From Groundbreaking to Ribbon-Cutting: WorkCare’s Roadmap for Temporary On-Site Medical Clinics

Walk onto any data center construction site today and the scale is staggering. Crews in the hundreds — sometimes thousands — arrive long before servers are installed, and most will move on long before the ribbon is cut. In between, the work is intense, the risks are real, and the pace leaves little room for downtime.

That’s why construction project managers and environmental health & safety professionals increasingly view temporary on-site medical clinics as a necessity, not a luxury. The question isn’t whether to provide it, but how to do it well.

At WorkCare, we’ve spent more than 40 years building occupational health programs for complex, high-risk environments. Temporary on-site medical clinics for large construction projects are one of our specialties. Over the years, we’ve developed a repeatable program that balances efficiency, compliance, and care — so project owners can keep their workforce safe and their schedules intact.

Here’s what that roadmap looks like in practice.

Step 1: Assess Risks and Formalize Agreements

The first thing we do is listen. Every construction project is different, so we start with a risk and needs assessment: how many workers will be on site, when headcount peaks, what kinds of trades are involved, and which hazards are most pressing. A tunnel project brings confined-space risks; a desert build brings heat stress; an electrical install brings shock potential. We map all of it.

Just as important, this is where expectations are aligned. We sit down with leadership and safety officers to talk through clinic hours, reporting requirements, and escalation pathways. We also finalize contracts and pricing models — with scalability built in.

“Projects evolve, and our agreements reflect that. If the workforce doubles during peak activity, we can scale the clinic. If it shrinks as the project winds down, we scale back. That flexibility helps save our clients money and keeps care aligned with real-world demand,” WorkCare Chief Operating Officer Allison Khosroshahin said.

Step 2: Define the Right Service Model

Some projects call for a fully staffed clinic with a physician, clinic manager, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, registered nurse, case manager, EMTs, drug and alcohol technicians, medical assistants and injury-prevention specialists on site full-time. Others may need part-time coverage supplemented by our 24/7 telehealth service. We help owners decide what level of support makes sense for their workforce and their risk profile.

The services we provide go beyond emergency response. In our experience, construction workers often benefit from quick access to first aid, routine surveillance exams, drug and alcohol testing, and even simple incident prevention and wellness programs that help with fatigue, hydration, and ergonomics. Getting those pieces right reduces lost time and keeps morale strong.

“We recognize that construction projects often rely on workers that are displaced from their family and home. This presents an additional challenge to projects to ensure a healthy and safe work environment,” said Kathleen Wilhelmsen, WorkCare’s Senior Vice President of On-Site Clinic Operations. “Our staff are sensitive to these needs and respectful of cultural diversity while assisting workers in finding appropriate community resources,”

Step 3: Secure Facilities and Equipment

Once the temporary on-site medical clinic model is clear, we move quickly to set up the physical space. In most cases, WorkCare uses a trailer supplied by the employer to stand up occupational health clinics. However, on-site health clinics can also be established in nearby leased spaceor WorkCare can deploy a mobile trailer.

We provide the on-site medical clinic space with the staffing, equipment, and consumables needed, such as emergency supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostic equipment, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant electronic medical records systems.

We also take care of the details that often get overlooked, including Wi-Fi and hotspot connectivity, and proper handling and disposal for medical waste. And because these are temporary builds, we plan for decommissioning from the start; so, when the project wraps, the clinic can be removed as smoothly as it was installed.

Step 4: Staff the Temporary On-Site Medical Clinic with Qualified Professionals

A clinic is only as good as the people who run it. We recruit and credential a multidisciplinary team that might include physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, EMTs, paramedics, medical assistants, case managers, drug and alcohol technicians and injury prevention specialists. These aren’t just medical professionals — they’re occupational health specialists who understand the demands of a construction site.

Oversight comes from our Consulting Medical Directors, board-certified occupational physicians and clinically trained occupational health program managers, who guide clinical strategy and ensure compliance. Together, the team becomes an extension of the project’s safety culture, building trust with workers and integrating seamlessly into daily operations.

Step 5: Establish Protocols and Compliance

One of the first deliverables we bring to a site is a Medical Emergency Response Plan that is established in collaboration with client stakeholders. This spells out exactly how incidents will be managed, from stabilization at the scene to escalation if hospital transport is needed. We benchmark against international best practices, including the goal of providing medical attention within 10 minutes of an incident.

Our compliance framework covers:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) injury logs
• HIPAA privacy standards
• Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing
• Surveillance exams like audiograms and respirator fit testing.

In short, we make sure the clinic meets regulatory obligations while also aligning with the client’s internal policies. That reduces risk for the project owner and keeps the workforce protected.

Step 6: Integrate with Site Operations

We don’t operate in a silo. From day one, our overseeing occupational health physician and clinicians are part of the project’s safety rhythm: attending toolbox talks, joining safety meetings, and participating in drills. We align clinic hours with shift schedules, often covering long days, nights, or weekends to match how the work actually gets done.

Integration also means visibility. Workers know where the clinic is, how to access it, and who’s inside. Over time, our staff build relationships on the ground — so when someone feels pain or fatigue, they come to us early instead of waiting until a minor issue becomes a recordable injury.

Step 7: Mobilize Quickly and Launch

Efficiency matters. Our mobilization plans are built for speed and flexibility, ensuring clinics are up and running quickly after a notice to proceed. In some cases, we start even sooner with EMTs working from a vehicle while a trailer is being outfitted. In cases where the clinic is not yet operable, we can deploy an on-site provider, such as an EMT, in a nearby space or vehicle while a trailer is being outfitted.

Behind the scenes, we’re configuring layouts, stocking supplies, conducting background checks, and orienting staff to site-specific hazards. By the time the trailer doors open, the clinic is ready to log encounters, generate reports, and deliver care.

Step 8: Monitor, Report, and Continuously Improve

An on-site clinic isn’t static — it’s a living part of the project. We track every encounter, from first-aid visits to injury trends, and report those insights back to leadership. When we see patterns — say, a spike in heat stress cases or ergonomic strain — we recommend targeted interventions. Sometimes that means hydration stations, sometimes it means adjusting lift protocols.

We also refresh staff training, update emergency drills, and adjust clinic hours as the project evolves. Continuous improvement is built into our model, because construction sites don’t stand still — and neither should the health services that support them.

From Clinics to Guidance: The WorkCare Difference

Temporary on-site medical clinics might not make headlines, but they’re a critical part of what keeps massive data center builds and other construction projects on track. When you’re investing billions in new data center capacity, you can’t afford costly delays or compliance missteps.

WorkCare’s roadmap has been tested and refined across industries — from energy to construction to infrastructure — and it works. We know how to scale fast, integrate deeply, and keep crews healthy and safe from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting.

Because at the end of the day, protecting the workforce isn’t just about safety. It’s about building the foundation for a successful project.

Contact WorkCare to learn more about how we can help you establish a temporary on-site medical clinic for your next construction project.