Two-thirds of hospitals are at work on construction projects, according to a VHA capital survey, Becker's Hospital Review reports. That's at least a 35 percent increase for 2011, compared with 2009.
The survey of VHA's member hospitals revealed that:
- Nearly half of the 30 percent of survey respondents who are planning expansions or renovations will start their projects by Q3.
- Most of the renovation/new construction projects are related to patient care.
- About one-third of respondents say their facility's environmental sustainability is a priority.
VHA predicted that for 2011 and into the future, more hospitals and non-acute facilities will choose recycled and higher-end materials, such as granite tile and sandstone, for their new construction projects. It also forecast that it will become more common for many hospitals to collaborate through group purchasing of construction materials to drive rising constructions costs down.
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit healthcare organizations that collaborate to save money in their supply chain. It serves 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals and more than 24,000 non-acute care healthcare organizations nationwide.
To learn more:
- read the Becker's Hospital Review article
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