Designing and building a healthcare facility is not just about good design, but also ensuring the building is safe for patients, staff, and visitors. Medical facility construction is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and consideration to ensure the space meets the needs and requirements of both medical professionals and their patients.

Here’s our guide to healthcare construction and remodeling.

Define project goals and needs

The first step in a medical office construction project is a detailed plan. Before breaking ground, there needs to be an understanding of what the medical facility will provide:

• What medical services will be offered? Is it family practice? Specialty procedures? A standalone urgent care? A hospital that provides inpatient care for medical conditions, surgeries or emergencies?
• How many patients are planned to be seen or served each day?
• Is there a need for exam rooms, procedure rooms, imaging spaces and inpatient rooms?
• Is there a specific patient group being served, such as children or seniors?

Once the need of the medical facility is defined and clear, the right location matters because not every space is feasible. Is there enough parking? If it’s a hospital with an emergency room, is it easily accessible from highways? Is this property zoned for medical use?

Medical Office Building Codes

All medical facilities must adhere to national safety and building standards, such as those established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which encompass fire safety, alarms, sprinklers, electrical systems, HVAC, infection control, and emergency power systems. The facility must also be accessible to people in accordance with the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes ramps, wide doorways and entryways, accessible restrooms, and other inclusive features that meet individual needs.

Plan for a welcoming environment and a good patient experience

A successful medical office should provide patients with an experience that minimizes the stress and anxiety associated with visiting a doctor. We have to consider the layout of a medical office from waiting rooms to exam rooms. The flow for patients should be easy to navigate and have a clear purpose. To create a calming environment, plan for comfortable seating areas, natural lighting and the right paint choices that provide a soothing experience. To protect doctor-patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, ensure sound masking can be incorporated, and that shared walls between private rooms have a high Sound Transmission Coefficient (STC).

Accommodate medical technology

It’s essential to begin a medical or healthcare construction project with the end in mind. The equipment chosen affects how a space will be used, and there are special requirements to accommodate a wide range of diagnostic and treatment technologies.

When it comes to healthcare construction, Kopplow has extensive experience, ranging from new medical construction to renovations and finish-out services. Whether you’re undertaking new construction or a remodel, our team is here to help. We are passionate about helping medical professionals build a facility that can allow them to provide the best care possible. Contact us today or explore some of our recent medical construction projects.