Updated 11/24/20: The controversial Certificate of Need (CON) program in Michigan is in question through several new bills that passed the Michigan Senate in February 2020. It has yet to be decided in the House. The debate has been ongoing and seems to be getting more and more heated with those against it arguing for an open market approach to drive down cost and those for it are claiming that the medical industry needs to be regulated to keep a high standard of care at an affordable cost.
Posts about Medical Office Construction (2)
The Benefit of Design Build Phase I Drawings
Preliminary plans, such as those provided in a Phase I of the Design-Build process, are the most efficient and economical means to determine the budget for your construction project.
Medical Office Design and Construction for Savvy Docs
For over 70 years, Wolgast has developed specialty design and construction services for Medical Practitioners and efficient use of their space. We keep in mind the patient flow, staff flow, regulatory requirements, and design elements for comfort for all. Please view the short video linked above that displays our experience and abilities to make your space great for everyone who uses it.
How to Make Owning Your Medical Office More Lucrative
For most business owners, the short-term benefits of leasing their building are attractive, but we’re guessing that most owners would favor owning their building and having control of their business use at a fixed cost. For doctors who own their own practice and will likely stay in their location for 7 or more years1, owning their building can be a great investment for their future while allowing them to have a fixed expense until the building is paid off. As a contractor who specializes in both construction and leaseback services, we can educate doctors on how to leverage programs, accounting processes, and legal structures to make it more lucrative to own your medical office.
Why Design Build Works Well for Healthcare Practices
In this blog, I’ll explore how the Design-Build method of construction is well suited to medical doctors, more so than general construction. To start, the D-B method was really created to suit the needs of busy business owners, which includes doctors, because it requires less attention from an owner and that owner can set their involvement as much or little as they see fit. Some customers like to be more engaged in the process than others and we are happy to accommodate each client’s unique desires.
The basic difference of D/B over general construction, is the relationship between the architect and builder. In this project delivery, they are on the same team. A doctor only needs to work with one entity to design and then build his or her office. Also in this scenario, the doctor is protected from any discrepancies from the architect’s drawings to contractor’s application. With D/B, the contractor and architect are consulting on budget, application and material quality throughout design, so when construction starts there are very little interruptions or change orders. Should there be a discrepancy, the design-builder will work it out without involving the owner unnecessarily. This protection is valued by doctors who oftentimes aren’t as familiar with construction, nor have the time to deal with these issues on site. All of these reasons are exactly why Design-Build was created as an alternative to general construction.
Popularity Increasing for Design Build Construction
As an update to this blog originally posted a few years ago, we have new information to add from the June 2018 Design-Build Utilization Report funded by Design-Build Institute of America. Findings in this report determined that popularity continues to grow for this delivery method. The results showed, "Design-Build Construction spending in the assessed segments is anticipated to increase 18% from 2018 - 2021", and will likely represent 44% of construction spending by 2021. Researchers determined that the education of building owners on Design-Build benefits is gaining traction, and more owners are experiencing enjoying the benefits first hand. Additionally, FMI Corporation, a management consulting and investment company, had released a report in March 2019 titled 2019 AGC/FMI Risk Management Survey, whereby they found that "38% of contractors were <planning> to increase their in-house design capabilities last year and 43% this year". So there will be more collaboration, less risk, and more competition among design and construction moving forward.
Original blog article:
According to the May 2013, “Design-Build Project Delivery Market Share and Market Size Report” by Reed Construction Data and RS Means Intelligence, Design-Build construction delivery method has taken an additional 9% of the construction market since 2005 and General Construction has lost 10% of the market share in that same time.
What is the Design Build Method of Construction?
We've been providing Design-Build services for almost 40 years and we're curious if it's a well known term among those who haven’t previously been involved with the construction of a commercial building. Have you heard the term before? In a nutshell, it’s a method of construction delivery in which the building owner executes a single contract with one entity to provide architectural/engineering and construction services.
To Use or Not to Use a Pre-Engineered Metal Building
We have had all kinds of business owners from varying professions ask us about using a pre-engineered metal building when they’re fact finding about new construction for their business. We tell them a general rule of thumb to consider is that metal buildings are best for businesses that want an industrial look, or have a big enough budget to dress up a pre-engineered building with brick or EIFS (for example) to mask the industrial façade.
What Makes a Contractor an Expert in Medical Construction?
In light of our staff architect, attending the Health Facilities Planning Seminar this month, I thought it was timely to discuss what makes a contractor specialized in medical office construction. To some people, all buildings with walls, floors and a ceiling are the same and the contractor shouldn’t make a difference when constructing it. While I believe that it always matters who the contractor is and how professional and customer service oriented they are, obviously, most any contractor can build simple buildings (how much hassle you want to deal with is up to you). However, a medical building is not a simple building. The healthcare industry is highly regulated and uses a plethora of specialty equipment or med gases each with its own requirements. Plus whether you’re dealing with a Patient Centered Medical Home or a surgery or endoscopy center, it’ll be easier to successfully achieve your goal
Investigating Ancillary Services for Your Practice (a White Paper)
Adding a new, complementary service to your existing business structure can help increase your revenue during your regular business hours. This is especially helpful for businesses that feel they have reached a maturity or decline stage.