How to manage a healthcare construction project – Part 3 of 3

In Part 1 of our series on managing healthcare construction projects, we examined the initial steps and assessments that need to be taken at the onset of any healthcare construction project, whether it’s a new build or a medical facility renovation or expansion.

In Part 2, we looked at all the elements that combine to nail down the guaranteed maximum price. In this final article, we’ll discuss the final construction documents needed to get your project moving and provide an overview of the construction process.

Final construction documents

Completing your final construction documents is the responsibility of the entire Design-Build construction team and is vital to the long-term success of both the project and your new or renovated healthcare facility.

Midway through final documentation, construction documents are reviewed by the project manager, project engineer and project superintendent. At this stage, a constructability drawing review is crucial. Additionally, the estimate should be analyzed for accuracy, and to make certain any changes to the plan have been accounted for. This way, everyone is on the same page.

Procurement

Next, the medical facility project enters what we call the procurement stage—a very detailed stage consisting of several critical steps.

In the procurement stage, your builder should review and pre-qualify potential local and regional bidders and their bids with you. This is very important, as it’s your money and you should know where and how it’s being spent. We’ve had great success relying on the local labor force for construction projects. We prefer working with folks who know the lay of the land.

Your healthcare builder should work to develop a detailed set of bid instructions and solicit full coverage of all major bid packages. This is the next step in qualifying the subcontractors that will be putting their “name” on the building. Recall the old axiom of a chain only being as strong as its weakest link. It applies here, too.

It’s important that your healthcare Design-Builder produce a detailed construction schedule. It will hold project stakeholders accountable and guarantee that the project is delivered on-time and on-budget. At The Korte Company, we’ve never delivered a project late or over-budget, and a company-wide commitment to detailed construction schedules is a big part of why.

Construction

Let’s shift gears and talk about the actual project. If you work in construction, you’ll likely already have a healthcare construction process in place. If you don’t, there are a few areas of focus that are key components in the successful delivery of your Design-Build healthcare construction project.

First, make sure that your team is well-versed in establishing clear lines of communication. This is vital to the success of any construction project and is one of the hallmark benefits of Design-Build healthcare construction. Once lines of communication are in place, the project should run like a well-oiled machine. There should be a thorough preconstruction meeting with the owner and all major subcontractors and vendors. Pre-installation meetings on all major building components are also necessary.

Throughout your healthcare construction project, your builder should conduct frequent meetings to coordinate construction, monitor progress and retain accountability. Quality control should be a topic of most conversations, ensuring proper installation and adherence to all contract documents. Remember, if the healthcare construction project was planned properly in the beginning, the result should be exactly what everyone is expecting. That’s building smart.

Commission and closeout

Finally, it’s time for the ribbon cutting. But, the job doesn’t end there. A good healthcare builder should provide as-built drawings, operations manuals, training in use of building and equipment, and an eleven-month checkup.

Are you searching for a Design-Build partner who can provide seamless construction management that guarantees work is done on-time and on-budget? At The Korte Company, the job is the boss.

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