IRVINE, CA—Medical offices are popping up in some fairly non-traditional places these days. A local news source reports that the Irvine Co. has partnered with St. Joseph Hoag Health to debut a medical clinic and wellness corner within the Irvine Spectrum Center's Village and Park communities complex to serve the 5,000 apartment residents there. And we've all read about medical practices taking up vacant retail space. GlobeSt.com spoke with Sonya Dopp-Grech, SVP/director of healthcare services for NAI Capital here, about the trend of medical practices being placed in atypical settings and other healthcare-related trends.

GlobeSt.com: Aside from traditional retail settings, we've been hearing about medical practices and clinics showing up in apartment complexes. What does this say about how healthcare delivery is changing?

Dopp-Grech: The old adage in real estate has always been “Location, location, location.” As the healthcare industry changes, the new adage for healthcare real estate is, “Convenience, convenience, convenience.” Just as the Irvine Co. has done at the Irvine Spectrum, a similar service is also planned for employees at Jamboree Center.

GlobeSt.com: In what other non-traditional healthcare settings are you noticing these practices showing up?

Dopp-Grech: We are seeing healthcare services offered in many non-traditional settings. Large drug-store chains that have been offering vaccinations and flu shots are now expanding the care they provide and repurposing portions of their stores to include walk-in clinics. Offering multiple services gives the stores more revenue streams and provides their customers with the convenience of receiving a variety of medical services and filling prescriptions all in one place. CVS has embraced this concept so much that it recently changed its company name to CVS Health to further focus on the health aspects of its products and services.

Some high-end gyms are also partnering with medical professionals to provide health services such as rehab and chiropractic. Concierge doctors are providing services to select groups of high-income patients, typically for a monthly fee, that can include in-home office visits and access to consultations outside of traditional business hours. In-home healthcare services are being provided with more frequency, allowing the patient to be in their most comfortable setting.

Large employers have partnered with health providers to place on-site health clinics in their facilities for their employees. Walgreens has created a division known as Take Care Health to provide workplace health services and pharmacies at many large corporations including a 25,000-square-foot facility for BMW employees, family members and qualified retirees at its facility in South Carolina.

GlobeSt.com: What is involved for property owners in providing healthcare services in these types of settings?

Dopp-Grech: Property owners or businesses providing such facilities in these non-traditional settings are typically partnering with large hospitals or provider groups to staff and operate the healthcare facilities. This trend benefits the large hospitals and provider groups by identifying captive audiences that will become the basis for referrals for other services and specialists within these provider groups.

GlobeSt.com: Any other new healthcare real estate trends you're noticing?

Dopp-Grech: The other significant trend we are noticing in healthcare is the use of technology. In part to cater to the Millennial generation who use social media and smartphones as a primary means of communication, the shift to utilization of mobile apps for medical services makes sense. In addition to health research and booking appointments, mobile apps are available to count calories, measure heart rate, track exercise and manage chronic diseases. Smartphones can provide reminders to take medication and wearable devices are available. Face-to-face meetings with doctors through Skype or other computer and smartphone applications provide quick care without the need for a traditional in-office visit. All of this supports the trend in healthcare toward wellness.