Last updated: March 10, 2025
Modern modular medical clinics arrive as pre-engineered units integrating consult rooms, triage, treatment bays, nurse stations, pharmacy, diagnostics (POC lab/ultrasound/X-ray options), clean/dirty utility, ablutions, storage, and administrative space. Typical footprints span 120–600 m² and support 20–120 patient visits per day depending on room count and staffing. With inventory on hand, a compliant primary-care clinic can be operational within 2–6 weeks after permits and utilities are cleared.
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| Clinic Tier | Indicative CAPEX | Power Plant | Clinical Modules | Typical Deployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Primary Care | $350k–$700k | 60–120 kVA (N+1) | 2 consults, 1 treatment, triage | 2–4 weeks |
| Urgent Care | $800k–$1.6M | 150–300 kVA (N+1) | 4 consults, 2 treatment, procedure, POC lab | 3–6 weeks |
| Diagnostics-Enabled | $1.8M–$3.2M | 300–500 kVA (N+1) | 6+ rooms, isolation, X-ray/US, pharmacy | 6–10 weeks |
A balanced 3-room primary care clinic (two consults, one treatment) reliably handles 20–40 visits/day with one provider, one nurse, and shared admin, assuming 20–30 minute consults and appropriate triage. Scaling to six rooms with two providers raises practical throughput to 60–90 visits/day without compromising quality, provided intake, vitals, and discharge are decoupled from consult rooms.
Back to Top ↑Peak diversified loads are driven by HVAC, sterilization, lighting, and imaging. For 250 m² urgent-care layouts, plan 40–70 kW peak. Two diesel gensets in N+1 with an ATS are pragmatic; 20–40 kW rooftop PV with 40–80 kWh storage typically reduces diesel by 15–30% while riding through short outages.
Treatment and procedure rooms should deliver 6–12 ACH, with isolation at 12 ACH and −12.5 Pa negative pressure relative to adjacent areas. Use MERV-13 or higher upstream of terminal HEPA for isolation exhaust where regulations require. Maintain 21–24 °C, 40–60% RH. CO₂ targets under 1,000 ppm in waiting areas are realistic with demand-controlled ventilation.
Back to Top ↑Potable use averages 25–45 L/visit in primary care and 60–90 L/visit when procedure or imaging is included. Hot water should be stored at ≥60 °C (with mixing valves to 45–49 °C at fixtures). Medical oxygen demand for urgent care typically peaks at 2–5 L/min per active bay; specify manifolded cylinders or compact concentrators with 1-hour autonomy at peak flow.
Wastewater loads of 0.6–1.0 m³/day per 100 visits are common. Package STP/MBR units sized with 25% surge headroom are dependable. Segregate general, recyclable, clinical, and sharps; cold-chain pharmaceutical waste requires locked storage and licensed haulage. A 6–10 m² soiled utility with hands-free sinks and pass-through hatch keeps dirty-to-clean flows compliant.
Back to Top ↑Design to the strictest applicable framework you operate under: local health facility guidelines, WHO emergency specs for field clinics, and common reference baselines such as ASHRAE for ventilation and NFPA for medical gas/fire life safety. Isolation, clean/dirty segregation, emergency egress, and documented maintenance plans are non-negotiable if you want swift licensing and insurability.
Back to Top ↑For credible vendors, delivered and installed costs cluster between $2,800–$4,800 per m² for primary care and $4,500–$7,500 per m² when you add isolation, imaging, and upgraded HVAC. Operating costs typically land at $12–$28 per visit for basic primary care (excluding clinician payroll), rising to $30–$55 when imaging and extended hours are included. PV/storage commonly pays back in 24–48 months on diesel-heavy sites.
| Line Item | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Modules (shell & fit-out) | $1,200–$2,200/m² | Partitions, finishes, doors, casework |
| MEP (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) | $900–$1,800/m² | ACH, filtration, medical gas rough-in |
| Equipment & Furniture | $150k–$600k | Exam tables, monitors, autoclave, POC lab |
| Power Plant / PV + Storage | $80k–$280k | Gensets N+1, ATS, optional PV/battery |
| Logistics & Foundations | $30k–$120k | Freight, cranage, siteworks |
For primary care, two consult rooms plus one treatment bay is the sweet spot. It supports 20–40 visits/day on one provider by keeping procedures and dressings out of consult rooms. Add a third consult only after intake/vitals and discharge are decoupled; otherwise you will not realize the extra capacity.
Size to maintain 21–24 °C and 40–60% RH at design day with 6–12 ACH in treatment and 12 ACH in isolation. Pressure cascades are non-negotiable: −12.5 Pa in isolation to adjacent, positive pressure in clean utility and pharmacy. Anything less will complicate licensing and frustrate staff.
Two diesel gensets in N+1 sized to 60–80% of coincident peak with an ATS are reliable. Layer 20–40 kW PV and 40–80 kWh storage to shave diesel 15–30% and stabilize voltage during compressor starts. Keep critical circuits (isolation, pharmacy, IT) on UPS for ride-through.
Budget 25–45 L/visit potable for primary care and 60–90 L/visit with procedures/imaging. Hot water storage at ≥60 °C with thermostatic mixing to 45–49 °C. Oxygen peaks at 2–5 L/min per active bay; specify manifolded cylinders or concentrators with at least one hour of autonomy at peak draw.
$2,800–$4,800 per m² installed for primary care, and $4,500–$7,500 per m² for isolation/imaging builds. Operating costs excluding clinicians usually run $12–$28 per visit for primary care and $30–$55 with imaging. Paying below these bands generally means you are sacrificing HVAC, finishes, or compliance.