Medical offices are busy places with patients coming in and going out throughout the day. Considering the fact that the medical field continues to evolve, it is only right that medical offices evolve too. This does not mean you have to bring the entire office down and rebuild it but make improvements to the existing structure to meet the demands. Consult experts who renovate perform healthcare facilities and retail remodel. That said, we have compiled a list of some medical office remodeling tips that will help you kickstart the process the right way.
Make A Plan
Medical offices are slightly different from other regular offices. These offices are designed to help and treat patients. Plus, these are also a type of private places where doctors and patients interact on a personal basis. The primary purpose of medical offices is to offer facilities and relief to the customers walking in.
This means that if you are planning to remodel your medical office, you will need to put the customers first. The reason is that their needs and preferences and how you match them will decide your reputation in the market. This will look like a daunting task but you can make it easier by making a plan.
Medical offices have a lot going on in terms of tools, equipment, medicines, etc. That said, it is very easy to ignore the minor factors or things that are important for the patients. To avoid such mistakes, lay down everything on a piece of paper.
Furthermore, you should also consult an expert who can help you utilize the space more effectively. If you are already renting out a place, you will need every inch of free space to make way for more facilities. This is due to the fact that medical office rents are expensive and not everyone can afford to build new rooms.
Hire Qualified Contractors
This is going to be one of the most important factors in your remodeling process. Renovating a medical office is not something you can do on your own and will need a team of experts who can do the job for you. Of course, the service is going to be expensive but, in some states, strict regulations need to be followed and your contractor will make sure your office does.
When it comes to hiring qualified contractors, you will face multiple options. There is a high probability that you are overwhelmed by the choices and might fail to pick an option. The best way to go through this is by looking for references or cross-comparing portfolios and credentials.
You might be tempted choose someone who has quoted lower prices. This might be because they are not certified to carry out the building process. At the time, you might think you are saving some money but in the long run, you might get into trouble.
Therefore, gather multiple options in hand and interview each of them. Try to get an insight into how they will carry out the remodeling process and go with the one that understands your vision and helps you make better changes.
Define A Budget
As mentioned earlier, medical offices are not cheap places and the same goes for remodeling. You might have several remodeling ideas in your head but they might also not work based on the amount of money you are willing to spend. This is why experts suggest defining a budget to focus on the priorities first.
Since patients are your priority, you need to keep their demands and expectations in mind. Once you have done that, you can focus on luxuries or other additions that improve the aesthetic appeal of the office. Make sure that you share the budget with your contractor as well.
Having the contractor on the same boat will help him understand what you need. This is the best way to focus on your priorities and save money at the same time.
Create A Realistic Schedule
While the remodeling process is taking place, your medical clinic might not be open to the public. As a result, you will need to create a realistic schedule and share it with your contractor so that the timeline can be followed.
Furthermore, the longer the office remains closed, the more money you lose. This is yet another reason why you need to keep things moving instead of relying on the contractor to get it done.
Work In Phases
If you have a medical office that is a lot bigger than the average one, you might want to work in phases. A renovation project like that is going to cost more money and time and you might not be able to shut down the entire office at once unless there is a safety risk.
You should not be making any promises that cannot be kept. Discuss the entire process with your contractor and keep your patients in the loop about when to visit the clinic. This will keep them informed about when they can visit. Plus, you can also keep the office running while the remodeling takes place. However, make sure to display proper signage and instructions so visiting patients don’t use the areas that are currently being renovated.
And, the biggest advantage of working in phases is that you will be in control and able to correct any flaws or shortcomings instead of having the contractor work on the entire place again which will cost you additional time and money.
This is a common practice in renovating retail store where one part of the store is functional while the other part is under renovation by retail store contractors McLean.
Plan For The Unknown
The only reason medical office remodeling can be a frustrating task is due to unexpected complications arising. Even if you had planned everything from the start, you never know what can go wrong. For this reason, you should be a bit flexible and keep some space for the unknown.
It might be that new rules & regulations demand you to remodel the office in a certain way. There is also a chance that the inspection officer will show up and demand you to remove or delete a certain area of the office. There is no doubt that it can add fuel to the fire but if you are mentally prepared, you should have no problem dealing with such situations.
Build For The Future
Although, the current remodeling will bring your healthcare facility up to date, but it would be foolish to think this is going to be your last remodeling. But it also does not mean you should remodel after every year or so. Your medical office should be remodeled considering the future needs and demands.
Instead of spending money and time expanding the office after a year or two, you should think about it while it is being remodeled so that you can spare yourself the hassle.
Conclusion
Remodeling a medical office is all about how you plan the process. The tips mentioned above are tried and tested and will guide you in the right direction. But you should also listen to your commercial remodeling DC contractor for improvements and suggestions. This is the only way for you to spend your money wisely.
