Even in this challenging economic environment with healthcare legislation imminent, the need for improvement to our healthcare facilities stays consistent. Changes in healthcare construction in 2010 will showcase quality in lieu of quantity; that new projects will emphasize the most important needs within any facility and deliver them with excellence. In 2010, the new healthcare projects will be smaller in size but more responsive than ever to the patient and family.

One of the greatest challenges in the design of healthcare facilities is the creation of comfortable and appealing spaces that convey clinical excellence along with a sense of quality and comfort. From the views out the windows to the materials on the walls, odors in the air and pictures on the walls, the healthcare delivery needs to be within a complete package. Not only will patients sense the quality of the built environment, physicians and staff also respond in a positive way to the attributes of the spaces as well.

Maternity and outpatient facilities are areas of competition between hospitals and private providers. Design is a key element and in some cases is the distinction between similar medial services. Given the choice, patients will go to the better designed facilities based upon the perception of quality. New urgent care facilities need to convey respect for those patients in need of treatment, be they insured or not insured; the traditional physician offices need to set themselves apart from the pack through contemporary designs and interior finishes.

Green architecture and new materials will allow us to do more with less, allowing low maintenance design elements to achieve high expectations with long term cost savings.

Those of you in the healthcare industry who will continue to provide outstanding medical care to the public in 2010 will find that job becomes a little easier to achieve in a quality designed facility.