1. Make the big hires
Identify the key players who will help you determine the scope of the
project, assemble the rest of your team and develop a realistic budget.
Start by hiring a project manager. Within a month of that hire, select
an architect. Get the general contractor on board soon after. The proj-
ect manager will help run the request for proposal process for the
architect and general contractor, and connect you to finance compa-
nies and attorneys you'll need. The architect will assist with retaining
medical equipment planners, landscape architects and IT experts. The
general contractor will get the mechanical, electrical and plumbing
people on board.
All three professionals should have experience in managing projects
for the type of facility you want to build. Experience with a physician
practice building doesn't qualify someone to design and outfit an out-
patient surgical facility.
Ask consultants for case studies and multiple examples of projects
they've worked on in the past. It might appear to be more expensive
to partner with experienced professionals, but I promise it will save
you money on the back end. The changes you'll have to make during
construction because of advice you received from advisors who don't
know what they're doing will be far more costly than paying for some-
one who has the experience to get the job done right the first time.
2. Right-size spaces
Identify the amount and type of space your facility will need to
function efficiently, while also meeting local codes and standards.
Your architect will give you feedback on sizing. The architect might
also be able to help you with your operational plan. If the architect
doesn't have those resources, you'll have to hire an operational
planner to figure out the overall patient flow of the facility, and how
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