With the healthcare facilities industry facing major challenges that impact patient care, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability, leaders in this sector need to find new ways to overcome these difficulties while maintaining high-quality service delivery. 

Here are the top three challenges which are likely to shape the future of healthcare facilities: 

1. Facilities need to be more efficient.

Healthcare real estate costs are soaring, with rents for multi-outpatient buildings projected to rise, according to CBRE. At the same time, patient demands are increasing. By 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be retired, putting additional strain on healthcare facilities. Consolidation is also reshaping the industry, as larger organizations acquire smaller ones, leading to changes in how facilities are used. 

Given that healthcare real estate is the most expensive across any industry, facilities must find ways to increase patient throughput without expanding their physical footprint.

2. Workspaces are not flexible enough.

Many healthcare facilities struggle with rigid layouts, forcing some to use temporary solutions like tarps and room panels to accommodate surges in patient care.

Employee-focused spaces like break rooms are also not pulling their weight. Less than half in a  2024 JLL survey considered employee spaces to be new, and 28% stated break rooms and offices are old. 17% of employees rank the quality of facilities as a top three factor in choosing a job. 

Updating and redistributing spaces, plus anticipating changing workplace needs, is also lagging behind. Healthcare facilities teams need new ways to quickly roll out adaptable workspaces that flex with demand from both staff and patients. 

3. Staff are burnt out and difficult to retain. 

Labor shortages continue to impact healthcare, with 1.5 million job vacancies per quarter since 2022. Clinicians are facing rising levels of burnout, exacerbated by increased workloads and workplace violence, as reported by the AMA and PBS. 

To retain staff, facilities teams need to provide workspaces and clinical spaces that improve comfort, efficiency, and collaboration. Creating dedicated focus areas and collaborative work environments can also help to reduce stress, enhance productivity, and improve overall job satisfaction.

Hospital image by Oki Andri Sandjaya