(6/15/2020)
COVID-19 presented unprecedented containment issues to the physical spaces of our facilities. In order to create solutions, our unified planning, design and construction (PDC) team and digital platform provided the tools, strategies and support needed to maintain a functional healing environment for patients.
The current pandemic has impacted every aspect of healthcare, including the construction management of healthcare facilities across the world. Before the U.S. confirmed its first case of coronavirus, our teams at Medxcel were working on 3,700+ construction projects. To maintain functional spaces during the outbreak, crucial design and construction work needed to happen quickly. This included re-designing new facility blueprints to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and creating more rooms and beds for patients to receive critical care. While it’s tough to plan for the next outbreak, facilities can prepare by integrating construction management and facilities maintenance to ensure projects are able to be managed efficiently amidst a crisis.
COVID-19 presented unprecedented containment issues to the physical spaces of our facilities. In order to create solutions, our unified planning, design and construction (PDC) team and digital platform provided the tools, strategies and support needed to maintain a functional healing environment for patients.
Many construction managers stepped up to the challenge, which resulted in very few projects being paused or halted. Keeping associates safe and healthy has always been a top priority at Medxcel, and by utilizing social distancing and alternative routes, our teams were able to complete construction work essential to our facilities. We are proud to support our associates by keeping them employed and working during this time.
To manage any construction process during a crisis, it’s crucial that designers, researchers and construction managers look at all elements of a hospital to see what works and what doesn’t in each situation. Our team members were often working 16-hour days, some even 7 days a week, to battle COVID-19 and prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks. By embracing the “new normal,” our teams were able to successfully support our healthcare clients and patients.
To create functional spaces, HVAC technicians installed negative pressure rooms to bring out contaminated air and filter it. We also had to evaluate traffic flow throughout our facilities by assessing touchpoints in elevators or handrails in stairwells. To complete these projects, Medxcel designated specific COVID-19 construction response committees to address these new situations in all of our facilities. One COVID-19 response team, the Facilities Assessment and Support Team (FAST), was dedicated to providing advice as requests came in from our facilities across the country.
Many of the changes during this time will have a lasting impact on healthcare construction management. By working together, our teams were able to complete projects successfully, ensuring the safety of our patients, staff and visitors.
Healthcare construction management can be complicated, especially during a crisis. Read our recent blog post on
3 Misconceptions about Healthcare Construction Management to learn more about the industry. Want to see how Medxcel’s construction management services can benefit your facility? Contact us at
info@medxcel.com or 855-633-9235.