Most facilities can be improved by undergoing the smallest renovations. These renovations can involve modifying existing cabinetry and equipment to create more efficient procedure areas or simple upgrades to finishes that improve the overall feel of the spaces. Even minor renovations can significantly impact the hospital. Renovations that improve efficiency can also involve reusing a part of your hospital that is no longer used as originally intended (think about defunct services such as boarding).
Before the start of any renovation or new building design, an evaluation of practice needs by a veterinary design professional should be completed. This starts with creating the existing building layout if current construction drawings are unavailable.
Next, the design professional will work with you and help assess the needs based on practice goals. During this fact-gathering phase, it is essential to think critically about the business plan and the physical areas of the hospital that need attention. Questions should be asked about how the practice operates and where the current pinch points are with workflow patterns. The questionnaire in the Resources section below is an example of a needs assessment that will help organize the priorities of the redesign or assist in the layout of a new building.
