The healthcare industry is seemingly the most rapidly growing industry today. We see a surge in new hospitals, private clinics, and pharmacies every year. Even jobs in healthcare are growing at rates that are faster than average, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, it stands to reason that the healthcare industry is in desperate need of more physical space.
There has been a steady decline in the number of hospitals and available hospital beds over the past few decades. Seeing as our population only increases every year, hospitals in the United States are now being pushed to expand to accommodate more patients.
Construction of new buildings takes months, and even years some times. It causes disruption and disturbance and throws everything off balance in general. The healthcare industry needs a construction solution that is quick, safe, cheap, and one that causes minimal disturbance to the actual construction site so that things can continue to go according to routine. An interesting solution to all these problems is—modular construction.
Let’s find out how.
1. Modular Construction Is Budget Friendly
The primary concern of anyone looking to expand their building or to construct a new one is their budget. The fascinating thing about a modular building is that it is extremely budget-friendly. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that it can adapt to almost any kind of budget. Modular construction offers numerous options from which you can select the one that best suits your budget.
Used modular buildings can be a great way to curb your construction cost. You can save up to 50% more with an equal amount of safety and quality as that of the new one. Since these buildings eliminate the need for new construction, they are available in a shorter time as compared to the new pre-fabricated buildings and provide a faster return on investment. Additionally, they offer much-needed sustainability with the mantra of recycle, relocate, and reuse.
As a hospital administrator, you will face tough financial decisions when expanding your building. You can battle these by opting to rent out hospital space temporarily from companies that offer portable healthcare buildings for rent.
You can also even choose to buy used modular buildings and recycle them to make individual units like single private rooms, laboratories, operating rooms, pharmacies, MRI scanning rooms, etc. You don’t have to make any permanent changes to your building that you don’t want, and you can still enjoy the additional space that you require.
Modular construction enables quick response to the needs of first responders during emergencies like the current pandemic. Besides offering customized solutions in reduced turn-around-time, it provides a cost-effective solution with minimum onsite assembly. Modular buildings can be ordered and set up as quickly as a couple of days and provide excellent flexibility and cost-benefits.
2. Modular Construction Is Quick
In modular construction, the two phases—laying the foundation and constructing the building—happen simultaneously. The individual units of the building are prefabricated in a factory while the foundation is being prepared on-site. When they are ready, the units are transported to the site and assembled in no time. This cuts down the construction time by nearly 50%. So instead of having to wait a year or even 6 months, you can have your building up and running in a few short months with modular construction.
3. Modular Healthcare Construction Is Disruption Free
Because the individual units are being constructed off-site in a factory, there is no disruption to the already ongoing routine of the institution. Everyone can go about their business as planned with no interruptions and disturbances from construction materials and without having to deal with unwanted noise. When the additional units are ready, they are assembled on-site in a few short days and are ready to be used.
4. Modular Healthcare Buildings Are Energy Efficient
Hospitals, in general, require a lot of electricity and energy to run. In addition to large HVAC systems and running costs of multiple rooms, scanning machines and laboratory equipment also use up a lot of power. With modular construction companies making use of alternative energy solutions as much as possible, you can significantly lower your hospital’s monthly running costs by going modular.
5. Modular Buildings are Highly Customizable
The healthcare industry includes a range of facilities inside a hospital. Besides setting up complete healthcare facilities, modular buildings can also be used to build spaces for these medical applications that include:
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
- Modular medical units
- Temporary testing facilities and staff offices
- Assisted living facilities
- Modular triage and diagnostic facilities
- Mobile urgent care centers
- Modular and mobile medical laboratories
- Diagnostic imaging centers
- Administrative office buildings
- Reception counters
- Medicine storage facilities
With modular construction, these sub-facilities can be added and removed quickly based on the changing needs that give a significant cost-benefit with least onsite disruption.
Besides these key facts about modular construction in healthcare, there are numerous tiny benefits as well that you can reap with constructing modular. Opt for modular healthcare buildings and start enjoying these added benefits today.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
