It’s All in the Details: Lafayette General Medical Facility
Community growth requires continual improvement of patient access to medical evaluation and treatment. We recently completed a ground-up 11,000 sq ft medical facility in Broussard, Louisiana, to ensure medical access in this rapidly growing community. Before breaking ground on this project, we were approached by a local developer and repeat client for medical expertise from a design-assist and construction standpoint. After partnering with the local developer alongside the local hospital network and design team through preconstruction, we started this unique project last summer. Patient experience was at the forefront of planning and building this facility. This medical facility is separated into three different tenant spaces: an imaging suite, wellness suite, and internal medicine suite. With each suite serving different functions, each required unique attention to detail.
The imaging suite includes rooms for bone density, mammograms, and ultrasound scans. This suite also includes a CT scan room and X-Ray room. These diagnostic imaging tests can be intimidating for patients, so we created a serene environment in each room with calming colors and finishes. Imaging suites, particularly the CT scan room and X-Ray room, require particular attention to detail due to complexities of systems and equipment involved. Before pouring the slab, we obtained a template of the CT equipment, site planning guides, and specific vendor requirements to ensure the room was adequately constructed for seamless installation of the system. We also thickened the slab and installed additional reinforcement within the space to accommodate this heavy system. To protect both patients and employees, we installed lead-lined wall assemblies, doors, frames, and viewing windows in these rooms to mitigate radiation exposure.
The 2,000 sq ft wellness suite includes a stress test room, exam rooms, doctors’ offices, and a business center. The wellness suite is optimally laid out for efficient workflow and patient care. Artwork lines the walls of each room to make the space more aesthetically pleasing. The furniture is functional and provides warmth to the space to make patients feel more comfortable.
Finally, the internal medicine suite is 5,000 sq ft and includes a large waiting room with 14 ft tall ceilings and large windows for natural light, exam rooms, and doctors’/ administration offices. The waiting room is the first thing patients see, so we wanted it to be welcoming in nature. The natural light provides warmth and reduces stress that older more institutional spaces create. Patients can expect to be comfortable while waiting to see a doctor.
When building a medical facility, it’s extremely important to keep patient care in mind. Creating spaces that optimize the patient experience and improve employee workflow is our goal when awarded projects such as this one. This facility recently opened to serve the Broussard community and we look forward to hearing how the space serves patients and employees for years to come.
