You are a physician who is about to set foot on the path of healthcare entrepreneurship for the first time. You have planned to start your own health clinic or hospital. While on the threshold of hospital planning itself, be sure to remember that you will require healthcare-specific specialized help at every step.

Whatever the size of your set-up, whether small or big you should be aware that your healthcare unit will have additional requirements over and above that of any other normal business space like intricate equipment, devices, implements, specialized lighting, convertible furniture, electrical circuits, drainage systems, fixtures, storage, etc. …the list is endless apart from the normal things required in any other office space.  This is because a healthcare facility houses specialized equipment and needs complex fittings. For these very reasons, it is necessary that you do not design your healthcare unit by yourself or engage the services of normal home and office interior designers or architects. You should instead choose to work with specialized healthcare designers or expert hospital architects who are experienced in the nitty-gritties of healthcare layouts and the complications that go with them.

Qualifications of a hospital design consultant

Master’s degree in architecture and design with specialization in healthcare designing and architecture.

1.  A minimum of 5 years’ experience in designing hospital facilities.
2. In-depth knowledge of healthcare specifications
3. Knowledge of government sanctions and regulations, fire safety, occupational safety and seismic safety requirements.

8 reasons to choose specialized Hospital design or healthcare architect firm over a regular home or office designing or architecture consultancy firm

1. Regulatory knowledge

A specialized hospital design firm will be thoroughly familiar with the health facility design and construction norms and regulations specified by the government and the other authorizing bodies. This will eliminate any hassle that you might have to face in audits and quality approvals.

2. Operational efficiency

It has been proven that human beings give their best output when their working space is optimal in terms of functionality and comfort. A specialized hospital design firm will definitely have the expertise and the experience to plan out the space in the ideal way so as to optimize operational efficiency of your healthcare facility.

3. Knowledge about bio-safety measures

They will have the scientific aptitude to incorporate infrastructural changes and measures to be taken to minimize environmental impact of the healthcare facility. E.g., Minimizing spread of infections by installing UV lights.

 4. Awareness of latest hospital trends

In today’s world, technology, materials, infrastructure trends are all changing by the second. A specialized hospital design firm will be armed with knowledge about the latest trends in hospital architecture and design.

E.g., Use of biophilic designs that help the patients connect with nature to speed up the recovery process.

5. Flexible approach

A specialized hospital design firm will be aware of the changing paradigms in the healthcare industry…of the developments   like mergers, acquisitions, expansions, remote medicine etc. They will have the core expertise and skills to impart modularity and adaptability to your hospital space, in view of these shifting scenarios in healthcare.

6. Health-related Structural expertise

A healthcare architecture firm will have worked in numerous healthcare projects. Hence, they will have the vision to plan structural changes specific to your healthcare facility’s needs in your hospital planning.

a.  If your hospital is going to have massive machinery like a CT machine or an MRI machine, the room that will house it will need reinforced floors and walls.

b. Maintaining optimal air quality is mandatory in healthcare facilities. Your design consultants will have to plan for high-grade ventilation and air purification systems.

c. Continuous electrical supply is essential in hospitals where there are critical equipment and life-support systems. Healthcare design consultants will have to plan for both the normal electrical settings and the alternate electrical systems to be used in emergencies. They will have the expertise to ensure that no surges, transients, or breakdowns in power occur.

d. A hospital gives rise to tonnes of biohazardous waste. Healthcare design consultants will have the expertise to plan for wastewater treatment systems and medical waste disposal units.

7. Knowledge about healthcare landscaping

The connection between healing and nature is undisputed. Natural surrounded create an atmosphere of positivity and hasten recovery and enhance patient experience. Hospital architecture consultants can thoughtfully design your facility’s outer spaces to give an aura of ambience.

8. All-encompassing designing

They will have the foresight to design your health facility’s layout in such a way that it will be comfortable for both the care receivers as well as the caregivers. Each and every foot of space will be planned with the aim to reduce discomfort The furnishings, the fixtures, the furniture, and the décor will all be aligned with the ethos and the vision of your organization.

To summarize, involving hospital design consultants will prevent you from making any blunders or pitfalls and will add the cutting edge of reliability to the planning of your venture. If you need any help in this, be sure to consult Hospertz. You can rely on our two decades of experience and expertise in the sphere of hospital architecture design and planning to give you customized design solutions which will assist you in delivering world-class health

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
hospertz@gmail.com
+91 9867712705/ 9820833149