Health care construction continued to slow in 2014 with construction put in place down 1% compared to 2013. However, FMI forecasts 5% growth for 2015 to $43.1 billion in construction put in place for the year.
Health care is currently facing many adjustments, with continuing changes due to health care reforms, a difficult funding environment, and modifications to delivery methods. One of the major goals for health care is to continue to refine its processes to be leaner and more efficient. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation states that the costs for national health care rose just 3.6% in 2013, which is the lowest growth rate since 1960. However, the health care industry is still not prepared for an increased number of insured. The tracking statistic “Hospital Beds Per 1,000 People” is slowly trending downward. The new model for hospitals is the medical center with a cluster of offices that include beds to meet more patients’ needs.
Ambulatory health care centers and renovations to existing facilities will continue to be the focus for construction. Health Facilities Management reports, “Ambulatory care accounts for approximately one-third of health care spending in the United States, slightly more than inpatient care, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.”