Healthcare Design - April 2016 - 28

Breakdown of projects completed in 2015 across
project types
addition of new outpatient facilities at 22 percent
and the repurposing of existing space for new use
at 19 percent.
When asked what other high-ranking needs
existed, 58 percent identified the expansion of
existing facilities, 54 percent the renovation of existing space as well as the repurposing of existing
space for new use, and 43 percent the consolidation of existing buildings/services.
So what are healthcare providers trying to
achieve by moving in these directions? Firms
say it's all about future flexibility/adaptability-the
single most common client goal reported for 2015
healthcare projects, according to 36 percent of
respondents. Other popular goals were improved
patient satisfaction/HCAHPS scores, tagged by
25 percent of respondents, followed by supporting population health at 11 percent.
However, for secondary goals, improved
patient satisfaction/HCAHPS scores rose to the
top of the list with 54 percent of votes, followed
by creating future flexibility/adaptability and
supporting population health-both selected
by 43 percent-and adding service lines at
37 percent.
The wake
As providers answer those needs and goals with
this incoming wave of projects, firms are finding
that despite the increase in workload, they're
struggling with a few obstacles of their own-the
most common being talent acquisition, identified
as the greatest challenge A/E/C firms faced in
2015 by 23 percent of respondents.
"Talent pool," "continuing to find great people,"
"need high-caliber staff to remain competitive,"
and "matching and bringing our clients the very
best talent within the firm" were among numerous similar comments speckling responses to an
open-ended question on the greatest challenges
and opportunities firms face today.
Among the comments that shed light on the
shape that the healthcare A/E/C landscape is
taking today: "Owners have an expectation to
complete projects sooner in order to stay ahead
of competitors." "Hospitals place higher demand
on design and construction professionals to
increase efficiencies and reduce change orders"
was another. And appearing numerous times was
the issue of fees.
To that end, following talent acquisition,
21 percent of respondents reported pressure to
lower fees as their greatest challenge in 2015, followed by increased competition at 17 percent and
shorter project schedules at 15 percent. Together,
28

HCDmagazine.com 04.16

Infrastructure

Senior living

14%

Outpatient

45%

52%

Hospital

Breakdown of projects completed in 2015 across size ranges
5,000 to 20,000 sq. ft.

58%

20,0001 to 50,000 sq. ft.

25%

50,001 to 100,000 sq. ft.

100,001 to 500,000 sq. ft.

500,001 to 1 million sq. ft.

More than 1 million sq. ft.

0
0

20
30

25
40

40
60

Percentage of respondents that identified the following as the most
common client need for healthcare projects in 2015
Consolidation of existing
buildings/services

Expansion of existing
facilities

Replacement of outdated
buildings

12%

Repurposing existing space
for new use

19%

Addition of new outpatient
facilities

22%

Renovation of an existing
space

37%

5 10 10 2015

30
20

2540 30 5035

60
40

Percentage of respondents that identified the following as
other high-ranking client needs for healthcare projects in 2015
58%

Expansion of existing facilities

54%

Renovation of existing space
Repurposing existing space
for new use
Consolidation of existing
buildings/services
Addition of new outpatient
facilities
Replacement of outdated
buildings
Updating IT/infrastructure

54%
43%
40%
34%
21%

Changes to exterior/
landscaping/grounds

15%

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Healthcare Design - April 2016

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