Constructive Criticism

Single- and multistory buildings have their pros and cons. Do you know which design is generally the best?

A reader question came up regarding the viability of multistory hospitals. Given a choice, is it better for a clinic to be on a single floor or on multiple levels? Practice owners, of course, have nowhere to go but up in some instances. Think small sites and locations in dense urban areas where ground floors […]

Environmentally friendly hospitals help pay for themselves through lower energy costs. The right light fixtures and appliances and even the building’s orientation are major factors.

When it comes to a project’s environmental impact, much is made about building-rating programs such as LEED and Green Globes. People equate a high rating with a good environmentally sound design and assume that no other steps can be taken. While LEED and Green Globes are legitimate rating programs, many people don’t know that nonprofit […]

The smart use of natural illumination supports the health and happiness of patients, employees and clients. Artificial light has its place, too, but you should be selective.

What if I told you about a simple strategy that would make team members feel more alert, improve their attitude and attendance, and help them achieve higher goals? It also would help clients feel more relaxed and, most importantly, reduce patient stress. When implemented during a hospital’s construction or renovation, it would cost very little […]

A practice owner had a tough decision to make about her growing but cramped hospital: tear up the inside, knock down some walls or move.

I fielded a call from a client who was trying to decide whether renovating her clinic would make sense. Her caseload was growing, and she had hired another associate veterinarian. Her hospital was in a professional strip center. Adjacent space that was coming available would allow her to expand the clinic by 50 percent. Coincidentally, […]

An array of factors goes into choosing the right location for a veterinary clinic. For starters, hire a qualified real estate agent, and then proceed.

Many clients who come to me are looking for a place to build a hospital. They might want to open their first practice, or perhaps their current clinic cannot be expanded. Unless they are experienced in the local real estate market, and very few are, my first piece of advice is that they retain an […]

Keeping cats and dogs as far apart as possible in the hospital will go a long way toward securing more feline appointments.

Whether you are a dog lover or a cat lover, you would agree that routine veterinary care is integral to maintaining the health of both. However, cats are a substantial minority of veterinary visitors. One of most easily identifiable reasons for their absence is in-clinic anxiety, an issue easily addressed during construction of a clinic […]

Know what you want in a veterinary hospital, understand what you can actually afford, do your research before you hire a builder, and then show disciplined involvement.

So, you’re ready to build the veterinary hospital of your dreams or make the upgrades you’ve been mulling for years. Congratulations! Now the big question: How do you get started? It all begins with an objective vision, a subjective dream, and a practical and viable plan. Any construction endeavor is a game of risk management. […]

A clinic should be more than a place of healing. It also needs to exude a healthful feeling.

Creating a new veterinary hospital is a big task. So many parts to consider, so many needs and constraints to balance. Everyone expects a building to do the basics: stand up, not leak, have working lights and plumbing. However, truly good buildings are expected to be more of a home than a house, more of […]

Focusing solely on durability and price during a hospital remodel or construction could leave you on shaky ground.

A practice manager contacted me recently with a problem. Her hospital’s client areas had been renovated six months earlier, but the new floor emitted a pervasive odor. She wanted to know what to do. I knew the cause as soon as I saw the product specifications. On paper, the flooring was a fine material: an […]

Veterinarians tend to be good risks for lenders, so doctors with excellent credit and a detailed business plan are a step ahead.

After practicing for years in hospitals run by other veterinarians, you decide it’s time for your own place. You know where the hospital should be located and maybe what it should look like. But what now? Where do you start? Meet Dr. Kate. She’s been out of school for eight years and for much of […]