Healthcare construction is booming thanks, in large part, to an aging population that’s putting new strains on hospitals, outpatient clinics and assisted living facilities.
By 2030, according to a report by the American Hospital Association, the number of Americans, age 65 and up, will nearly triple, and many of them will be suffering from chronic conditions. Among Baby Boomers, 25% will be living with diabetes, more than 30% will be obese and almost 50% will have arthritis.
But, despite these growing health concerns, medical advancements and new technologies make it possible for seniors and others with health issues to live longer than ever before. And that’s forcing healthcare systems to rapidly expand to keep up with this new demand.
In 2018, the country’s leading health systems spent nearly $20 billion on current and upcoming healthcare construction projects, according to one analysis. BuildCentral reported a 26% uptick in newly planned and active renovation projects and more than 8% growth in new construction and expansions.
What’s more, a 2018 survey of builders by Medical Construction & Design magazine found that healthcare construction projects are getting bigger and more valuable too. In the survey, 54% of respondents said the overall square footage of their healthcare projects is on the rise. And 66% said the average healthcare project value has increased.
On time, on deadline critical
Now, more than ever, it’s critical for general contractors and builders who are working on healthcare construction projects to meet deadlines and budgets. Health systems, of course, need the space to serve a growing number of patients. But, they’re also more likely to remember the contractor who got the job done on time when the next project comes down the pike. And, it will.
That’s why leading building companies and general contractors who are expanding emergency rooms, building specialty centers and working on other healthcare construction projects are turning to technology, including our Spot-r solution, to streamline their projects.
Spot-r provides minute-by-minute visibility into a worksite with a simple device, the Spot-r Clip, which can be attached to workers’ belts and equipment.
The proprietary non-GPS solution allows for a connected jobsite that funnels information about the location and number of workers and equipment, worker time and attendance, safety incidents, unauthorized equipment operators and more to a comprehensive dashboard.
Here’s a look at what Spot-r users get:
Visibility
Spot-r provides real-time locations of workers and equipment by floor and zone, so you can immediately pull up who or what is active on the jobsite at any time. The solution also lets users store information about workers’ certifications to quickly determine if they meet compliance requirements.
Risk Reduction
A jobsite comes with an enormous amount of risk. Workers can get hurt. Heavy equipment or a careless sub can cause damage to the site or, even, work that’s already complete. And, any number of issues—from bad weather to change orders to unproductive workers—can cause costly delays.
Spot-r can fill in the gaps to reduce risks across a construction site. With a push of a button, workers can quickly report injuries or hazards, mitigating the severity of the injury or damage to the project site thanks to swift notification.
It offers greater visibility into the labor force by providing insight into workers’ locations throughout the day and the number of hours they’ve worked. Supervisors can compare the information to the project schedule to determine if they’re running late, so they can make adjustments when necessary.
Another feature allows users to track how workers are accessing the site to monitor whether they are entering areas that should be off limits, such as inpatient wings or intensive care units.
New Efficiencies
The Project Zones Historical Slider lets users easily track historical workforce and equipment deployments and movements within project zones in 10-minute increments. It also allows them to drill down even more, pulling up information about headcounts by worker or sub. With it, contractors can identify waste and minimize downtime to ensure projects stay on track.
Security
The Access Control system combines full-height turnstiles with the Spot-r solution to monitor who is on the job and whether they come and go through approved entry and exit points.
Altogether, the Spot-r solution reduces multiple jobsite risks and provides insights that streamline projects and uncover new efficiencies. If you’re ready for more visibility into your next healthcare project, contact us.
