Many physicians who are on the verge of establishing their healthcare facility flounder at the first decision that they have to make…namely choosing the right site for their hospital.  This is understandable because they may be venturing into entrepreneurship for the first time. If you too are in this situation, read on as you should be aware of the numerous snares that you can be trapped in unless you choose your hospital site with careful consideration. The site of your hospital truly matters because where you will lay the first brick of your healthcare facility…will be the foundation on which the fortifications of your future success rest.

Hence, the decision on where to begin your venture is of paramount importance because this is the place where your efforts will bear fruit and you will be able to realize your dream of providing excellence in healthcare to thousands.

Why should you choose your hospital site carefully

1. Accessibility

When a patient zeroes down on a hospital, convenience is the first factor that he/she considers. If you choose a site that is remote and is not easily accessible or not connected by public transport, you will lose out on patient volume and footfall which will translate into failure in the long run. Hence, take heed to choose a centralized location which is well connected by public transport. This will ensure the convenience of both your patients and your workforce. Hospitals that are inaccessible spots generally receive high patient volume.

2. Space

Before selecting your hospital size, be sure to factor in the space required by you with consideration to your desired infrastructure, expected footfall, and expansion plans. A multi-tiered hospital will require a vast plot whereas a small outpatient clinic can be easily housed in a building.

If you choose a small space without considering all these parameters, your hospital will be cramped and congested and will be a letdown on patient experience. Studies have revealed that crowded waiting rooms and overflowing reception areas are big turn-offs for patients and they switch to other hospitals to avoid congested places. Select a site that is spacious and roomy and can accommodate a plethora of equipment, furniture, workforce, etc.

3. Facilities

Patients always choose hospitals that offer them conveniences like parking facilities, laboratory and screening services under the same roof, etc. If you choose a site without surveying whether it will offer your potential patients these additional facilities, you are likely to get less footfall.

Moreover, to run a hospital smoothly, you will require public utility services like water, electricity, and piped gas facilities. If you choose a site on the outskirts of a city due to budget considerations, your hospital may face frequent problems like water shortages, power failures, and load shedding. To circumvent these, you will have to invest in generators, borewells, tankers, cylinders, etc which will turn out to be more expensive in the long run.

Another consideration is waste disposal. Hospitals give rise to a ton of biohazardous waste. If you choose a site which had no access to a sewage treatment plant, you will not get a license.

4. Your budget

Budget is the deciding factor in the choice of location. If you make a site selection decision without careful consideration of your budget, you are likely to be in a pit of trouble. If you want to start your facility in a tier 1 or 2 city, you may have to compromise as the real estate prices hear may be sky-high, and not many centrally-located sites will be available.

5. Your customer

If you fail to properly analyze your targeted patient base before making your site decision, you can end up in trouble. Your target audience analysis depends upon demographics like your specialization, the expected age, gender, health condition of patients, etc. e.g., if you are planning to start a cardiac rehabilitation center, a secluded peaceful location should be your first choice and if you are planning to start a trauma center, a centralized high-traffic junction should be your priority.

6. Competition

You cannot lose sight of your potential competitors while selecting a site. Choose a location where the patient-doctor ratio is less to reduce competition.

To Conclude, you can see that site selection is an important task and should be done with careful consideration. A strategic location can enhance the probability of success and fulfill your dream of providing world-class health care to thousands. Hence, make this decision after giving careful weightage to every factor. If needed, take the help of a professional healthcare consultancy firm like Hospertz for advice and guidance.

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

Dr. Vishal Jadhav, Director
hospertz@gmail.com
+91 9867712705/ 9820833149