Key Factors to Consider When Hiring a Medical Facility Contractor

Healthcare construction projects require specific attention to detail. They must meet strict regulatory standards, ensure accessibility and resiliency, and incorporate sustainable design into their plans.

Before work begins, the construction team must do a preliminary site inspection. This will include checking the location of electrical utilities and other physical characteristics.

Experience

Medical construction is a specialized field that requires extensive experience and expertise. Choosing an inexperienced contractor can result in costly delays and poor-quality work. Fortunately, there are ways to find the right contractor for your project.

Request references from previous customers of prospective contractors, then contact them to learn more about their experiences. You can also visit past projects to see how they were completed. Ask about the final costs compared to the estimates, the timelines met, and other essential details.

Another essential factor is whether a contractor has experience working with medical equipment and facilities. Medical equipment has specific operating conditions and power requirements, requiring specialized construction skills. In addition, healthcare facilities must adhere to strict regulations on infection control, safety guidelines, and accessibility standards. Request references from previous customers of prospective contractors, then contact them to learn more about their experiences.

Reputation

When constructing or renovating a medical facility, numerous regulations must be met. Medical facility construction Sacramento CA contractors have an in-depth understanding of these requirements and ensure that all aspects of the project adhere to healthcare-specific guidelines. This can help prevent delays and potential legal issues.

The most important aspect of a healthcare construction project is patient safety. During construction, contractors must follow strict infection control protocols and avoid causing disruptions in the hospital’s schedule. This is especially important for hospitals with a large number of patients. Moreover, the construction team must ensure patients have freedom of movement throughout the building during non-emergency situations.

Ensuring the contractor’s workers are trained and certified in infectious disease control is also crucial. This is because mistakes made by untrained contractors can cause the spread of diseases in the hospital. The best way to determine this is by assessing the contractor’s track record and verifying their licenses.

Insurance Coverage

The insurance requirements of a construction project are extensive and complicated. For instance, large construction companies require contractors to carry excess liability policies covering their entire project portfolio. They must also include their subcontractors as additional insureds, which requires specialized policies. Additionally, larger projects require special endorsements like pollution, workers’ compensation, and contractors’ E&O.

This is especially important for healthcare facilities because of the potential for indirect liability. For example, a contractor that performs work in a hospital might cause vibrations that disrupt patient care areas. Likewise, medical staff can suffer injuries from unplanned utility shutdowns or switchovers.

In addition to malpractice insurance, healthcare facilities need other types of coverage, such as fidelity bonds, surety bonds, and business interruption insurance. Ensure your insurance broker understands the intricacies of these requirements and can accommodate them promptly. They should also be able to answer questions about non-admitted carriers. This is important because some carriers are more flexible with additional insured endorsements than others.

Licenses

Considering the unique requirements of medical office construction projects, it’s best to hire an experienced general contractor who can do both pre-construction and construction. This eliminates the bidding process and speeds up project completion.

A contractor must follow infection control procedures and protocols during renovation and construction in a healthcare facility. A reputable medical construction contractor will perform an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) before the start of the project and follow the CDC’s guidelines for environmental control in occupied facilities. This includes air quality testing, negative pressure and dust containment, personal protection equipment, temporary partition types, and daily documentation.

A healthcare construction company with industry experience will also consider design and functional elements that support treatment functions, improve care efficiencies, and create positive patient experiences. They will also have a strong understanding of how to procure specialized medical equipment at affordable prices. Additionally, a good construction company will utilize augmented reality during the planning phase to provide clients with a clear vision of their finished product before construction begins.