NEW HEIGHTS
IN HEALTHCARE
MEP design
principles for
today's outpatient
facilities
By Timothy E. Krawetz
T
he explosion of outpatient facilities that range from the typical
doctor's office to full-blown
ambulatory care centers has
expanded the reach of today's healthcare providers. From imaging to surgical
departments and recovery rooms, outpatient centers allow patients to supplement the central hospital's acute campus
for comprehensive care closer to home.
Whether it's a brand name hospital expanding its sphere of influence
beyond city limits or a private medical
40 Medical Construction & Design | January/February 2014
mcdmag.com
IMAGE: KONSTANTIN LOBASTOV/DREAMSTIME
REACHING
group growing a practice, the all-in-one
outpatient facility provides a unique opportunity to attract new patients, while
not overburdening the provider's main
acute care campus.
Regardless of the owner, the design
and procurement of the outpatient facility's mechanical, electrical and plumbing
systems will be what sets it apart from
its peers and what determines the initial
capital and long-term operational costs
of the facility.
While similar to the acute care
hospital in its services, certain departments of an outpatient facility can mirror
a commercial building in its MEP load
profile and hours of operation, allowing
these centers in some cases to reduce
required redundancy and MEP system
size over those typically employed in
parent hospitals. This, in turn, affords
the opportunity to specify more sustainable infrastructure, which can decrease
operational costs, prolong the life of the
facility and showcase the facility as a
good community member.