Healthcare construction continues to be steady across the country. So, what exactly drives and influences healthcare facility renovations, additions, and new builds today? We’re looking at three of the factors that influence healthcare facility construction.

Sustainability. One of the factors influencing healthcare construction today is sustainability. Hospitals and clinics are looking for ways to reduce their waste and increase their facility’s energy efficiency. This comes into play when making decisions on upgrades and expansion materials, systems, etc. as well as the actual construction process itself. Prefabrication is one direct way contractors can reduce waste and build “greener.” By constructing building components offsite in a controlled environment, construction companies are able to better control material waste.

Cost-Savings. Speaking of prefabrication, prefabbing is a great way for companies to save on labor time. These cost-savings can be passed onto healthcare facility owners. In the healthcare world, construction projects are largely based on the budget facilities have to work with. Healthcare construction contractors need to the expertise to design and plan the construction in a way that lowers the overall construction costs as much as possible. Prefabrication is an extremely cost-effective building approach and continues to be more widely used.

Multi-Use Facilities. The healthcare industry is moving towards multi-use facilities because they provide more flexible care options for patients. With a focus on patient experience and comfort, smaller healthcare clinics are becoming more popular. By building healthcare facilities near housing and retail, patients have convenient access. In addition, many healthcare facilities are offering multiple services (i.e. women’s health and sports medicine) under a single clinic roof, making it a one stop shop for patients.

Healthcare construction projects present unique challenges and requirements so it’s important to partner with contractors who have healthcare construction experience and expertise.