Although much of the health-care sector has hit the doldrums during the recession, some major systems are seizing on the down market to move ahead with projects and reap big savings. Highly competitive pricing from contractors and favorable financing terms have provided added urgency for some facility planners looking to get the most for their money.
Douglas Erickson, deputy executive director of the American Society of Healthcare Engineering, says although the market remains soft, he is seeing more successful health-care systems ramp up activity. An ASHE survey of facility managers conducted in late 2009 showed that roughly a third of respondents said they had scaled back projects last year and another third stalled projects completely. However, Erickson says he sees signs of hope this year.