Choosing the right health care facility location has concerned health care occupiers for decades, and a new survey shows it could hold significantly more weight than other determining factors for patients choosing providers. A patient survey by JLL reveals that consumers want their health care facility located within their demographic center.
Eighty-three percent of patients surveyed would prefer to be near their care, rather than driving further to a new or renovated facility. Seventy-one percent of patients exhibited this attitude by driving less than 20 minutes to their medical service. Meanwhile, only 36% of surveyed patients reported checking reviews prior to their appointment. “In dense, urban areas, health care competition is fierce, making it easier for consumers to find accessible care with public transportation and parking options,” says Jay Johnson, national director, JLL Healthcare Markets. “For rurally located patients, they’re likely more interested in cutting their drive time down than seeking a new facility so its unsurprising that they’re even less likely to check reviews than their urban counterparts.” Consumer-friendly, patient-centric models of health care delivery have increasingly been embraced in recent years, as the retailization of health care has fostered greater accessibility. According to JLL’s 2020 Healthcare Real Estate Outlook, ideal locations for both retail and health care share many common demand drivers, including high traffic and visibility, neighborhood proximity and parking access.
What patients notice most
Cleanliness and safety
Ease of access
“Interestingly, while patients that were happy with their visit mentioned the cleanliness and safety of a facility as a top reason for feeling positive about the experience, those that were unhappy had issues with staffing levels and wait times. Its clear that facilities need to focus on cleanliness and safety while also enhancing the patient experience through proper staffing to improve efficiency. If a patient is frustrated with the process of gaining access to care, they are unlikely to even notice the other qualities of the facility,” Taylor says.
Written by {{author.AuthorName}} - {{author.AuthorPosition}}, {{author.Company}} {{author.Company}} Contact Info: {{author.OfficePhone}} , {{author.EmailAddress}}
{{comment.Text}}