Clinic Relocation

Emory Rehabilitation Outpatient Center, in partnership with Select Medical, needed to relocate its established clinic from an in-hospital setting while maintaining uninterrupted care and keeping it close to Emory’s main campus. RVA was engaged early for project management and design to deliver a fast-track move to a retail plaza in Decatur, positioning the clinic within the same referral network and making access easier for patients and staff.

The selected site was previously split into two suites and needed to be redesigned as a single location. RVA led the conversion to a more efficient clinic build, tying utilities together, coordinating HVAC replacement, and addressing a shell without an existing sprinkler or fire-alarm systems.

The design centered on optimizing space to improve staff workflow and the patient experience. We organized the V-shaped footprint with a Pilates reformer as the visual anchor in the gym. Then, co-located the patient service desk for better communication and visibility, added private treatment rooms (including pelvic floor–ready rooms), and created a hand therapist space with an in-room sink for splinting. With this additional space, we added a pelvic floor PT location, private rooms, and speech therapy.

Though it is not discussed enough, the RVA team also handles the sometimes difficult action of handling zoning and permitting issues. What might seem like a minor issue, such as limited access to a county’s permit department due to limited staff, can become a major issue in the project timeline. With our team’s 30 years of experience rolling out outpatient clinics, the project manager identified and rectified the issue earlier in the process.