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The complex nature of the medical Industry demands flexible minds and flexible spaces today more than ever. The importance of incorporation ‘flexible spaces’ in Healthcare cannot be underestimated. With the forever developing advancements in technology, medical practices will need to keep up and accommodate to provide the best patient care possible.

Healthcare Interior design firms need to take a forward-thinking approach to recognize the importance of easily modified spaces. Flexable design ideas by healthcare design specialists is in demand now more than ever. These design ideas can reduce costs of frequent renovations and can enable a healthcare provider to move with the times and to provide high level patient care.

Ideas to consider!

We all know that any Healthcare construction or Healthcare renovation is a capital intense investment. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to consult Healthcare construction fitout companies with a specialist Healthcare design team to create a flexible concept. As technology advances at a rapid pace, healthcare clinics must be able accommodate new technology. One idea is that clinics can incorporate a multi-purpose space in preparation for future expansion. Here are some ideas to do in advance:

Do your own research

Stay informed. Ensure you keep up to date with oversea trends. Once country to keep close eye on ever evolving technology is Germany. We find that many great ideas start in Germany. If you have the budget we recommend you attend one of the Trade Fairs held in Germany each year. These trends will find their way to Australian shores in a year or two.

Having these ideas in place can help future proof your Healthcare Fit Out to accommodate future technology.

Listen to Healthcare Design Specialists

A collaborative approach using Healthcare interior design firms is critical in the success of all Healthcare Fitouts. The inclusion of flexible spaces to cater for future needs is invaluable during the design phase. Specialist construction companies that work in the Healthcare environment often have specialist design teams that can help future proof your practice or your healthcare fit out or even your Hospital Construction.

The existing Layout

If you are undertaking a Healthcare Fit out – it would be a good idea to do a thorough examination of the current setup. To determine areas that are functioning well vs areas that require improvement. A thorough assessment can enable ideas that will incorporate flexible space design ideas ie non-permanent partitions or the use of using modular furniture.

A holistic approach lead by Healthcare interior design firms can help future proof your Hospital Construction, your Healthcare Construction and healthcare fitouts.

Is Modular furniture a solution?

Modular furniture is simply using separate pieces of furniture together to crease a sensible/flexible design idea. Accordingly, the use of modular furniture in designing a flexible space is key to success in healthcare construction and fit out. The flexibility of modular furniture allows Healthcare providers to respond to changing demands quickly and easily with limited cost.

The storage Challenge

With medical technology advancements, Healthcare providers need to adapt quickly to the introduction of new technology. Accordingly, versatile storage solutions are a good idea. Healthcare design Specialists are always looking for smart innovative storage ideas for any Hospital Construction, Healthcare Fitout or Healthcare Construction.

Further to enhancing flexible spaces, great storage ideas will also be a huge benefit in the delivery of high-quality healthcare. Intelligent storage solutions enables treatment rooms to accommodate healthcare professionals to work at an optimal pace. It also enables support staff to work in a clutter free environment.

Are multi-purpose rooms a solution?

Multi-purpose rooms might be examination rooms that can be easily converted to procedure rooms. In short they are versatile rooms that can be used in a multitude of ways. These rooms might house basic tools of trade so the room can be used by medical professionals in different ways. Again, these rooms are designed by healthcare design specialists who have years of experience designing flexible spaces within Healthcare environments.

Change is a necessary evil in any industry, and the success of a Healthcare renovation or Healthcare Construction can often hinge on how quickly and cost effective a Healthcare provider can adapt to changing times.

The idea of providing high quality healthcare should be the driving force behind creating flexible spaces.

Often the decision to open your first medical clinic has been a burning desire for quite some time. Possibly you have driven past a medical construction happening close to home, maybe a colleague might have taken a leap of faith or maybe you wish to be your own boss,regardless, here are some ideas to help you succeed.

Whether you are interested in building or renovating a medical clinic, veterinary practice, dental surgery, physiotherapist, podiatrist or even a radiology clinic the process is similar. We often find that first time investors find the hardest part is where to start.

To avoid wasting time or running on the spot, often the most important action undertaken is the first phone call. And this should be to a specialist financier to understand how much you can borrow. Even if you can self-fund the investment it would be prudent to seek a financial adviser who can help structure the investment to ensure you obtain all available tax benefits

Things to consider in the short term

After you have your budget sorted, it’s time to really consider what your first medical practice will look like. Really important things to consider would be how many doctors, dentists or medical professionals your practice may wish to house. How many administration staff might be necessary? What location might suit your first specialty practice. Whether you are you considering a new suburb or if you wish to remain in an area that you might be familiar with. Lots of things will run through your mind during this stage.

Realistically you will not have any definite answers at this stage but at the very least your vision for your fist medical investment is beginning to take shape.

What next?

After you understand your project budget and considered the size of the practice you wish to undertake – the leg work begins. Searching for prospective locations for your first medical clinic can be time consuming but it can also add fuel to the fire within you.

If you are considering investing in your first medical construction, then quite possibly you might be looking for vacant land in a newer suburb or potentially a run-down property to knock down in an establish area. All in all, there is no right or wrong – and quite often your available budget will help make this decision for you.

If you are wishing to renovate an existing building, then your foot work might take you in a different direction searching for a suitable property.

Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect size, but the size of a prospective property will help dictate how many consulting rooms might be available to you in that location. This alone can rule out some properties.

Often at this stage there is a desire to approach a designer/architect etc – but before you do this, we highly suggest you pick up the phone and call a specialist healthcare construction/fit out company.

Often an initial phone call with a specialist medical company can provide insight as to whether a location might be suitable for your first health care clinic. Specialist medical builders will either do a site visit or can talk you through things to consider like local council regulation that can help identify quickly if a property might be suitable or not.

Then What?

Once you find the ideal location you will need to find yourself a designer who has medical construction knowledge otherwise your investment in your first healthcare clinic might not come together as you may wish. The driving force behind having drawings created by a specialist, is they will draw plans to your budget. This will be a huge factor in ensuring your budget does not blow out.

Your design specialist will design your first healthcare clinic with care and precision. Your designer will have a series of questions to help them identify the key factors in your first healthcare practice. At this time colour schemes will be discussed, possibly 3D renders will be created and detailed space planning will be undertaken.

Quite often a good idea is to approach a one stop design and construction company. The key factor here is the fact that their internal design team will design your first healthcare clinic to budget. This can alleviate enormous angst for first time investors when they realise their beautiful plans are way outside their budget.

Ok, what is next?

After all parties are happy with the design, then the exciting time begins – construction.

This stage proves itself to be very testing and tiring on investors – and even more so if it is your first medical construction. If you have partnered with a medical construction specialist, then often this stage is buffered. Simply because of their knowledge they will help guide you through and will shoulder much of the load.

This stage can last 8 weeks to 18 months depending of the extent of works you require. If you are trying to work a full-time job as well this can be challenging but it is certainly possible with good time management and the right partner.

So you still wish to continue?

If you still wish to go ahead with investing in your first medical construction, then pick you that phone and ring a medical building and construction specialist.

Over the last decade, it is evident that the delivery of healthcare has changed in Australia. Long gone is the idea that a converted residential home can provide an inspiring healthcare experience for patients and staff. Sporadically located, the converted medical practice is still identifiable but often they have had almost a complete overhaul, rather than simply removing the kitchen.

 

As a Healthcare provider, it is critical to deliver a welcoming, peaceful, clean and comfortable environment to ensure the patient has a good experience to ensure they return.

 

From experience, most of us at some point has made the decision to move on from a healthcare provider for some reason or another. It might be an overcrowded waiting room, outdated medical equipment or and ‘old feel’, the reason behind why patients move on. It only takes a patient to drive past a flashy new medical build that salivates a patients’ desire to move healthcare provider.

 

So if you are a healthcare provider and might be thinking about a healthcare fitout, – find yourself a healthcare builder and consider a few of these ideas:

Patient centered design for healthcare fitouts

If the delivery of effective and sound medical advise is the driving force behind investing in Healthcare construction and fit out then your intentions will be driven a patient centered design.

 

Partnering with healthcare interior design firms can be a good place to start. In practice, they will be healthcare design specialists that can lead you to a successful Patient Centered experience. The idea being that the environment supports the emotional, physical and psychological needs to patients.

 

Some ideas:

 

Natural light

access to abundant natural light has proven to have a healing effect on patients and can improve their mood.

 

Colours matter

Use calming colours, comfortable finishes, ambient lighting to promote a calm environment.

 

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Think about the Family and Caregivers

These days, Healthcare Interior Design firms ensure all Healthcare designs consider family members and Caregivers in the design phase.

 

Family Spaces

Ensure seating in waiting room enable family members to sit with patients. The support during waiting times is found to help patients stay calm.

 

Kid Spaces

It can be a good idea for child friendly healthcare providers consider children and their needs. This helps parents and other patient remain calm if children are occupied.

 

Intelligent Designed Consulting Rooms – ensuring each consulting room has all the ‘up to date’ technology and a well laid out room. Ensure there is additional seating for family members to promote emotional well-being.

Accessible with flow

Healthcare construction companies and healthcare design firms place a high importance on ensuring all patients have access to healthcare.

 

Access

Disabled access/wheelchair access is a primary concern during the design phase. Healthcare standards and regulations ensure all healthcare premises have disability access. Wider doors, wider hallways and ramps ensure access.

 

Universal Design

Most patient rooms are designed with a familiar layout and colour palette to ensure a universal feeling that enhances ease of navigation.

 

Clear signage

Smart ideas like using colour coded signage can help patients find their way with limited stress.

Quiet place

During the design phase healthcare construction companies will ensure that there will be a minimal amount of noise transmitted between spaces. Healthcare design specialists will ensure sound proofing is a primary focus as this helps to reduce stress.

 

Acoustic insulation

the use of sound-proof material like acoustic panels or mass-loaded vinyl will help limit the transmission of noise from one room to another. In turn this leads to a less chaotic environment and helps to reduce stress.

 

Double walls and Acoustic flooring

double walls with an air gap together with sound-proof plasterboard can act as a good noise absorber and will to limit noise between rooms. This helps to maintain patient privacy. Combine this with acoustic flooring ideas, rooms can maintain noise privacy.

 

Solid Doors and double glazing

using heavy solid core doors, windows with double glazing, hush glass in doors and windows will help to keep noise within a room. Patients in the next room do not wish to hear patients in a joining room.

Staff Centered work areas

Wellness rooms or breakout rooms are important for staff who become emotionally impacted with patient care. Ensuring that there is an area for staff to ‘breath’ is really important in staff wellbeing. Healthcare design specialists will always ensure staff well-being is a high priority. Staff are the first line of contact and its important they are well cared for.

 

Wellness room

comfortable break out areas with comfortable areas like recliner chairs and soft lighting can be an important room in a staff centered Healthcare provider.

 

Efficient Layouts

Ensure workstations and well laid out and most items are within arms-reach. This includes consult rooms and also reception areas. The use of ergonomic furniture like adjustable height desks, quality task chairs, anti-fatigue mats, furniture on wheels will help prevent injury and worker fatigue.

Are you ready?

If you wish to chat with a healthcare design specialist our team of designers are ready to take your call. As one of the leading healthcare interior design firms in Australia we will help you take your healthcare fit out and construction from start to finish. As Heathcare builders we are ready to chat – call one of our team on 03 9592 4655.

Often there are competing pressures when planning for an upcoming Dental fit out. Obviously, patient care is the highest priority but closely behind is ensuring the dental clinic design and fit out is created on a strict budget.

 

Here are some ideas for a cost-effective Dental practice renovation:

 

Do your research on Dental Fit Out Companies.

Whether you are undertaking a Dental Fit Out Sydney, or Dental fit out Melbourne the key to a successful fit out is partnering with the right Dental fit out company.

 

Be selective when engaging your Dental fit out specialist. A good place to start is reviewing their website. Ensure they are Dental fit out specialists, not just a fit out specialist. This ensures they have the ‘know how’ to effectively undertake the fit out from start to finish.

 

We would recommend that you arrange a visit to a few previous projects they have undertaken. Chat to the owners and staff to see how their experience was. Ensure the process was seem-less and professional. Ensure there were no unforeseen circumstances.

 

Talking to others who have engaged the Dental fit out specialist is key to a successful partnership.

 

Space Optimisation

Efficient use of space planning during the Dental clinic design phase can really keep the budget in-tact. Using space to ensure patient care is at the foremost without compromising on functionality.

 

Some great ideas might be to use multi-purpose furniture and sensible storage solutions to minimise clutter and wall mounted cabinetry to optimize wall height. Re-arranging the reception areas, lunch-rooms and patient areas to accommodate required items only can sometimes open up enough space to add an additional dental chair. Space optimisation during the Dental clinic design phase can have a large impact on ensuring the fit out is designed to budget.

 

Sometimes Minimal is best

Often a Dental Practice Renovation can benefit from a minimalist approach. Keeping lines clean, simple colour schemes and practical furniture can save both on the hip pocket but also embrases a clean welcoming Dental Practice. Thankfully a minimal approach and costs savings can go hand in hand if the Dental clinic design is carefully designed.

 

Engaging a Dental fit out specialist who specialise in designing a dental practice renovation on a budget is a good approach. Introducing a neutral color scheme ie earth tones and whites can create a timeless feel together with keeping costs low. Functional and affordable furniture such as minimalist desks, storage units etc can also be completed on a budget yet still creating a classic enduring practice.

 

 

Are you ready?

As a dental fit out specialist, we will ensure your Dental Fit out Melbourne or Dental Fit out Sydney is designed to your budget. The skill in designing a dental fit out to a customers budget is critical when designing a budget friendly clinic. In practice we often see customers using an architect who designs an amazing clinic with all the latest trends with no consideration to the customers budget. In the long run this can create angst and disappointment for both the builder and the customer when the wish list is cut. Experienced dental fit out companies will ensure that the clinic design is designed within a budget.

 

If you are ready to talk to a dental fit out specialist you can chat with one of our team.

The terminology ‘Passive House’ has been thrown around quite substantially of late and with good reason. Passive House principals have certainly gained popularity world-wide as a forward-thinking approach to sustainable construction. The term originated in Germany in the 1990s and is now a commonly used term across the globe.

In short, the term defines the use of intelligent design that maximises sustainable and energy efficient environments for patients, staff and other stakeholders. The idea is to maintain a comfortable interior that leaves a smaller footprint than conventional construction techniques.

Here are some ideas on Passive House in Medical Construction:

Insulation

The use of quality insulation is a cornerstone of passive house design. Buildings are designed to minimise heat and cold transfer between inside and outside. More consistent interior temperatures will reduce the need for heating and cooling.

Air-tight

Buildings that are air tight in the medical industry have the benefits of both reducing energy loss as well as minimising infection control as the air is more consistent.

Solar

Good Passive House design will take advantage of Mother Nature’s free commodity. The use of solar energy in heating and for use with other electricity requirements will reduce costs of outgoings.

Regulations and Standards

As regulations and standards become stricter for new constructions, now-days Passive House designs arebecoming stock standard in most designs.

Design

ensure you work with a Passive House Designer – a professional about Passive House principals and performance. Conduct energy modelling with suitable software to ensure compliance to Passive House standards.

Windows and Doors

Double glazing is a minimum to ensure airtight seals to minimise heat loss.

Natural Light

Use Mother Nature’s light in place of interior lighting. This is an obvious suggestion and used quite widely to reduce the cost of utility bills.

Quality assurance and Testing

Over the construction there are tests that are undertaken to test compliance. Often the blower door test is undertaken to measure air-tight rooms. Then thermal imaging is undertaken, to identify heat loss. Various other tests are undertaken to ensure Passive House standards are passed.

Overall, Passive House design will prioritise the use of energy efficient techniques in building and construction in the attempt to leave the smallest footprint possible. It is important to remember that the restraints are limited to budget and also limited to available technology and training. Not all ideas and techniques that are used around the globe are available in Australia at the current time.

In this ever-improving environment the ability to achieve a Passive House design is always changing. But what an exciting time to be considering using Passive House Design in your new medical project.

Call us today to chat with one of our qualified passive house designers.

As with all other medical fields, the opportunity for us to care for our beloved animals keeps changing and advancing.

In Australia today, pet owners amount to 6.9 million households or 69% of households. Dogs amount to 48% of these, closely followed by 33% cats. It is evident the love Australians have for their pets.

Today, most pet owners confess that owning a pet has positively impacted their lives and have gone on to describe that they have adopted a parent/child relationship behaviour with their pet. This is evident on most Saturdays in all local shopping precincts, most of us have been inundated with pets at a café drinking ‘puppachinos’. Humans feel that the social interaction of their pets together with enjoying a matching drink qualifies as reciprocal love.

As pets begin to be seen more as family members than a pet, this has increased the dollar spend that owners are willing to part with for their pets welfare. Pampering pets with grooming and top end diets is just the start. When our beloved pets become ill, owners now are more likely to spend additional income on their well-being and care.

In 2024 and moving into the future we anticipate new technologies and processes to become more standard in Veterinary clinic design ideas. The increase in dollars that pet owners are willing to part with has also encouraged new veterinary practice construction and veterinary fitouts to encompass new technologies.

The visual pull of an up-to-date veterinary practice can not be underestimated. A stunning veterinary fit out will attract additional pet owners/patients over time.

Here are a few veterinary clinic design ideas for 2024.

Body Devices

The use of GPS trackers, motion trackers, temperature recording devices, PH levels, respiration rates, oxygen levels indicators, sleep cycles and much more. Not only will pets be monitored 100% of time the data and feedback will be available immediately for veterinary staff to review. Accordingly, innovative veterinary construction companies are ensuring these devices and ideas are incorporated in the veterinary clinic design ideas for new veterinary construction and fit outs.

Telemedicine

Through the years 2020 and 2021 with COVID lock-downs the world changed. Medical practices introduced telemedicine. This is now spiling out into the veterinary arena.

The benefits of telemedicine is enormous. Many pet owners and pets feel anxious going to a veterinary practice for a consultation yet would be more than happy for a digital experience. Once the consultation is completed, any medicine can be left at the reception desk for owners to collect. The process is quite easy.

Accordingly veterinary fitouts and veterinary practice construction will often now plan for a room with relevant technology to allow for telemedicine and veterinarians to have secure private conversations with pet owners.

Other benefits of telemedicine have shown to help with post surgery care with greater and more often monitoring of the patient.

Most probably, the burden lies on the receptionist to be adequately trained to identify telemedicine cases versus in-practice consultations. Training in this area is critical to the success of telemedicine.

3D Printing

3D printing can help veterinary surgeons create bone models for animals going into surgery and then submitting them to Universities for up-and coming vet students to use ‘real life’ surgery examples.

The education of the next veterinary generation is benefiting enormously with 3D printing.

Another area that 3D printing also helps is with prosthesis application and design. This further enhances injured pets standard of living and also prolongs their lives. Many years ago these animals might have been euthanized.

Laser Therapy

The use of light waves of 600 to 1070 nanometres can be used to alter tissues and cells in pets to improve various pet ailments. Laser Therapy can be planned and designed in Veterinary fit outs to help animals suffering arthritis, skin irritations, ligament injuries and more. This new-age treatment is providing plentiful benefits to pets and patients.

The above list is just a few areas that we will see in the veterinary space in 2024 and further. It is imperative that veterinary practice construction and veterinary clinic design ideas keeps up to date with technology advancements to ensure our beloved pets are being cared for as well as possible.

If your medical practice is beginning to look a bit tired, or small repairs are beginning to become more regular than not, it might be time to consider an update your practice.  Undoubtedly, a fresh look medical practice can be the best form of advertising in attracting new patients. The process of how to find “the right medical fit out company” for your practice can be a daunting task.  Sometimes the biggest challenge is where to start.  Quite often the most useful tool is Google and word of mouth.

GOOGLE – Medical Fitouts Melbourne or Medical Fit Out Companies

Often googling ‘medial fit out companies” or similar terminologies will bring forth companies who have deep pockets and might pay for ‘adwords’ that match the above, but the real star of the show might be a medical fit out company that has a smaller advertising budget and may not display on the first page of your google search. Most times it would be in your best interest to dig a little deeper than the first page of google.

Often when doctors or investors are considering investing capital into a new medical construction or fit-out, the decision has been floating around for quite some period of time. Rarely do we find that these decisions are off the cuff. It might be that your current practice is looking tired or run down. You might have seen a drop off in patient number or simply you might be seeing an opportunity to build in a new suburb which lacks an established medical practice. Regardless, there are plentiful considerations that play a crucial role in stepping forwards. These benefits can be categorised as tangible and intangible benefits.

COST SAVINGS

Its an oxymoron putting investing and cost savings in the same sentence, but in fact this can be true. Investing money into a well designed medical practice or medical fit out can actually save you money. Efficient lighting can reduce utility bills. Efficient workflows can reduce employment costs. Reduced wait times can reduce patient attrition. Cost savings are hard to value but in reality this is a huge consideration when considering investing into a medical improvement.

INCREASED REVENUE

We have all driven past a run-down medical practice, veterinary practice or even a dental practice and silently said to ourselves “I wouldn’t attend that practice”. The visual pull that an up to date medical practice has can not be measured in dollar value, but we are aware that other than referrals from family and friends, the visual façade of a building is the next biggest draw card for patients.

Patients are clearly more willing to choose a healthcare provider that has a modern, clean, welcoming environment. The return on this investment can not be underestimated.

Furthermore, newer medical practices often integrate new technologies and can often offer additional related services that increases revenue. This can be seen in many medical practices now days having podiatry or pathology services etc. Having additional allied health services in one building is a huge benefit to patients.

REPUTATION

Investing into a new medical construction or medical fit out will only improve the clinics reputation. We have never seen a clinics reputation be effected negatively from investing in the future. Any negative reputation usually stems from poor staff interactions – never investing in a tangible benefit.

A good reputation for a clean well-organised, calm, friendly, well laid out clinic will only help with patient referrals. We all love to refer a loved one to a clinic where we have had a good experience. This intangible benefit can not be underestimate. A clinics reputation contributes to its goodwill.

FUTURE VALUE

While investing in a new medical clinic or a fit out can be significant, you should consider the long-term benefits and not just the short term benefits. A good quality medical fit out will have a longer life span. This requires less capital investment overtime through repairs and replacements. The re-sale value of the medical clinic will also hold its value for a greater period of time. If you have built in growth area, this could result in an investment that might out perform term deposits.

RISK MITIGATION

Another factor that is hard to value is the ability to avoid unforseen breeches of care. Investing in a well laid out medical facility may avoid any regulatory non-compliance and in turn you could avoid rather lengthy legal battles. The cost of a lawsuit and the personal time invested in fighting legal proceedings can be hugely costly to a medical practice. Investing in a state of the art medical construction or medical fit out can protect the financial interests of the healthcare provider and contribute to the overall Return on Investment.

OTHER BENEIFTS

Other intangible benefits of investing in a medical construction are things like improved staff morale, improved patient outcomes, positive work environment for professional staff, better patient experience and more.

Ultimately, calculating the return on Investment of a medical fit out or medical construction requires an analysis of both tangible and non-tangible benefits for both the long term and short term. It might mean that you will have to engage an accountant or other finance professional to help.

For some good reading please see our case studies for more food for thought and or contact us today.