A Guide to Healthcare Construction & Remodeling

Building a healthcare facility isn’t your average construction project. Whether it’s a hospital, dental office, veterinary facility or any other type of healthcare facility, building for this sector is more complicated and demanding than almost any other industry. Any reputable healthcare facility will need to meet high standards for hygiene, safety, and compliance with numerous regulations.

If you’re interested in building or remodeling a healthcare facility in the greater Twin Cities area, it’s crucial to find a general contractor with experience in this field. In this guide, we’ll address what you need to know before you get started on a healthcare remodeling or construction project.

The Unique Challenges of Healthcare Construction

There are several reasons that construction and remodeling projects for healthcare facilities in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area tend to be more challenging than other construction projects. Some of the main reasons are:

  • All healthcare facilities must be built or renovated in accordance with the stringent regulations of numerous organizations. The completed facility must be in compliance with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Facility Guidelines Institute for Design and Construction, the National Fire Protection Association, and more.
  • Healthcare remodeling and construction projects need to place a priority on infection control from start to finish. To this end, your general contractor must ensure that their staff cleans daily, takes steps to manage dust and debris, maintains proper air filtration in the worksite, and conducts mandated infection control risk assessments.
  • If remodeling or new construction is being completed for an operational hospital, dental office or other healthcare facility, special measures must be taken to minimize disruptions to staff and patients.

Scoping Out Your Healthcare Construction Project

Before work begins on a healthcare construction or remodeling project in the Twin Cities metro area, it’s vital to begin by outlining the full scope of your project. A good first step is to set clear and attainable goals for your project. Decide whether your main priority is to add more space to your facility, to ensure total code compliance, to improve comfort and convenience for patients, or any other objective. With a clear goal in mind, it will be easier to define the scope and determine the budget for the project.

One of the first big decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want to build a new healthcare facility from scratch, construct an expansion for an existing facility, or remodel areas of the existing facility. It’s important to consider the needs of patients and staff as you make this decision; if you’re remodeling or expanding the structure, you may need to alter daily operations or even shut down temporarily.

Choosing the Right General Contractor for Healthcare Construction

Once you have a clear understanding of the scope of your project – including the goals you hope to achieve and the compliance standards you will need to adhere to – it’s time to choose a reputable general contractor that specializes in healthcare construction in the Twin Cities metro. This is not a choice to be made hastily; with all the factors that go into a healthcare remodeling or construction project, you’ll need to place your trust in a general contractor that has experience in this sector.

Start by creating a Request for Proposal that clearly outlines the requirements of your healthcare construction project. Next, research general contractors in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with experience in the healthcare sector. Set up interviews with at least three or four different companies, show them your RFP, and ask them questions to determine if they are the right fit for your project.

Here are a few good questions to ask during your interviews with general contractors:

  • How much experience does your company have with healthcare construction/remodeling?
  • Can I see a portfolio of healthcare construction projects you’ve completed for previous clients?
  • Could you give me a reference from a past client in the healthcare industry?
  • Do you have a plan in place for infection control risk assessments?
  • Are you knowledgeable about all codes, permits, and compliance associated with healthcare construction?

 

Experienced Healthcare Construction Contractor in the Twin Cities

Heritage Construction is a general contractor that has many years of experience with completing projects in the healthcare, dental, and veterinary industries. If you’re searching for a reputable healthcare construction and remodeling company in the greater Twin Cities area, reach out to us today to learn more about our capabilities!