the facility will operate. This is important information to have when
designing an efficient, cost-effective building.
Start your space planning at a high level by focusing only on the
key planning units — pre- and post-op bays and number of ORs,
for example. The architect will be able to do general massing stud-
ies and develop a conceptual design based on the space require-
ments of those key spaces. The general contractor will then give
you cost estimates so you can set the scope of the project and
ensure the pro forma and budget align. After that, think about the
project's overall timing: the design schedule, construction timeline
and the final activation date.
The construction phase takes the longest. Get the right team of
people at the beginning, build trust among them and go slow at
the beginning to ensure the right decisions are made. Once you
start making changes during the construction phase, the likeli-
hood of hitting your targeted project dates drops dramatically. Get
the design completed, and all the decisions nailed down, before
construction begins.
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 9
