Every construction project brings its own set of parameters and concerns, and its no surprise that budget, schedule and quality top the priority list. Every governmental facility, public school, office building, and even single-family homes rank those concerns at the top of the list on a consistent basis.
These are the same important items that are discussed during the early stages of any healthcare construction project. There is, however, one very important item that differentiates your project from any other. Infection control (IC).
It is estimated that 75% of all healthcare construction projects involve an expansion or renovation to an existing facility. With the overwhelming majority of work being performed within the confines of an operating hospital, its imperative that IC is the number one concern.
Start Early
IC should never be thought of as a band-aid a stopgap measure thats put into place once construction is underway. Ideally, a committee of hospital personnel, the design team and the general contractor should meet prior to the onset of the project. The goal is to develop a clear understanding of the project parameters and identify the systems and areas of the hospital that will be affected.
Its important to identify the level of impact of your new project, and how it will affect your facility. Will this be a Class I undertaking that may be a simple “freshening” of the admit area, or is this a Class IV addition to an existing operating room? Will this project compromise the HVAC system, water, medical gas or electrical supply? Refine and define these parameters at the start and make sure that all parties understand their responsibilities throughout the project.
Know What Youre Getting
The delivery method of your construction project is of little concern in regards to IC. Whether your choose Design-Build or CM at Risk, make sure your team of design/construction professional are just that
professionals! The experience garnered in building or designing neighborhood strip malls has little to do with the demands of working in a hospital environment, let alone passing AHCA inspections.
Bricks and Sticks
Youve picked your design and construction professionals for your healthcare construction project. Its Monday morning and you have a line of trucks, cranes and construction workers at the front door of your hospital. What do you do now? (A) Panic; (B) Update your resume; (C) Call in sick; or (D) None of above?
If youve done your homework and set your project up for success, its a simple choice (D) None of the above. Like most things in life, communication is the key. Choosing the “right” general contractor will help to mitigate not only the impact on your facility, but will also allow you to sleep at night.
“Communication throughout construction is one of the reasons weve been successful in the healthcare sector,” states David BuShea, Jr., LEED AP and Project Manager for Suffolk Constructions Healthcare Division. “Containment of the job site is our first priority once weve been given the green light. Thanks to our early understanding of the owners requirements and our extensive preconstruction effort, we have a precise “blueprint” when we mobilize on site. We will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how the facility will be impacted from life support systems, to how we will enter and leave the construction area. In addition, we make sure that all of our subcontractors are trained, understand, and adhere to the ICRA.”
“We go to great lengths to keep all parties up-to-date about our construction activities on an hour-by-hour basis. Every week a detailed matrix is distributed to keep everyone informed of the sequence of activities, at what times they will occur, and how it will affect the day-to-day operations based on noise, vibration, odors and how intense they will be. Based on the hospitals schedule, we are able to re-sequence our activities at a moments notice to accommodate their needs.”
The Best Laid Plans
In the end, the success of even the most intricate infection control plan hinges on one very simple process integrity. “Its all about designing an effective plan and following it to the letter, by every person, at any time, and without exception.”
