Trends Driving the Future of Health Care Real Estate
What do you think of when you hear the word "hospital"? The first image that comes to mind is probably a massive, stark-white building marked with the Rod of Asclepius (the traditional symbol of medicine). But that image could change in the near future. Current healthcare trends involve disinvesting in real estate. Healthcare facilities are finding ways to cut down on time and money spent on in-person facilities and reinvest them into other areas of healthcare. Here are some trends driving the future of healthcare real estate and what they mean.
Telehealth
The demand for telehealth services has increased dramatically since the onset of the pandemic. Demand for remote healthcare services remains high, and many patients expect telehealth options to remain available permanently.
Although remote appointments won't completely replace in-person visits, the number of patients that hospitals see walk through their doors daily will likely decrease. This could result in hospitals restructuring or downsizing. It could also result in hospitals restricting the number of services they offer in-person and expanding the number of services offered remotely.
Outpatient Services
The pandemic has made it clear that convenient and accessible healthcare is a necessity. Telehealth has shown that making healthcare more convenient and accessible is an achievable goal.
Most cities only have one or two hospitals. For those who live far away from these centralized campuses, it can be hard to access care. This demand for accessible healthcare could lead to more and more satellite emergency clinics, or remote facilities, built in rural areas and other communities where access to healthcare facilities is sparse. And an increase in outpatient facilities could eventually lead to main hospital campuses becoming much less important or even obsolete.
New Technology
The final trend driving the future of healthcare real estate is new technology. Constant technological advancements have forced hospitals to reevaluate their assets and make changes to accommodate new technology.
This rise in technology has benefits. Remote monitoring apps allow patients to be more involved in their healthcare and reduce the need for in-person hospital visits. But it also comes with a few disadvantages; having to constantly make room for new equipment can be a huge strain on a hospital's budget and space.
Luckily, medical equipment leasing companies like Med One Group are designed to help hospitals combat this. If you lease equipment and the technology improves, you don't have to sell the equipment. You can also take advantage of flexible end-of-term options. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of leasing and how we can help.