The State of Healthcare Construction
With 2013 coming to an end, Rob Chartier, vice president of healthcare for Miron Construction Co., Inc., provides a look back at the healthcare construction industry and provides a glimpse into trends that can be expected in the upcoming year.
1. What have you seen in healthcare construction in 2013 as far as trends, new building projects vs. additions or remodels, etc.?
We have seen significant growth in the senior living market. New trends in resident-centered care models are rendering many older facilities obsolete or uncompetitive. Demand has been growing naturally as a function of demographics, and resurgence in the home market and home values has allowed seniors to recuperate much of the equity they had lost in the market downturn, making the sale of their residences more palatable. Critical access hospitals continue to be a strong segment as well. Replacement of these facilities is now becoming a matter of survival for some of the smaller, independent providers, and those that are forming partnerships with larger systems are now finding financial resources they have not previously had.
2. What are some healthcare projects Miron has completed in 2013?
Completed projects in 2013 include:
• Advanced Pain Management Clinic build out – Grand Chute
• Aspirus Pine Ridge Surgery Center build out
• Aspirus Wausau MRI Remodel
• Beaver Dam Community Hospital Hyperbaric Wound Care
• Beaver Dam Community Hospital Interventional Radiology Addition
• Bellin Allouez SW Office build out
• Fox Valley Technical College Health Simulation and Technology Center
• Holy Family Memorial Hospital Women’s and Children’s Center Remodel
• Langlade Critical Access Hospital Replacement
• Marshfield Clinic FHC Black River Falls Dental Clinic
• Marshfield Clinic Patient Assistance Center Remodel
• St. Vincent Hospital Electrical Vault and Chiller Replacement
3. How has patient-centered design driven the industry?
Patient-centered design has forced us to re-evaluate how we, as AEC teams, collaborate with owners in the preconstruction phase of projects. In order to understand what the main project drivers for patients and caregivers are, we have been forced to seek their direct input in both the architectural and process design. We can no longer plan these facilities in a vacuum and expect to deliver on the expectations of patients.
4. Are there any trends you see on the horizon for 2014?
The new trends in healthcare construction will be driven by the Affordable Care Act. We expect that there will be a push toward outpatient and preventative medicine. Buildings like freestanding emergency rooms, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and medical office buildings should predominate. As far as existing hospitals, renovations for outpatient centers of excellence may become prevalent. A common facility upgrade we can expect is making improvements to reduce re-admissions and hospital-borne infections and injuries.
Nice article Rob thanks for sharing we are seeing a lot of the same things happening.