MDNews - Greater Boston

+++++++++++++++++++ + +++ +REAL ESTATE U +++ +++++++++++++++++++ Give Your Medical Office Lease aCheckup W and demands of practicing medicine, it is difficult for physicians and practice administrators to find the time to pay attention to real estate and space issues. Behind staffing, real estate is often the top expense for physician practices and has potential to be either a major positive or negative in the eyes of the patient. A proactive, calculated approach to handling real estate issues ITH INCREASING PRESSURES Various Suites For Lease CLASS 'A' MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING located minutes from THE LONGWOOD MEDICAL AREA 830 Boylston Ave/Route 9 Chestnut Hill, MA (617) 330-6966 12 | Greater Boston MD NEWS I MDNEWS.COM is the equivalent of today's wellness model in medicine. There are myriad pitfalls that aren't immediately evident but can ultimately threaten the viability of a practice. These can be physical and geographical (pertaining to the bricks and mortar), economic (related to the financial structure of the lease) or regulatory (concerning Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Stark Law, Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA], and Department of Public Health, etc.). While real estate is not usually a topic of expertise for physicians and administrators, it may be the single most significant area of exposure from both operations and financial viability standpoints. This article will explore at a high level the physical aspects of a medical office. The physical components of medical office space are perhaps the most obvious, but a number of subtleties can be overlooked when choosing the right space for a practice. Beyond the aesthetic and cosmetic elements of a space, attention needs to be paid to the layout and floor plan. With patient flow and physician efficiency playing an increasingly important role in practice operations, the manner in which the doctor and patient move through the office can dictate a provider's productivity and make or break the patient experience. A thoughtful, strategic space plan will allow administrators to manage operations effectively, prevent doctors from wasting time by walking miles between exam rooms and help to avoid "wandering patient" issues. While relocating into existing medical office space may seem ideal, finding a perfect fit is rare. An office that was designed 10 years ago, for example, will almost certainly be different than what most providers have in mind for modern medical office space. Like in the human body, the internal systems supporting an office space are paramount to any real estate decisions. Adequate plumbing and HVAC infrastructure are critical to a successful occupancy and can be extremely costly if not addressed properly. For certain uses, including radiology and audiology, the floor load capacity becomes a critical factor for heavy equipment that is either floor or ceiling mounted.

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