By Marisa Manley

Physical elements of your healthcare facility – whether created through new construction, expansion, or renovation – can help attract patients and provide the community with superior care.  But without good planning and execution, hospital executives are likely to endure excessive costs and delays with possibly diminished patient relations and to end up with an inadequate facility.

The first step in  proper planning is to choose a project team that can work effectively together.  Team members include hospital executives, the project manager, the architect/ engineering group responsible for design and for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems (MEP), and the general contractor (GC).

Your team must have clear objectives, communicate them clearly, and make timely decisions.  Your project manager, sometimes called an “owners rep,” must coordinate and manage the architect/engineer and GC, monitor schedule and budget, be first-responder for unexpected situations, and lead weekly team meetings.

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By Marisa Manley

A crucial by-product of the healthcare boom is the high cost of occupying real estate, now the second or third largest expense, after personnel and insurance, for general and specialty medical practices, hospital groups, and diagnostic labs.

In Western Pennsylvania, once the steel industry hub but now a center for health care and education, today’s high vacancy rates for medical office space have opened the door for sweetheart deals on new leases.  But the watchword is always caution.

Owners of buildings and properties are always looking to put themselves at an advantage in any lease agreement, so facility managers who want to reduce risk and get the greatest value out of their real estate must start the process early, define needs and goals, and use all the power of alternatives.

It is important to create a detailed project plan, schedule anticipated resources and estimate the costs of each phase.  It is also critical to establish firm criteria for site selection including size, location, price range, and whether the property is to be leased or purchased.

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