Healthcare Responds to Regulatory Climate, Thin Margins
As the third-highest cost on the balance sheet, real estate and facilities represent an opportunity for healthcare leaders to address financial challenges amid a tenuous regulatory environment.
DALLAS—From the moment a patient or family member steps onto hospital grounds, first impressions of the care experience are formed. As the third-highest cost on the balance sheet, real estate and facilities also represent an opportunity for healthcare leaders to address financial challenges. And, within the current uncertain regulatory environment, industry disruption, heightened emphasis on patient satisfaction and razor thin margins, healthcare providers need to think of new ways to survive, GlobeSt.com learns.
Methodist Health System has partnered with JLL for integrated facilities management and healthcare solutions to address these challenges and opportunities. Services include security and maintenance to capital planning and data-driven technology solutions. Under this agreement, JLL is providing operational healthcare services to four Methodist Health System hospitals throughout North Texas and the surrounding areas, totaling 4.1 million square feet.
“Methodist Health System understands how critical the physical environment is in providing the best possible care and overall experience to patients, complying with stringent regulatory and performance standards, and controlling ever-rising costs per patient,” said Michael Marsh, managing director South Central Region, JLL Healthcare Solutions. “At the center of our partnership approach is collaboration and an understanding that Methodist’s existing facilities management team has institutional knowledge that can’t easily be replicated. Through this partnership, the Methodist team has access to a wealth of JLL resources, tools and best practices to ensure their work continues to advance the system’s mission.”
JLL partners with Methodist on its three project priorities: reducing cost, supporting regulatory compliance and an optimal environment of care, and fulfilling operational excellence.
“In signing our agreement with JLL, we hope to realize a number of tangible benefits, including staff that is better trained, facilities that are better run, and doctors, nurses and patients who are happier because they don’t have to call in as many facilities issues,” said Pamela Stoyanoff, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Methodist Health System. “JLL understands how the environment of care impacts doctors, nurses and other hospital providers’ ability to deliver the best possible care, and mirrors our commitment to continuously improving the overall experience for our patients and their families.”
The 2,100 members of JLL Healthcare enhance the patient experience, advances clinical outcomes and improves financial performance through real estate and facilities solutions. JLL helps healthcare organizations identify opportunities and risks, improve the productivity of assets, and ensure that all aspects of facilities reach levels of quality, compliance and safety. JLL’s healthcare facility management service has more than 540 hospital clients in more than 347 million square feet of healthcare facilities.
“With an integrated facilities management program, these providers can utilize processes, best practices and extremely skilled operators to reduce costs through operational efficiencies, strategic sourcing and energy reduction,” Marsh tells GlobeSt.com. “An example benefit is that, for a hospital that has $50 million in operating costs, they could save $9 million in just two to three years. It’s an incremental solution to an existing problem.”
Dallas-based Methodist Health System provides healthcare for individuals throughout North Texas, with 10 hospitals carrying the Methodist Health System brand, as owners or through affiliation. More than two dozen Methodist Family Health Centers and medical groups are among the facilities served by the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center or any other affiliated institution.