CareNow opens first Urgent Care Clinics in the Bay Area

CareNow, which operates more than 80 urgent care clinics across the country, opened three brand new clinics in the South Bay this year. Utilizing the services of CHA & Toeniskoetter Construction, it ensured a cost-effective construction & Design process that would render a consistent look and feel for each clinic despite the different locations in San Jose, Milpitas, and Los Gatos. CareNow is a subsidiary of HCA Corporation, one of the largest healthcare providers in the world.

The construction challenges for all three clinics varied. In Milpitas and Los Gatos, for example, existing spaces in local strip malls had to be modified, while in San Jose, construction took place within a brand new building shell. Each project involved the construction of a lobby/reception area and break room, as well as multiple bathrooms and exam rooms. X-ray rooms also had to be built out, which meant a shield design that required the installation of lead-lined sheetrock.

The client provided style guidelines for all three clinics, including a color scheme. Architect Ray Bolisay, from Cuschieri Horton Architects, noted that while the client brought in a design model that had been used in other states, that model had to be adapted locally. “California’s UBC [Uniform Building Code] requirements are much more stringent, particularly those related to accessibility, so we had to tweak the design to ensure that it met California standards.”

While similar in appearance, the clinics vary in size. The San Jose clinic, located at 1038 East Brokaw Road, is the largest at 5,000 square feet. Next in line is the Los Gatos clinic (640 Blossom Hill Road, Suite A), which covers 4,100 square feet. The Milpitas clinic, found at 1487 Landess Avenue, is the most compact of the three, coming in at 3,400 square feet. The layout of each clinic also varies, depending on the orientation of its particular space.

Matching the client’s budget expectations was a key element of the process, says Toeniskoetter Construction Project Manager Brett Johnson. “We worked with CareNow to develop a prototype budget, based on a 5,000 square-foot space, that we adapted for all three clinics.” Toeniskoetter’s value engineering efforts helped make the most of the available budget. For instance, floor specifications were altered from luxury vinyl tile to a more affordable wood-grain option, and attractive accent painting was utilized as a more cost-effective choice in wall-covering.

All three clinics are now open and serving patients throughout the South Bay. For more information, visit www.carenow.com.