Consumer care preferences are major drivers for facility design innovation. Perceptions of a facility’s quality, access, experience, reputation, and cost for the patient all heavily influence patient decisions about where to receive care. These preferences ultimately play into dynamics that have already been influencing the future of facility planning. For example, because inpatient volumes are expected to drop slightly (-1.1%) and outpatient volume is expected to increase (7.3%) by 2026, a greater portion of health system revenue will come from expanding outpatient services. Facility planners should consider whether current and future construction and renovation plans align with these forecasts.

Read on to understand how facility designers can strategize as consumer preferences shift.