Putting it all together – The Fitout Process

At Medifit, we have refined our processes over hundreds of successful healthcare construction and fitout projects. Whilst every construction and fitout project will have unique characteristics and challenges, they can typically be broken into the following chronological stages post design.

Documentation
Pricing
Construction

Documentation

Practice design is not merely a creative exercise. Each element of the project must also be comprehensively documented providing a clear set of instructions during the construction and fitout of your project and a historical record of how it was executed.

Documentation includes the creation, review and refinement of working drawings detailing every aspect of the built environment for your new practice. Building permits and accreditation for disability access, energy efficiency and body protected electrical area certification are all dependant on clear and accurate documentation.

Depending on your project scope, you may also require development approval from local council who may require a site plan and a range of supporting documentation covering anything from traffic engineering to heritage overlay and an environmental impact report.

Once the necessary approvals and certifications are in place, comprehensive construction documentation is required to ensure that whoever is tasked with the job of building or fitting out your practice has detailed and accurate plans and specifications to work from.

Pricing

The construction drawings and specifications provide the necessary information so that final prices can be obtained taking into account any revision or variation to the initial project scope. It is at this stage that the exact cost of your project can be determined.

Construction

For ground up projects, our construction team takes care of all Contract Administration and will be in constant communication with you throughout the process. Weekly reports, including progress photos are made available to you so you can track the progress of your new build.

For the interior fitout, the job progresses from pre construction pricing to manufacturing and procurement. A detailed schedule is created and issued to key stakeholders including equipment and loose furniture suppliers.

Simultaneously, trades and essential services are booked and materials are ordered. Our systems allow for multiple stages of your project to be completed at once, maximising efficiency and shortening lead times.

Depending on the scope of your project, trades could include electrical, air conditioning, plastering, tiling, painting, glazing and all manner of service providers. Throughout the fitout period, your assigned Project Manager will coordinate the work site and provide regaular progress reports. Access to the site is carefully controlled to ensure safety and allow designated staff to complete their work quickly and efficiently.

When the project reaches practical completion, a handover meeting will be arranged on site to review the work carried out.

Any issues are highlighted and become part of a “hit list” to be discussed and rectified before the opening date.

Equipment installation and loose furniture delivery now takes place to ensure you are ready to practice on time.

Finishing Up

Your practice that was once just an idea is now a fully functioning, brand new working space.

The handover has been completed, any defects have been rectified and you are stocked and ready to open for patients. At this stage, it is a good idea to get professional photographs taken of your new practice while it is brand new. Not only will this help you document this part of your journey, but the photos will come in handy for marketing purposes. It is now time to do what you do best - attract patients.