As the country’s elderly population continues to grow significantly, the need for more medical facilities is increasing as well. Because more and more individuals are getting afflicted with chronic diseases, accessible care to lengthen their lives is vital.
This is why the construction of medical buildings has taken the spotlight in recent years. What then makes medical facility construction distinct? Read on to find out everything about it.
The Uniqueness of Medical Building Construction
Various medical buildings can be found across the country, and it can be easy to see how they vary in a lot of ways. However, they still share the same characteristics unique to properties in the medical field. These characteristics aim to address specific challenges, issues, and regulations in the practice of medicine. Compared to buildings of other natures, medical facilities differ in design, structure, and requirements.
Construction Requirements
There is a wide range of medical treatments available today, and healthcare organizations are dedicated to delivering care to diverse patients in a cost-effective manner. Because of this need for operation efficiency, different types of facilities are built. For example, it is very common to see standalone cancer care centers nowadays.
Every type of medical building has its unique requirements, and architects must take this into consideration when designing the facility. To ensure that pertinent requirements are met, medical professionals who wish to establish a new building should meet with the builder and architect and develop a preconstruction plan suited to the facility’s goals.
The builder and architect must design a space that stays flexible even over time. This just means that new medical buildings should be capable of accommodating changes to their equipment technologies, treatment methods, and patient demographics. Whether you are building a satellite facility or a special-care unit, it should be constructed with adaptability as your key goal.
The facility must also meet the basic functional needs of your personnel and patients as well as the emotional needs of your patients’ visitors. Dealing with chronic illnesses can be challenging, and you want to build a medical space that can provide the necessary comfort for its occupants.
Regulatory Standards
Construction regulations for medical buildings vary from state to state. We recommend hiring the help of a medical construction firm that is knowledgeable and can adhere to your state’s technical and regulatory standards. The professionals you choose must be able to ensure that design and construction tasks are completed without any compliance issues.
It is best to incorporate resiliency planning in the design process of your facility, especially if you are building in an area that is prone to natural disasters. Additionally, a medical building must be able to protect confidential health information, as stated in the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Both visual and acoustic privacy fall under such regulations and can influence workstation layout and the locations of patients’ medical records.
Lastly, sustainability must be at the forefront when designing and building a healthcare facility. These buildings are meant to last for decades, so they must meet all local energy and conservation regulations.
Conclusion
In designing and building a facility, builders and architects should collaborate proactively with the occupants’ best interests in mind. The proper construction of a medical building is essential to ensuring patient and personnel safety and improving care outcomes.
If you are looking for medical building contractors in Toronto, reach out to Masterstrux. We are a quality-focused commercial construction company that provides turnkey business solutions and complete interior renovation services. Contact us now!