Public Options—Private, Too: Healthcare Giants

Among the many crucial issues crowding the political stage, one of the most volatile is health care. Regardless of one’s stance on reform, the topic has long been a focus of the top

Interior Design

Giants, which have watched the category grow substantially in recent years. For the 40 health-care Giants, design fees earned in this sector amounted, on average, to 47 percent of total design fees, totaling an average $11.5 million from July 2008 through June 2009. According to one Giant, the patient demand for a higher level of service “means that hospitals are investing in environments that are distinguished by their welcoming atmospheres and family-friendly amenities—almost like hotels.” The private sector accounted for 67 percent of the Giants’ health-care projects over the 12-month reporting period. However, 28 firms worked on government health-care projects, further broken down into public-sector projects, at 85 percent of the government total, and military jobs, the other 15 percent.

The question of whether the health-care category will continue growing, as stimulus dollars flow into the economy, remains to be answered. “There is still considerable demand for facility upgrades and expanded capacity,” another Giant observes. “Until economic conditions improve, many health-care providers are contemplating interior renovations and aesthetic enhancements to reinforce the public’s perception of quality and brand identity, specifically among the more discriminating and well insured patients.” Here’s hoping that quality is something all patients will soon be able to afford.