.svg)
.svg)
Infrastructure
In 2025, the Healthcare Facilities Network has made it a focus to highlight three critical issues looming over hospitals and systems: aging employees, aging infrastructure, and aging buildings. At the recent ASHE PDC conference, we sat with four healthcare leaders—Jeffrey O'Neill, Chad Kruse, Patrick Casey, and Steve Van Ness—to discuss the critical issue of aging buildings and some of the problems aging buildings create.
Watch the full episode:
1. Structural Deterioration and Safety Hazards: Over time, hospital buildings may experience wear and tear, leading to compromised structural integrity. This can pose safety risks to patients, staff, and visitors.
2. Inadequate Technological Infrastructure: Older facilities often lack the necessary infrastructure to support modern medical technologies, hindering the adoption of advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment.
3. Increased Maintenance Costs and Financial Strain: Maintaining aging infrastructure can be costly due to frequent repairs and inefficiencies, diverting funds from patient care and other essential services.
4. Non-Compliance with Modern Healthcare Standards: Outdated hospital designs may not meet current healthcare standards and regulations, affecting the quality of care and potentially leading to legal and accreditation challenges.
5. Reduced Capacity to Handle Patient Volume: Aging facilities may have limited space and outdated layouts that are not conducive to efficient patient flow, leading to overcrowding and longer wait times.
Addressing these issues often requires significant investment in hospital infrastructure to ensure safe, efficient, and modern healthcare delivery.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strategies
Strategies for Securing Rooms for Updating and Renovation
A byproduct of an aging building is aging rooms. Over 50% of health system facilities leaders oversee at least one building that is more than 50 years old, highlighting the prevalence of aging hospital spaces in healthcare. Advanced age also means that remodeling of occupied healthcare spaces, including patient rooms, must occur at some point.
In this video discussion, our experts discuss strategies for securing rooms during hospital remodeling projects, and the benefits that arise from newly renovated hospital spaces.
Champion a Phased Renovation Approach: Jeffrey O'Neill emphasizes implementing renovations in phases. This strategy allows hospitals to continue operations in unaffected areas while specific sections are under construction, minimizing disruptions to patient care and staff workflows.
Create Stakeholder Engagement: Chad Kruse highlights the importance of collaborating with clinical staff, administrators, and patients in the planning process. Engaging stakeholders ensures that the remodeled spaces meet the needs of all users, leading to more functional and user-friendly environments.
Tie to Compliance and Safety Planning: Patrick Casey underscores the necessity of ensuring that remodeling plans adhere to healthcare regulations and safety standards. This includes considerations for infection control, accessibility, and emergency preparedness, maintaining a safe environment for patients and staff during construction.
Watch the full episode:
=================================
Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage which is incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of our publications. For all videos on my channel: This information is for general & educational purposes only. Always consult with an attorney, CPA, or financial professional for advice based on your specific situation. Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use © Healthcare Facilities Network.
📬 For Business Inquiries: pmartin@cref.com
