Program and Staff Planning

Program and Staff Planning delineates the scope and function of the specific services that will be offered by the center and estimates the number and types of staff that will be needed to provide the services. The Program and Staffing Plan provides the basis on which to plan for the physical space necessary to house the proposed programs and staff. The architectural plan is derived from assumptions made during Program and Staff Planning.

Operations Planning

Operations Planning defines the most effective and efficient methodology for delivering health center services while considering available staff resources, financial resources, cultural realities and community norms. This plan must work within the con­straints of the building or plot as well. Capital Link explores the current operational plan/patterns and defines its appropriateness for the new space during a site visit.

Space Allocation Planning

Space Allocation Planning translates the health center’s expectations regarding patient visits, programs & services and staffing into an estimate of the numbers and types of rooms it will need in its new facility. It also provides a preliminary estimate of the total square footage of space required to meet the health center’s needs. Space Allocation Planning is a necessary precursor to developing the design for a facility. The process of space planning helps the center’s staff develop consensus around the amounts and types of spaces that will be needed for an efficient and effective practice. It also provides the basis for preliminary budget estimates for the proposed project, which are critical to the health center’s understanding of whether it can afford to undertake the project. A well-developed space plan can greatly accelerate the process for developing the architectural design for the project.

New Process Planning and Implementation

Explores transition options for utilizing the current facility to pilot new flow processes to efficiently maximize capacity and evaluates reorganizing the current facility to accommodate alternative visit types supportive of a patient-center medical home.

Advisory Services during Design Development

Based on the architect’s experience working with community health centers, the health center may wish to retain the Operations & Facilities Planner to work as a third party in an advisory role until the completion of Design Development (initial schematics to final construction documents). The Operations & Facilities Planner monitors the work of the Project Team to ensure Design Development yields a facility that meets the health center’s unique requirements.

For more information about the services detailed above, contact us.