What Are the Top Three Investments/Changes That Can Transform a Facility?

Last month our CEO, Brian Haapala and Rio Grande Hospital and Wellness Center CEO, Arlene Harms, were honored to speak at the 2025 Colorado Rural Health Conference. A thoughtful conversation with the audience resulted in this quarter’s FAQ, “What are the top three investments/changes that can transform a facility?”

Based on successful implementation examples and expert analysis, three key investments can transform a healthcare facility, presented in optimal sequence.

Primary care clinic development serves as the essential foundation. Facilities should design spaces as Patient-Centered Medical Homes, focusing on team-based care environments rather than traditional layouts. This foundational investment enables practitioners to collaborate effectively while providing optimal patient care.

Once the primary care infrastructure is established, the expansion of outpatient services becomes the logical next phase. This investment proves particularly valuable as it generates significant revenue while requiring relatively modest construction costs – approximately $600-700 per square foot compared to the $2,000+ per square foot needed for surgical suites. High revenue-generating services such as hyperbaric chambers exemplify the potential of this investment, enabling facilities to implement comprehensive community health programs while supporting long-term growth strategies.

Finally, emergency department enhancement completes the transformation trilogy, addressing critical operational needs while serving as the strategic front door to the facility. This investment focuses on improving operational flow and efficiency, addressing security vulnerabilities, optimizing patient throughput, and enhancing infection control capabilities. Importantly, while these investments can be implemented individually, maximum impact comes from implementing them in sequence.

Each investment builds upon previous improvements, creating a sustainable path toward comprehensive facility transformation that allows organizations to demonstrate success at each stage while building momentum for further improvements.

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