Navigating the Complexities of Outpatient Healthcare Construction
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the demand for outpatient and ambulatory care services continues to grow. The construction of these facilities in the post-pandemic world remains challenging on several fronts. As a leading medical facility general contractor in Maryland, KasCon, Inc. offers clients expert assistance in navigating the complexity of facility construction.
Growth in Demand for Outpatient Facilities
The demand for outpatient facilities and ambulatory care centers is growing. Insurance companies are increasingly discouraging the use of hospital emergency rooms, driving the demand to construct more urgent care facilities. Procedures such as knee and hip replacements, previously relegated to hospitals, are now being performed in the outpatient environment. Increased awareness of the value of routine testing as a preventative measure places increased demands on existing outpatient facilities and drives the need for larger, efficient spaces.
Unique Needs of Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities have always had unique construction requirements which have grown substantially since the pandemic. Sanitization and easy-to-clean surfaces have been a mainstay of all healthcare environments, but a heightened focus on infection control has made these concerns more important. Quality ventilation systems and advanced air filtration have become standard, ensuring safer facilities. Hands free technology, back-up power systems, radiation protection, and structural demands are common to many ambulatory healthcare projects and those needs have not relaxed or changed. These trends all contribute to rising construction costs.
Navigating the “Perfect Storm” of Cost Pressures
Medical construction projects today face a “perfect storm” of cost pressures:
- MEP: Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have seen the most significant cost increases post-pandemic and are dominant elements in all healthcare projects.
- Aesthetic Considerations: There’s a growing emphasis on creating appealing “front of house” areas with high-end, expensive finishes to attract and maintain patients.
- Infection Control & Safety Best Practices: Meeting new requirements for infection control and other safety measures contributes to rising costs.
Predicting these increased materials costs is critical to predicting overall construction costs to prepare and meet accurate budgets.
The KasCon Advantage: Strategic Pre-Construction Planning and Proactive Problem Solving
At KasCon, we understand that navigating these multifaceted challenges requires more than just construction expertise – it demands a comprehensive, strategic approach. That’s why we place critical importance on thorough pre-construction planning. Our process involves detailed budgeting with comprehensive cost analysis from the project’s outset, expert guidance through the complex web of healthcare construction regulations, and innovative solutions leveraging our years of experience. We work collaboratively with healthcare providers, architects, and regulators to ensure all needs are met efficiently and cost-effectively.
KasCon understands how, and when, all the elements of a project need to fit together and works to proactively overcome any challenges. Some examples include:
- Identifying and pre-ordering mechanical equipment with a long-lead time to ensure a project stays on schedule
- Reworking electrical distribution to utilize more readily available equipment
- Implementing temporary solutions to keep a project on track, e.g. lining an x-ray room door with lead to make the site functional, while waiting or a back-ordered custom lead-lined door
Partnering for Success in Medical Construction
As the medical construction landscape continues to evolve, specialized expertise like KasCon’s becomes increasingly valuable. By understanding the unique challenges of outpatient and ambulatory facility construction and employing meticulous planning and innovative problem-solving, we help healthcare providers navigate this complex landscape of cost pressures and regulatory demands.
For healthcare providers looking to build or renovate outpatient facilities in Maryland, partnering with an experienced firm like KasCon can make the difference between a challenging, costly process and a smooth, successful project that meets all regulatory, functional, and budgetary requirements.
