CREJ

April 2021 — Health Care & Senior Housing Quarterly — Page 15 www.crej.com the cost of living in urban areas ris- ing, will younger populations move to rural areas post-pandemic, there- by increasing the need for resources? Will hospitals that recently closed be able to reopen as REHs? Rural com- munities and health care providers will need to have a broader dialogue surrounding these issues soon. The idea of bedless hospitals may seem unconventional but has been around for years. One of my hospi- tal clients in Maryland underwent a pilot program to relocate and convert an outdated hospital into a bedless free-standing medical facil- ity, given its proximity to another licensed bed facility. There was considerable concern among com- munity members that they were losing their hospital and access to comprehensive care while absorb- ing the additional costs associated with an ambulance ride should they need to be transferred after stabilization. Some speculated that people might make the longer drive to a hospital with beds at the risk of not arriving in time to be kept alive. The facts in this case were just the opposite. The project data proved that residents would get better care and at a better price point than if they had kept their original facility – and that was without an enhanced reimbursement. Rural America is finally getting some of the financial relief and attention it has needed for so long, but it still has a long way to go. Rural emergency hos- pitals, like the one that saved my friend’s life, are a viable option for many communities. Hopefully after Jan. 1, 2023, even more lives will be saved as more facilities are able to meet their populations’ health care needs and remain fiscally healthy themselves. s eda@eua.com Anderson Continued from Page 3 are key decisions about how to best locate these spaces, ensure access to nature and light, orient care spaces, create safety, and utilize colors or graphics that can have significant impact on reducing stigma and sup- porting positive outcomes. While our children are resilient, they cannot be expected to thrive and grow without addressing their growing mental health needs accel- erated by the pandemic. Schools are an ideal place to address this next challenge and stem further damage. While better academic performance is one possible outcome, improved social and emotional well-being also are clear needs at this moment. Those of us in education and health care design and real estate should advocate for approaches that sup- port mental health being included in our work. With growing scientific knowledge of neurodiversity, our ideas, designs, investments and interventions will create a variety of stigma-reducing spaces and programs that support mental health for all. We can define what the intersection of education, play and mental health looks like. Now it is time to make an impact for the future well-being of our commu- nities. s Root Continued from Page 6 sf ambulatory surgery center and clinic is located in Basalt, about 18 miles northwest of Aspen. Basalt is home to the growing Willits Town Center mixed-use development. The new facility will make it easier for patients to receive care close to home and the nearby ski slopes, serving the needs of professional and aspiring athletes from across the country and around the world. The building is slated for comple- tion in early 2022. It will house four ORs with two additional shells for future growth, nine pre-op and post- op rooms, 14 total recovery rooms, a procedure room and a biologics lab. The Steadman Clinic Aspen physi- cians and their teams will staff the new facility, and The Steadman Clinic Vail physicians will rotate to the facility as well. Orthopedic Care Partners is providing management expertise and access to investor capital. In addition, groundbreaking research and education through SPRI will be central to the partnership with plans for a regenerative medi- cine laboratory focusing on healthy aging and musculoskeletal health, and enrolling patients in clinical tri- als. As part of the Basalt project, Rem- edy, The Steadman Clinic and the project team also are incorporating a community park that is designed to provide an outdoor extension of the lobby, offering a seamless transition between indoors and out. The archi- tect for the project is Boulder Associ- ates, and the general contractor is Haselden Construction of Centennial. The Steadman Clinic, VSON, Vail Health, Aspen Valley Hospital and OCP executives are confident that the new facilities will be the latest examples of successful provider part- nerships and physician alignment strategies, resulting in better-quality, more convenient care in those mar- kets. s dmartin@remedymed.com Martin Continued from Page 13 Part of the Basalt project will incorporate a community park that is designed to pro- vide an outdoor extension of the lobby, offering a seamless transition between indoors and out.