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Starting a new practice or renovating your existing one can be an exciting part of the construction process. And at the very start of your practice journey is planning your fit-out.
Your first meeting with a fit-out specialist will look at many important items to start the process of planning a clinic that meets all your needs. A few areas we will cover are:
Your chosen site will influence many of the decisions relating to your practice’s design, so it’s important to collaborate with your fit-out specialist to select a site or potential site. Finding a site as well as assisting with any zoning issues is a key part of the agenda.
During the meeting, you will work with your specialist on your practice “wish list” – a list of your key requirements and any equipment that needs to fit, plus your desired rooms, spaces and features.
Your fit-out specialist works with you to prioritise from the non-negotiable down to the “it would be nice to have”. For existing practices, it’s a good idea to think about all the things that don’t work in your current practice plus all the things you’re looking to change or add. Rather than it being so ‘black and white’ think about it as being flexible.
They can also help you put together a rough floor plan that accommodates everything in the list above during the meeting, considering any workflows and other features.
Your fit out specialist can help you to realistically determine your budget.
If you are refurbishing your current practice, you may want to provide a “ballpark” figure for wages for staff who aren’t working during the fit out. If staff wages break your budget, let your specialist know that your practice must continue functioning throughout the fit out so they can account for this in their timeline.
Your timeline may be limited by outside forces such as the end of a lease or the maximum time-period you can pay staff who aren’t working. Highlight these needs to your fit out specialist during this first meeting so they can incorporate them into their planning.
Your vision for your practice isn’t just about what goes where – it’s also about your practice’s “look” and “feel”, how it makes you feel and how it makes your patients feel. By sharing this information and working closely with your fit out specialist, they will work with you to create the practice you’ve dreamed of.
Common methods used to translate your vision into a potential look and feel for your practice include the creation of lists of related words and feelings, “mind maps”, discussing examples of other practices or looking through swatches of fabric.
The more information you provide, the easier it will be for your fit out designer to turn your vision into reality.
Do you want your practice design to accommodate future growth? Would you like to easily “subdivide” practice rooms in the future? Or are you planning on physically extending the practice one day?
Your fit out specialist can work with you to meet your future requirements through the design of your practice. Taking the time to consider these questions and discussing these elements will save you loads of time – and potential headaches – in the future.
Do you have questions about the process outlined? Or do you need additional support to start planning your practice? Either way, Elite Fitout Solutions is here to help.
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