By Healthcare Facilities Today

To remain relevant, a healthcare system should forge partnerships, and the retail services industry is a good place to start, according to a blog by Herschel Block in a Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo newsletter.

"A healthcare presence in a retail setting will be an essential strategy in meeting expectations inherent in a restructured health system where success is measured by keeping patients healthy rather than maximizing billable units of service," Block wrote.

Key points to consider: 

• A new healthcare economy is emerging, and with it, demand for outpatient services is expanding. Part of the formula for staying relevant is engaging patients and delivering care in settings familiar to them. This suggests healthcare service will engage patients in retail settings, Block said.

• Healthcare increasingly will share more in common with the retail industry in terms of providing a customer experience.

• Benefits of partnering with retail includes brand recognition, brand distribution, cost savings 

• Retail operators can benefit with long-term leasing, foot traffic, outfitting of space, stability as anchor tenants and more.

Read the blog.