Healthcare construction spending is on the rise and was projected to nearly double in 2017.  The Dodge Construction Outlook predicted that this growth will continue in 2018.  The trend of health systems expanding their presence into smaller communities, with both acute and non-acute facilities, for the convenience of customers is growing.  In addition, construction of urgent care, rehabilitation, and ambulatory surgery centers that are tailored to meet the changing needs of patients and local communities is on the rise.  The planning, design, and construction of a new facility, or renovation of exiting space, is both exciting and daunting, all at the same time.  Countless hours and every available resource are used to help ensure all details surrounding planning and building of the facility are completed correctly, on time, and on budget.

 

BUT…all of that work only gets you a wonderful new building.  What about all the rest?  There are many articles published in healthcare and design literature regarding the successes of different types of construction philosophies in the 21^st century (expedited construction schedules, Design Build, etc.)  Less published, but just as important, are the successes of the many companies now seasoned to the challenges of implementing the REST of your project such as:  Who is buying the equipment and when?  When do you need to purchase the “big” stuff?  Who decides what equipment you get?  Who is coordinating the correct installation of all this?  How do you set up your new unit?  Who is in charge of preparing everyone for the first patient?  How will your work flow change?  Who will train you?  Who is going to train your staff?  How do you ensure you don’t miss any key details?  And sometimes…how do you even START planning for this?  These are just a few of the DOZENS of questions you must ask (and answer), and EARLY in the project cycle.

 

Understanding there are so many pieces to manage when outfitting and activating a new building, we also know that surprises and unforeseen disruptions will happen in every project, which can not only frustrate a project team, but can cause painful and often expensive delays in opening your facility.  In order to coordinate the sometimes thousands of details that surround equipment planning, procurement, receiving and installation, the extensive training of staff that will bring the new facility alive, managing regulatory and compliance tasks, ensuring all new systems are in working order, stocking the new units, and even giving tours of the new space, you must have a proven roadmap to help you succeed.  The sheer volume of extra work that comes along with a new project of any significant size has the high probability to overwhelm staff who already have a full time job managing the day-to-day operations of an existing facility.  To further complicate things, the construction of a new facility is many times a once-in-a-career event for some healthcare professionals who honestly just don’t have the experience of knowing what to expect.

 

Digesting all of this may easily cause you additional stress, but be assured there are many different types of teams available to help!  In this session, 2 speakers will guide you through some key lessons learned to help you avoid common mistakes when planning, designing, constructing, and outfitting your new facility, positioning yourself for a well-deserved, successful project.