Editor’s Note: The following article appeared in the July 15 issue of Construction Executive.

MINNEAPOLIS–It is no secret that the health care business has historically had its share of difficulties – including rising costs, doctor and nursing shortages, and antiquated facilities.

While a recent construction boom may ease the troubled industry somewhat, the aging population of baby boomers will demand more in the way of services and expectations. So what’s a health care facility to do?

Minneapolis-based health care design firm Ellerbe Becket believes it has some of the answers.

During its brainstorming sessions, the design firm’s team of professionals worked through various key issues such as changing current consumer traits, family members as caregivers, the nursing crisis and the struggle to keep up with technology.

“As these individuals grow older they’ll have a greater need for health care and frequently will have multiple problems,” says John Waugh, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and an Ellerbe Becket health sciences principal. “They also may be having elective procedures and a general expectation of a higher level of care, including spa-like amenities.”

To this end, Ellerbe Becket envisions the following characteristics of the patient room of the future:

• Sinks and work counters in rooms to aid efficiency and save time;
• Space for families to “camp out” and assist in patient care, helping with the nursing shortage;
• Flexibility to serve one purpose today and a totally different purpose in 30 years;
• Operable windows;
• Energy-efficient systems.

“When you consider the medical technologies of today that didn’t exist even 10 years ago, it’s easy to understand how important it is to build a room that can accommodate advances,” says Craig Hall, AIA member and senior medical architect.

Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com