CON Process - Final - bLUE VERSION - Flipbook - Page 2
Simple lack of knowledge of the process.
To allay all fears, here is the CON Process:
First and foremost, the easiest way to receive a CON approval in the shortest amount of
time and the least cost is to demonstrate a well‐thought‐out project by the client and
architectural firm and to provide good design with excellent documentation.
How does this happen?
Essentially, DOH architectural reviewers are looking for particular items. Experienced
healthcare architectural firms understand this and, thus, provide this information as
desired by DOH.
The ‘approval’ formula provides high‐quality documentation and clearly shows the
information DOH seeks. Now, this may seem obvious, but over the years, we have heard
many comments from DOH reviewers on the poor quality of many submissions. Also, the
review process has become more uniform than it used to be, so the information required
will be similar for all reviews, no matter who the DOH Reviewer is.
HHA has a unique perspective among healthcare architects.
Not only have we submitted well over 1,000 CONs in our 30‐
year history, but we have been on the regulatory side by
reviewing CON applications as a consultant to the State of
Vermont.
From our experience, we have learned one crucial key:
Make the reviewer’s job as easy as possible.
DOH reviewers are busy professionals with many projects to
check, so we provide all the information required with
explicitness. However, please realize that DOH will always have a few questions.
Remember, the goal is to have them finish their review as quickly as possible and
approve the project. If they need to have several questions answered and cannot
complete their assessment, then there will be a delay as they ask their questions and
then go on to the next project. They may not get back to your project for a while. Ideally
– and what we always strive for – is to receive only a few quick questions through a
phone call or email. This method is the most efficient way to work.
As all architects realize, the Life Safety Code and FGI are not black and white. Any
architect can read these documents. However, the experienced healthcare architect
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