This blog originally appeared on the PlanGrid Productivity Blog.
Right now, there’s about $400 billion of healthcare construction underway around the world. This includes everything from cutting edge hospitals to groundbreaking research campuses and from telehealth centers to small specialty clinics. Whether you’re part of the building team breaking ground on your city’s newest medical center or you’re helping to renovate a new ward on an existing facility, it’s an exciting time to be building in this diverse and growing sector.
So, how is the healthcare construction changing exactly? To highlight the current state of the sector, and how it’s evolving, we’ve just released our latest infographic. Beyond current figures and trends, we’ve also spotlighted five of the largest healthcare construction companies and identified leading strategies for organizations looking to level up in the market. Check it out (and share!) below.
Healthcare construction is undoubtedly high stakes and complicated. Companies like Turner Construction, McCarthy Holdings, Brasfield & Gorrie, Skanska and DPR Construction have all remained leaders in healthcare construction due to their commitment to quality and innovation. Here are some of the top innovations and technology that cutting edge construction companies are using to excel their work in healthcare.
Building information modeling (BIM) paired with virtual reality (VR) technology are powerful tools to enhance data visualization. With these innovations, construction teams can simulate and consider facility design and operational variables, such as patient flow and physician and staff workflow for ultimate efficiency. For contractors that need to coordinate with end-user groups to solidify the layout, VR can provide an immersive element that 2D designs lack. Nurses, pharmacists and other staff members can “walk-through” designs, before they’re built, to understand how the layout impacts their efficiency. In turn, end users of the space can give meaningful feedback on how they will actually utilize the space as well as if there are better alternatives.
Implementing BIM on healthcare projects is also useful in maximizing space in a redesign environment. Finally, utilizing the tech on projects ensures more data is collected through each phase of construction.
DPR Construction has extensively adopted and maximized BIM on healthcare projects. Read about their strategy, here.
Access to the right data on healthcare projects is critical to its success–during and after construction. To make the most out of the data that’s collected on projects, builders in the healthcare sector should look to adopt data management systems. With the right implementation, these can be integrated into their business intelligence systems that collect, integrate and analyze critical company data. This integrated and more in-depth dive into data can be used in every phase of construction; from maximizing space and efficiency of designs to providing evidence to make informed decisions about how to reconfigure space when a remodel is eventually needed. Integrated data with design software will allow owners and builders to make better choices in construction that will impact overall facility costs in the long-run.
With the need for speed-to-market builds, healthcare construction teams cannot afford to rely on disjointed communication processes. Therefore, it’s necessary to centralize communications. Collaboration software will ensure the whole project team stays on the same page and can follow project standards. The right software allows entire teams to collect information quickly, manage issues and deliver on tasks as one cohesive team. It not only keeps contractors and subs on track but gives owners full project visibility. To read more about how healthcare leader Brasfield & Gorrie is using field collaboration software to stay on budget ahead of project schedule, check out this recent post here.
Field inspections can be a stressful part of the job for those building in the healthcare segment. Nonetheless, field inspection software allows for better oversight of quality, directly from the field. In addition to ensuring codes and standards are met, field inspection software streamlines punchlists for more efficient project closeout. Since software can capture an electronic record of all field activities, owners will have a complete set of data at closeout.
Our current healthcare construction landscape is exciting but competitive. Today, only construction companies with high levels of quality and quality will emerge as winners in the sector. To learn about leading strategies to stay ahead of the changes in healthcare construction, download our latest ebook, “Building with Care: 5 Strategies to Skyrocket Productivity in Healthcare Construction.”
