the lives of others through our work. Founded in 1977, we were among the pioneers who gave rise to medical equipment planning as an industry. More than four decades later, we continue to propel advancements in the planning process that will positively impact our clients, projects and communities for years to come.
We Are Criterion

Who we are

Criterion is a leading provider of consulting services for medical equipment planning, equipment placement drawings, procurement assistance and logistics coordination. We have assisted healthcare providers, architectural firms, design-build teams, universities and government agencies for over 40 years. With three offices located across California, we offer both the capacity and proximity to successfully support any project throughout the Western United States.

The Criterion team consists of a unique blend of planners, supporting team members and specialized consultants who come from diverse professional backgrounds including healthcare architecture, laboratory planning, imaging, nursing and owner-led medical equipment procurement. Our team is well-versed in providing consulting services for a broad spectrum of project sizes and types, ranging from single modalities to multi-building campuses.

HCAI (formerly OSHPD). As a California-based company, we understand the perils of navigating HCAI’s stringent requirements and are adept at guiding our clients through HCAI’s regulations related to medical equipment. We have completed upwards of 450 HCAI 1, 3 and 4 projects since our inception and actively follow changes to the agency’s code regulations and review processes. By integrating HCAI milestones and deliverables into our overall project schedules, we ensure the timely delivery of our HCAI projects.

Planning tools. Our team members are skilled at utilizing a combination of planning tools to support collaboration with decision-making throughout an iterative process. Our planning tools include:

  • Attainia – used to develop and track medical equipment lists and budgets
  • Revit & Bluebeam – used to develop medical equipment drawings that can be fully integrated with other building systems
  • Smartsheet – used to develop and manage project schedules, including HCAI milestones and deliverables
  • Fuzor – virtual reality tool used for on-site planning and quality control

Certifications. Criterion is a Certified California Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and a 100% Woman Owned Business.

History

Criterion was founded in 1977 by Tony Freitas, who operated Criterion as a small shop in his San Jose living room before opening the first official office in Willow Glen. Widely considered to be one of medical equipment planning’s innovators and pioneers, Tony’s 33-year tenure as Owner/Principal was marked by a number of significant projects, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Laguna Honda Hospital, Highland Hospital and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s Sobrato Pavilion. He was also instrumental in planning numerous Kaiser projects across three decades. While he loved every project he worked on, his favorite by far was the USNS Mercy, an oil tanker that was converted into a 1,000-bed hospital ship. Since her commissioning on November 8, 1986, the USNS Mercy has been activated numerous times and has treated patients across the world.

In 2005, Tony’s daughter, Suzanne Kowarsch, joined the team and transitioned to her role as the new Owner/Principal in 2010, allowing Tony to hang up his hat and enjoy life as a retiree. Suzanne’s addition to the team spawned Criterion’s first Southern California office in Orange County, enabling the firm to expand its reach to projects throughout the state. Since joining Criterion, Suzanne has championed the overall growth and development of the company by incorporating new service lines and current technologies that make Criterion a preferred partner in the industry.

In Loving Memory of Our Founder

Our hearts collectively broke on September 13, 2024, when Tony passed away unexpectedly at his home in Applegate, California. Tony had been an active retiree who enjoyed skiing, gardening, tennis and kayaking, and would still pop by our Auburn office to say hi to our team every now and then. With all bets on him living to 100, his passing was as shocking as it was devastating. 

Tony leaves behind his wife, Susan, daughters, Suzanne and Elizabeth, and sons, Tim and Nick, in addition to many extended family members. What’s more, he leaves behind a legacy as an industry icon who is still remembered fondly by past partners and clients. We will always appreciate Tony for his many contributions to the industry, our team, and for loving his family the way he did.