Healthcare is rapidly transitioning…newer technology, newer procedures, newer medical equipment are constantly being invented for the purpose of improving patient care. In order to incorporate these cutting-edge advancements in your existing set-up you may need to renovate your existing healthcare facility.  

Another reason for renovation may be that you wish to stay abreast of the latest trends in architecture and interior design. As construction systems and design frameworks and material used are undergoing a quantum leap, you may be feeling that your hospital needs renovation to stay on the same plane as newly emerging hospitals and not seem outdated or obsolete 

Remember, renovating a hospital is no bed of roses. It will involve a ton of costs, efforts and time. You will have to plan it in such a way that there are no disruptions in your current workflow. 

4 things to remember 

1. Conduct a needs assessment 

While renovating a functional hospital, it is necessary to assure that there is no interference with your current patient care, disruption in your workflow or reduction in positive patient experience. hence it is logical to first assess if your hospital is really in the need of renovation before investing into it.  

The probable causes of renovation 

• Lack of space to house new medical equipment 

• Inefficient space planning 

• Old electrical wiring and plumbing systems 

• Inability to support new healthcare technology 

• Rundown facility 

• Insufficient storage facility 

• Inadequate seating or consultation facilities. 

Carefully assess your cause of renovation so that you can justify the cost. 

2.Assess existing features and facilities 

Conduct assessments on equipment and  systems to determine which can be retained and which are white elephants. Use operational efficiency, energy saving ability, user friendliness etc. as parameters to determine what to retain and what to replace. Carefully scrutinize all your assets, put every existing resource under the lens to determine its relevance and utility.  

3.Plan for the future 

Renovation is an expensive affair and cannot be done just on a whim and fancy. While renovating, make sure that these changes will stay relevant and  not get obsolete for many years. Take this opportunity to add adaptability and flexibility in your designs. Anticipate what your long-term needs will be if you plan to expand or add some services or departments. 

4. Go for phased-renovation 

A hospital is a haven of hope for thousands. You cannot shut it down for renovation or your patients will suffer. Hence plan your renovation in a phased manner so that there is minimum workflow interruption. 

To summarize, hospital renovation is common nowadays, however you should conduct it with diligence and careful consideration. If you need any help in this sphere, be sure to consult Hospertz, a leading healthcare consultancy firm of India,  

Blog has been written by Dr. Vishal Jadhav, a veteran in the field of hospital consultancy with a rich experience of more than 20 years and founder of the Healthcare Consultancy Firm, Hospertz.

Dr. Vishal Jadhav, Director

Linkedin: Dr Vishal Jadhav
hospertz@gmail.com
+91 9867712705/ 9820833149