Healthcare systems are rethinking how and when smarter healthcare design begins — and that means starting long before a building takes shape. In a recent Healthcare Facilities Leaflet feature, Heather Hayes, Senior Advisor with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, shares how data-driven advisory services help leaders make sharper, more sustainable capital decisions grounded in real community needs.
Starting With Strategy, Not Square Footage
If facility planning is rooted in assumptions, rather than data-informed decisions on size, site, and program, decisions may not reflect shifting demographics or market realities. Heather explains how advisory services combines quantitative data, such as utilization trends and service-line projections, with qualitative feedback from patients and providers. The result is a clear diagnosis of what’s truly needed before design begins.
Smarter Investments, Tangible Results
That strategic approach recently helped two McMillan Pazdan Smith healthcare clients take control of complex decisions with measurable results. At Prisma Health Northeast Columbia Medical Park, early data modeling led to a 14,000-square-foot reduction and $6.3 million in construction cost savings — without sacrificing patient experience or operational flexibility.
For the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority, a financial and market analysis informed site selection that saved approximately $20 million in development costs while aligning the project with long-term service needs for the community.
Bridging Strategy and Design
When advisory services and architectural design live under one roof, strategy doesn’t get lost in translation. Every decision — from site and service mix to floor-plan layout — remains grounded in data and the client’s mission. This continuity allows McMillan Pazdan Smith teams to deliver greenfield and expanded facilities that not only meet today’s demands but anticipate tomorrow’s needs.
As health systems face growing financial pressures, the margin for error is gone. Early strategy helps leaders invest wisely, adapt quickly, and deliver care where it’s needed most.”
– Heather Hayes / MPS Senior Advisor
Read the full article:
Healthcare Facilities Leaflet – Diagnose Your Market: Build Smarter With Early Strategy.
