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10 Strategies to Minimize Hospital Renovation Impact on Operations

When embarking on a hospital renovation, it’s crucial that certain strategies are implemented from the outset, regardless of the project delivery model being used. Starting on day one as part of the design process, these strategies are foundational to ensuring that the project minimizes disruption to hospital operations while still achieving its goals of enhancing patient care, integrating new technologies, and improving facility efficiency. Below, we delve into ten specific strategies that, when applied early and consistently, can significantly reduce the renovation’s impact on hospital operations.

Early and Continuous Stakeholder Engagement

• Tangible Strategy: Host monthly coordination meetings with hospital departments that the renovation will affect. This approach facilitates real-time feedback and plan adjustments to align with clinical schedules and patient care priorities. Here is a great article on improving operations during construction projects by  Med City News (Link) 


Phased Construction

• Tangible Strategy: Utilize a temporary modular building to accommodate departments during the most disruptive construction phases, ensuring service continuity and minimizing operational impact. Prefabricated components and systems can reduce impact. Anything from fully fitted sterile processing (STERIS) to dietary kitchens can be provided on site to reduce operational impact.

Flexible Scheduling

• Tangible Strategy: Reserve loud and disruptive activities, such as demolition, for the hospital’s lowest occupancy times, typically overnight and on weekends, to mitigate noise disturbances. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is increasingly being used in the hospital construction industry, particularly for renovations, to mitigate impact on operations and enhance patient experience.

Noise and Dust Mitigation

• Tangible Strategy: Implement dust barriers and negative air pressure machines to contain dust and use of sound-masking devices in adjacent areas to neutralize construction noise, thereby enhancing patient and staff comfort. Increasingly companies such as Kinetics Noise Control are becoming part of the AEC team to mitigate noise control and improve the construction experience.

Infection Control

• Tangible Strategy: Adhere to Infection Control Guidelines for Health Care Facilities such as ASHRAE 170 & 62.1, CDC, FGI Guidelines and OSHA and Joint Commission Standards with strategies like using HEPA filters and maintaining proper separation between construction and clinical areas, under regular monitoring by the hospital’s infection control team independent testing and monitoring as needed.

Technology Integration

• Tangible Strategy: Employ BIM (Building Information Modeling) for collaborative, real-time planning and problem-solving among all project stakeholders, reducing the need for disruptive on-site adjustments. The advancements of utilizing digital twins are making headway in the AEC industry.

Wayfinding and Signage

• Tangible Strategy: Implement temporary signage and digital wayfinding solutions to help patients and visitors navigate around construction areas, updating these tools as necessary throughout the project phases. Companies such as Poblocki Sign Company are seeing electronic signs being utilized to support communication construction projects to ease disruption.


Safety First

• Tangible Strategy: Conduct daily safety meetings for construction workers and hospital staff in or near the construction zone, focusing on the day’s activities, potential hazards, and emergency procedures.

Efficient Material Handling and Storage

• Tangible Strategy: Organize materials delivery during low traffic hours and maximize off-site prefabrication to reduce on-site storage needs and minimize disruption. Companies such as DIRTT modular systems and STARC Systems are taking this head-on.

Transparent Communication

• Tangible Strategy: Utilize a project-specific digital communication platform for regular updates, schedules, and a direct feedback mechanism, ensuring all hospital staff are informed and engaged throughout the renovation process. Autodesk Construction Cloud and Trimble Connect are great tools in supporting advance communication.

By embedding these strategies into the design process from day one, AEC teams can ensure a smoother renovation experience, minimizing impact on hospital operations and maximizing benefits for patients and staff 

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