There are very few construction projects that are as complex, critical, or sophisticated as those that encircle health care. The reason being that the design, implementation, and commissioning process of healthcare construction projects have a direct impact on human life. Therefore, meticulous planning and execution are paramount for success. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic did not help matters on what was already a herculean task, and the industry had to respond swiftly to the following emerging trends.
1. The Healthcare Construction Industry now Places a Real Emphasis on Space Efficiency
Before the pandemic, it was rare for contractors to place a premium on space efficiency. But after the virus threatened to overwhelm and collapse healthcare installations, there was an urgent need to drive efficiency and minimize wastage in buildings. Gone are the days where a hospital design project would allocate sizable resources to grand entry spaces or reception amenities. Such non-revenue generating spaces are now being re-design for medical installations to attend to as many patients as possible without risking community transmission.
2. Construction of Health care Installations Places a Premium on Build Efficiency
Long are the days that hospitals used to take ages to be built and commissioned. The onset of the pandemic revolutionized how stakeholders approach the design and installation process of medical facilities with now everything being done to straighten all the kinks that could delay any stage of the process. China, for instance, is on the record for building a fully-fledged referral hospital of world-class standards in less than a fortnight. And while this is more on the extreme side, it just goes to show how stakeholders are becoming more committed to freeing resources to facilitate healthcare construction.
3. Safety is Now a Paramount Feature in the Construction of Healthcare Installations
Less than two years ago, jargon such as social distancing, personal hygiene, and sanitation protocols was foreign in the healthcare construction niche. However, thanks to the new world order brought about by the pandemic which had threatened to get out of control, all these and some more feature in any design process of a health care installation, Now, the project manager has to take into account that even hospitals themselves can be superspreaders of communicable diseases despite being the treatment centers of the same. Simply put, the pandemic ushered in a new era.
References: Innovations in Healthcare, Mckinsey and Company
