Healthcare Construction Companies don’t just build…….they are the cornerstone of design, regulatory compliance, construction and delivery. They are the brains behind the layout, the processes behind compliance, the faces behind construction and the workforce behind the delivery.
We are all aware, the modern Healthcare clinic is focused on ‘patient experience’ from the time they walk in the front door to the time they leave. Patient experience is paramount to patient retention and clinic success.
The modern healthcare clinic is derived from a complex web of dreams, intricate design, construction knowhow, regulatory pressures together with a plan for the future.
Here lies the role of successful healthcare construction companies.
Understanding the role.
The healthcare industry has evolved enormously over the last 20 years. The family doctor surgery or family dental clinic that evolved from a renovated home and hidden behind overgrown trees is now outdated and unattractive to patients. These archaic practices are now difficult to spot and If you do, they are often run-down and sitting vacant ready for an alternative re-use.
The new healthcare solution is to provide a holistic approach. From the street the clinic must have outstanding visual appeal. In order to attract new patients, the clinic façade has proven to be critical to clinic growth.
The interior must be patient friendly to ensure a superior patient experience is achieved from the time they walk through the door. Ambiance, colour pallets and natural lighting are highly regarded by patients and have proven to be a huge factor in patient retention.
Up to date technology is also highly valued. Patients feel that clinics containing new technology enables healthcare providers to deliver healthcare at a high standard. Patients feel that their health is important. This certainly helps with attracting new patients and also retaining patients.
For healthcare providers and clinic staff – a functional clinic workflow is highly regarded. Intelligent design with seamless workflows allows staff to perform at their best and to provide the best patient care possible.
Considering all the above factors – the design of the modern Healthcare clinic has many competing pressures.
So the question is – How to manage the numerous competing pressures?
The answer is simple – partner with an experienced Healthcare Construction specialist.
Key services provided by Healthcare Construction Companies
First and foremost, Healthcare Construction Companies must provide an array of services. They must be multi-functional to provide all services:
- Pre-construction planning and consultation
Early planning and a keen eye for detail before Construction starts is key. Often Healthcare Specialist will undertake a feasibility study and site analysis to ensure the project is achievable. At this stage a ballpark project cost is discussed to ensure both parties are on a similar page and to ensure there are no surprises. Regulatory compliance is considered in these early stages to ensure the project can be delivered and risk assessments are made. Only once all of these areas are considered will the project move to the next stage.
- Healthcare Design
Specialist Healthcare designers will get to work – designing a blueprint layout that will deliver a functional, rewarding and budget conscious solution. It is critical to the success of the design that healthcare design experts carry out the design. Too often we see commercial architects design what look to be wonderful plans only to find the design cannot be constructed to budget and that the design is functionally immature. At this point the project is undeliverable and often have to be redesigned at the investors cost.
- Construction and Project Management
Highly qualified Project managers and site staff will build and fitout the project from start to finish having regard to timeframes, regulatory compliance, health and safety and the finish line in mind.
- Regulatory Compliance
Healthcare construction must meet strict standards, building codes, health regulations, infection control etc. Qualified healthcare construction companies will ensure these obligations are met first time.
- Post Construction handover and support
Once construction is finalised, all areas that require commissioning and testing are completed. Paperwork provided, manuals and warranty documents are handed over, staff training and defect management are handled.
Specialist healthcare Construction fitout companies don’t just build –
Benefits of partnering with Healthcare Construction Fitout Companies
The real benefits of partnering with an experienced Healthcare construction Specialists can be defined in simple terms
- Risk reduction
Often doctors and Investors are just that. Doctors are highly educated in healthcare and Investors are simply looking for a healthy return on investment. Knowledge in Healthcare design, regulatory compliance and site construction are areas that are outside their strengths and ability. Errors in design, compliance and construction can be result in costly project overruns. To alleviate these risks – we suggest partnering with an experienced and successful Healthcare Design and Construction Company.
- Future Proof
Going the distance in healthcare construction is about designing for today……but also for tomorrow. To design a clinic ensuring future growth is possible is not a simple task. A healthcare practice designed for today will become outdated quickly. This requires experienced designers who understand the push and pull factors that impact successful Healthcare practices. To design a practice to deliver superior patient experience but also design a practice where medical instruments are in arms reach is a challenge that only experienced design companies can achieve.
Financial Control
The end game for Investors is to achieve a successful healthcare practice that provides a good return on Investment. No investor enters the Healthcare construction journey to be unsuccessful and fail. Errors that occur early in the design phase can impact the bottom line substantially. We have all heard stories about construction variations that have been crippling. To minimise these risks – you could consider selecting a Design and Construction company who offer a fixed price contract. This ensures that the project will be delivered to budget and can take the uncertainty out of the project.
How to select the right Healthcare Construction company
Simple – Do your research!
Talk – to others who have recently undertaken a Healthcare construction renovation or construction. Word of mouth is often the safest way to help choose your construction partner (ensuring you feel they are being honest).
Google – read and research how to select a partner to undertake your project. The strength of an online search often provides questions and thoughts for consideration that you may not have thought of.
Meet – once you have selected your short list – meet with the each. Get a feel for the design team, the project management team and support staff to ensure you can go the distance with them. Ensure they are personable with strong communication potential.
Don’t – make a decision based on budget alone. Often this can be a trap that novice investors make – only to find a myriad of variations to complete the project and ends in overruns. Select your partner based on their experience, word of mouth from previous investors, their workmanship and your gut feel (do not dismiss your gut feel).
View – take the time to view previous completed projects that has been undertaken by the short listed companies. Look at the quality of the finishings. And finally talk to previous clients. Their words are very valuable.
In short –
The complex challenges in designing and constructing the modern-day Healthcare clinic are real. They are not for the faint hearted or for the investor…….but they are for experienced Healthcare fitout and construction companies.
If you would like to chat to one of our design and construction specialist please call our office on 03 9532 0350.
