The healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace in the United States. According to the CDC, six out of ten Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. As the number of patients increases, the number and quality of healthcare facilities need to grow as well.
Along with new medical center constructions, older hospitals, and other facilities need to undergo improvements. The demand for renovations is fueled by the need to make space for additional patients, bigger (and better) emergency departments, modern healthcare technologies and diagnostic equipment, and many other factors.
Whether you are planning to construct a brand-new building or renovate your existing facilities, you need the services of a healthcare construction contractor to make sure everything is done efficiently and correctly.
Choosing the right healthcare construction contractor makes all the difference to your facility’s long-term success in providing the best patient care. In this guide, we will explore the various factors you need to consider when hiring healthcare contractors for your project.
The construction industry is a vast field with numerous sub-sectors and niches. Healthcare construction is focused on the design, construction, and renovation of doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. It’s a specialized category within the wider field of non-residential construction. On the basis of building codes, we can broadly divide healthcare facility construction into two subcategories:
Hospitals are mostly operating around the clock and tend to have occupants who may require assistance during emergencies. They are categorized under Group I Occupancy (Institutional). Group homes, alcohol rehab centers, assisted living facilities, and other specialized institutions all have the same designation.
Clinics are smaller healthcare facilities run by physicians providing outpatient services. Although they are healthcare facilities, they do not fall under Group I – instead, these construction projects are designated Group B Occupancy (Business).
Out of the two, hospital construction is undoubtedly more complex and demanding. With that said, both types of buildings are healthcare facilities with unique building requirements that set them apart from general construction projects. In the next section, we will look at the main factors that make healthcare construction a specialized niche.
Healthcare projects are almost always handled by contractors who specialize in this building niche. These kinds of new construction and renovation projects have unique demands you do not see in regular residential or commercial building projects. They include the following:
Hospital buildings and clinics have higher standards regarding air quality and fire safety. These aspects have to be taken into account and addressed appropriately from the beginning of the design stage. If the construction/renovation is taking place at an already occupied facility, things become even more complicated.
Noise and dust levels have to be kept to a minimum for the sake of patient well-being and safety. Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) must be conducted to ensure that the building project does not lead to a contagion.
You cannot evacuate a hospital or shut down an essential clinic for days or weeks in order to complete a renovation project. In hospitals, Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSMs) have to be used to ensure that the changes to the layout or shutdown of systems do not affect the regular day-to-day functioning.
Renovation projects close to patient rooms in a hospital are often conducted during the daytime, as nighttime operations can affect patient sleep. In contrast, such projects in a private clinic may be conducted at night so that daytime operations remain unaffected.
Both hospitals and modern medical clinics utilize a wide array of advanced diagnostic machines and other medical devices. Modern equipment comes with recommended operating conditions, safety guidelines, and power requirements.
They are also often quite bulky – the building plans have to be designed in advance keeping in mind their unique requirements. To make matters even more complicated – the technology behind medical devices is evolving rapidly.
A majority of healthcare renovation projects are the result of the need to replace outdated equipment. For best results, the contractors handling such healthcare projects should have advanced knowledge of these devices and their requirements.
The significance of hospitals and clinics to modern human society cannot be overstated. People’s lives and good health depend on the service provided in these structures. The design and construction of these are best left in the hands of seasoned contractors with prior experience in healthcare construction services.
Here are the seven essential things to consider when picking healthcare contractors for any project, be it new construction or renovation:
People may argue that construction projects are all the same. And they aren’t entirely wrong – we use steel and concrete to build the basic structure of most buildings. Plus, the same primary goals for any construction company remain identical – stay under budget and deliver by the deadline date.
With that said, as we have already seen, healthcare projects have many other nuances that an inexperienced general contractor will not be able to grasp. From the design phase all the way to the actual construction, there is a need for attention to patient safety and comfort.
For instance, a dentist’s office should have soundproofing for the treatment rooms and a warm, comforting ambiance in the waiting rooms. The spaces should be designed to optimize the flow of patients, doctors, and administrative personnel.
Only associated general contractors experienced in handling healthcare construction projects can cover all these bases adequately. Ensure that the healthcare construction contractor you finalize has direct experience in completing multiple projects successfully.
Experience alone is not enough if the quality of work is not up to par. Construction is a field where it is easy for companies to attempt to cut corners. Always check the track record of a contractor before signing a deal.
Ask for references from past clients you can contact directly – do not make a decision solely based on testimonials published on their website or other promotional content. Call and check with any clients who have worked with them in the past on similar projects.
When talking to past clients, be as thorough as possible – ask about their construction quality, adherence to safety standards, communication style, and ability to stick to deadlines.
There are two main ways in which you can do any construction project. The traditional method involves two separate parties – an architectural firm to create the design and a general contractor to build that design.
While this option works for large projects, for small and medium-sized endeavors, a more convenient option is to bring in a firm that can do both the pre-construction (design) and the construction phases.
In the traditional design-bid-build approach, additional time is required to find the right builder through a bidding process. With the design-build approach, you can remove the bidding process and get to the construction phase much faster.
Again, when looking for a contractor with pre-construction expertise, look at their track record in past healthcare construction projects. Check out some of their designs and see if the quality is up to modern standards.
Construction is a hazardous activity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has stringent safety standards specified for the construction sector, including fall protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), fire safety, requirements for confined spaces, illumination, accident prevention, and more.
General contractors who cut corners on workplace safety are a tremendous liability. If accidents occur on your construction site, the project will get delayed. The contractor could also end up getting sued by the victims, and your project’s reputation may be damaged.
To play things safe, always check the safety record of the healthcare construction contractor you choose. You can go through the official OSHA records to find a particular contractor’s recent track record on workplace safety – called the OSHA 300 logs.
The license and bond requirements for general contractors can vary widely depending on your state and local jurisdiction. Please check your local laws and regulations before evaluating a healthcare construction contractor. Furthermore, you should check if they are part of any notable industry associations.
Insurance coverage is a critical factor many clients overlook when hiring contractors for smaller projects like renovations. Check if the contractor has umbrella insurance coverage that extends their liability and covers any damage done to your property.
Augmented reality (AR) is a novel technology that has only begun being utilized in recent years in the construction business. In the past, builders relied on scale models and artists’ renditions to show clients how the finished project would look.
Often, clients would find subtle imperfections in the project after completion and delivery, resulting in additional costs for corrections. This is particularly true in the case of indoor spaces – minor things like lighting and overall ambiance can make a huge difference.
Now, with AR technology, you can “see” the finished building/remodeling project in advance. AR technology combines computer-generated images with the real world – you can explore a full 3D model of the proposed design before finalizing the plans.
This allows you to spot anything you don’t like in advance – you can provide feedback and get the design team to incorporate the changes before construction commences. With AR modeling, you can get a finished project that is 100% in sync with your vision and expectations.
Augmented reality is a great tool that gives you a complete picture of exactly what the contractor is planning to do to your premises. You can easily avoid any unexpected situations and cost overruns by picking a contractor that offers this new-age technology.
Corporeal Visions is one of the most trusted names in the healthcare construction industry of Virginia. Here are some of the key reasons why you may want to pick Corporeal Visions for your next project:
Corporeal Visions has more than 8 years of experience in designing and building healthcare facilities. In particular, the firm has deep expertise in creating dental offices from the ground up.
Our team of professionals has successfully completed dozens of healthcare projects across Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We offer clients a comprehensive array of services, including dedicated healthcare architects, construction management, and associated general contractors.
Corporeal Visions offers clients the freedom to pick a construction approach they like.
Here is how the process works when you approach the company for a project: First, the designers at Corporeal Visions will work with you to create a blueprint for your project. From there, you decide what you want to do with those plans. One option is to let Corporeal Visions handle the construction. The other option is to put the project up for an open bidding process and pick a winning contractor.
We also offer a design-build approach to eliminate the bidding process. This will allow the construction phase to begin in a timely manner.
If you stick with Corporeal Visions, you will get access to a dedicated client log. This online log will keep you posted at all times about the progress of your building project. The project is handled by experienced in-house contractors and construction managers at Corporeal Visions.
From design and pre-construction, all the way to the project handover stage, Corporeal Visions guarantees constant attention and open cooperation with all clients. You can track the progress at all times, either online or by getting in touch with the project manager on your specific construction.
Corporeal Visions is one of the first firms in healthcare construction to introduce augmented reality technology into the design phase. You can walk around a holographic rendition of your future dental office/medical office building/other healthcare facilities right in the pre-construction phase.
The photorealistic renderings of the proposed design allow you to explore every nook and cranny of the floor plan before deciding to go forward with it. If you find anything that needs tweaking or improvement, you can communicate your changes to the medical center design team.
Construction will only commence when you are fully satisfied with the designs created by the Corporeal Visions team. AR technology ensures that you sign off on the construction of a design that you are 100% satisfied with – no need to worry about any unpleasant surprises in the future.
If you are searching for a dependable and experienced healthcare construction contractor in North Virginia, Maryland, and the nearby Washington, DC metropolitan area, look no further than Corporeal Visions. We specialize in all aspects of healthcare construction services. If you have any further questions or want to schedule a consultation to see what we can offer for your healthcare industry construction project, give us a call at 703-909-4193, or fill out the form on our Contact Us page.
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