In the highly regulated industry of healthcare, commercial real estate is fundamental to how medical practices serve patients and support their staff to further the mission of health. However, complex regulations, the nuances of medical technology and the ever-increasing emphasis on the patient experience demand a unique understanding of how real estate can best meet these and other requirements.

“There are significant differences between medical office space and traditional office space,” said Al Gutierrez, an executive managing director with Colliers International in Stamford, C.T., and a member of the firm’s Healthcare Service Line. “For instance, the strategy behind owning versus leasing and real estate financial structures must be specifically tailored to each client. In addition, a medical practice’s brand image and patient services – from common areas to parking – must be taken into careful consideration. It is critical to keep in mind that it is always about the patient experience.”

Colliers’ Stamford-based team of healthcare services specialists, led by Gutierrez, Senior Managing Director John Goudey and director Stephanie Coleman, supports medical practice owners, commercial real estate investors and healthcare real estate developers in buying, selling, leasing, managing and improving their properties. Services range from demographic and market analytics and compliance and regulatory analysis to lease negotiation and property management. In addition to Connecticut, the firm advises clients throughout Westchester and Bronx, N.Y.

One of the most powerful tools in Colliers’ arsenal is a fully integrated and consolidated national platform of Healthcare Real Estate services, which offers access to cutting edge analytics and pivotal marketing insights from anywhere in the country.

“Our objective is to help our clients be successful in today’s competitive healthcare and medical real estate landscape,” said Mary Beth Kuzmanovich, the firm’s national director of Healthcare Services. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare real estate strategy and operations, Kuzmanovich is responsible for national business development and client relationship management. “These innovative tools, combined with market insight, business acumen and financial expertise, allow our team to deliver optimal results to the client.”

Coleman noted that the Stamford team’s extensive experience with large healthcare institutions and property developers serves them well when working with individual medical office users, service providers and group practices.

 “We have the breath of industry knowledge to help clients identify market opportunities based on factors such as patient population and modalities that are lacking in a particular area,” Coleman said. “Our site and facility selection process is grounded in gaining a thorough understanding of each practice’s service lines, related technologies and other requirements. This allows us to identify properties that address their specific structural and mechanical concerns while maintaining the focus on providing exceptional patient care.”

Coleman also noted that Colliers evaluates in-depth data reporting on patient populations, service lines and demand, along with other healthcare market information, and provides summaries to help key decision makers develop growth strategies.

Gutierrez added, “Colliers’ healthcare services team is committed to equipping our clients with the most up-to-date information and expert guidance to achieve their real estate and business objectives, as well as their strategic missions to improve the health and well being of the patients they serve.”