Changing Healthcare Market Driving New One-Stop Clinic Designs for Medical Practices

DEPTFORD, NJ—Changes in how healthcare gets delivered under the Affordable Care Act—especially the trend for more treatment to be delivered on an outpatient basis—are driving new approaches to design and development of healthcare real estate, says Katie Jacoby, senior vice president of Anchor Health Properties, which is developing Nemours duPont Pediatrics, a $45 million, 65,000 sq. ft. pediatric healthcare facility located in Deptford, NJ.

The project, which broke ground late last month and is scheduled to open next summer, will provide specialized pediatric care, therapeutic services including a  therapy pool, an ambulatory surgery center and imaging capabilities including MRI, ultrasound and x-ray for families in South Jersey.

“This project is representative of a number of the trends for us, especially moving from inpatient care to outpatient care. Outpatient projects in the 70,000-square foot range seem to be our bread and butter,” Jacoby tells GlobeSt.com exclusively. “Folks want one-stop shopping, so this allows somebody to come and see their specialty physician. If they get referred for diagnostic tests, they can have that done on the same day. If they need to come back for surgery they know where they are going. It definitely provides the convenience for patients and families.”

Although Nemours has most of its facilities in Delaware, a significant number of patients travel there from New Jersey, although Jacoby declined to say how many.

“We do see people crossing the bridge for a number of things like shopping,” she says. “Healthcare is no different. I think there is a real need. There is a lack of physicians in this market and they are filling a portion of that need with this project.”

The pediatrics facility will include an inviting interior environment designed with bright colors and playful photography, a special area for sibling care, and an outdoor playground. Other amenities include a café, healing garden and conference space.

Amenities needed to be embedded into the fabric of new healthcare properties, Jacoby says. A full service cafeteria wouldn't work in this instance, but a grab-and-go café was appropriate, and it is incorporated into the existing environment. Wireless Internet access, power for mobile devices, and provisions for telemedicine technologies are also important, she says.

“The clinic space is standardized in a repeatable pod structure with the exception of a few specialized rooms,” Jacoby says. “We look at the site design and the design of the building for incremental growth strategies in the future.”

ARRAY Architects has been chosen as project architect and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has been chosen as the project's construction manager.