This study analyzes the role of planning technologies in a changing institutional environment in which they are involved as a space for mediation. This is a qualitative study, in which planning technologies were compared with theoretical landmarks in public health. A case study was conducted at the Cândido Ferreira Health Service in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. By way of conclusions, the author proposes a methodological approach to stimulate the use of planning technologies as a device for institutional change. The focus is on the importance of planning in establishing a dialogue with other theoretical corpora, such as institutional analysis, psychoanalysis, and public health.