How to Renovate Your Clinic with Modern Equipment?

As your healthcare business continues growing, sooner or later you will find that the necessity for renovation arises. Whether it’s because you’re running short on space or you plan on expanding the offer of your clinic by introducing new pieces of equipment, a large project such as a medical clinic renovation should be tackled with a lot of forethought. Here are some things to consider before diving into it.

Why you should renovate your clinic?

You may be wondering whether it is really necessary to renovate your clinic and risk downtime in the process. The fact of the matter is that a well-planned renovation has a multitude of benefits for your business.

First of all, in 2022, there is a certain standard your clinic must hit if you are to enjoy the trust of your patients. And the appearance of your establishment will undeniably affect patients’ perception of its trustworthiness. Even if your hygiene standards are high, a worn-out space can imply the opposite. You certainly don’t want peeling paint and outdated interiors to reflect badly on your reputation. A clean and modern space will make patients feel calmer, which is incredibly important for a medical establishment.

Introducing new, modern equipment will make patients’ experience using your clinic much smoother, too. It will also put your clinic on the cutting edge, and staying competitive is crucial in this day and age. Renovations may be necessary in order to better accommodate these new pieces of equipment. Medical equipment also has power requirements that need to satisfy prescribed standards, so renovation might not be something you can skip anyway.

Financing your renovations

The first step to a successful project is budgeting well. You will need to determine how you’re going to finance your new equipment. Luckily, there are many options that will help you cover these pricey pieces. Medical equipment loans designed especially for this purpose will likely fit your needs. Contact a medical equipment financing company and learn about the details. In addition, you can look into grants that apply to your clinic. Finally, if there is any equipment you no longer need, you can also sell it and use the money you obtain to fund a part of your renovation.

Contact professionals by all means

Renovating a medical establishment requires specialized know-how, so contacting contractors whose area of expertise is clinics is the best course of action. Find a business you can communicate with easily and stay involved throughout the process. In addition to them, you may also want to bring a medical equipment planner on board. This person will be your go-to source of information regarding all equipment. Your medical planner’s collaboration with your contractor is a recipe for success.

Save where you can

New equipment is surely tempting, but before you sign anything, see if there is a way to save money and still get the best bang for your buck. Some of your old but functional equipment might still be able to serve you for years with no problem, all it might need is a new appearance. Refurbish old equipment so it looks better: change faceplates and repaint casings. There are businesses specializing in this so you can rest assured the result will be professional and your equipment will look new. Another way to save some money is by purchasing used instead of new. Refurbished pieces of equipment purchased from FDA-approved companies are a completely valid option. Just research the company in question beforehand.

Pick new equipment smartly

If you believe it’s time for your clinic to invest in brand new, modern equipment, then deciding what you need most will be your primary task. If you need more than one thing, spacing out purchases and payments in a smart way is going to be crucial so that your bottom line won’t be seriously affected by your expenses. Prioritize the things you need immediately. For instance, there’s no point in delaying purchasing a special vaccine fridge when the demand for vaccines is high at the moment.

Think in the long term

When purchasing accessories for your medical equipment, you will be faced with the option of going for single-use and reusable options. While disposable pieces may cost less now, they will certainly cost more in the long term. So, think about what’s worth investing in. Naturally, you will need to keep sterilization procedures in the forefront of your mind if you decide to go for reusable, but even with the added labor, you can save money over time.

Operation considerations

Finally, before the works begin, you will need to decide whether you’ll be operating during the renovation period and if not, how you will account for the downtime. Unless the renovations can be completed swiftly, it is recommended that you do keep operating. Doing the work in phases so that parts of your clinic are not affected and still remain useable is the best course of action. You don’t want to be losing out on profits now when you need the funds to cover the upgrades and the equipment. However, consider that if the renovations are very disruptive, patients might have a poor experience. In that case, it might be better to close the clinic down for a short while. It’s your call.

Renovating your clinic is no simple matter, especially if you are planning on introducing new equipment. Besides figuring out the best way to finance the endeavor, there is also a fair amount of organization involved so that the works are carried out smoothly. Keep these tips in mind, work with professionals, and plan well in advance!