Hospitals and specialized health care services in rural areas and small towns have been declining for many years, and that has become a serious concern. Financial stress is the primary reason for the decline. The federal government has provided financial support for health care through various programs, but that support has now been reduced. Fortunately, state and local officials are aggressively stepping up to address the issue.
The absence of health care doesn’t just affect residents; it also impacts the broader local economy. Growth is hindered as residents travel or move to other cities to access health care services. To address this, there is a move for private sector investors and large, well-established hospital systems to step in and provide funding for new health care projects. The opportunities that follow provide a quick look into some upcoming opportunities that will be launched soon.
City officials in Ontario, Oregon, will oversee construction of a new behavioral health facility designed to address longstanding service gaps in crisis response and residential treatment. The health care clinic will be constructed to accommodate both a 24-hour crisis stabilization center and a secure residential treatment facility. It will serve as a crisis center and a point of first contact for individuals in mental health distress, offering short-term stabilization and observation.
The residential unit will provide longer-term care for individuals discharged from the state hospital, particularly those under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board. Together, the facilities will increase access to appropriate, non-carceral treatment in eastern Oregon. The facility will also include detox services and transitional housing options for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. Currently in the pre-construction design phase, construction solicitations may be delayed until late 2026 or early 2027.
A $30 million health care project has been announced by officials in the city of Kirksville, Missouri. The new facility will specialize in cancer treatment, and it will be designed to address a significant regional gap in oncology services. A specific emphasis on radiology will be addressed since citizens in Kirksville lost local access to radiology services in 2022.
The new cancer treatment facility will be constructed on city-owned property, and it will include a medically constructed vault to house state-of-the-art equipment that provides high-precision radiation therapy. The building will also include dedicated patient support areas and consultation spaces for physicians to streamline care coordination. Construction is currently slated to begin late in 2025.
Officials at Florida State University have announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art hospital in Panama City Beach. The project carries an estimated cost of $414 million. When completed, the health care facility will be equipped to both provide immediate care needs and meet numerous long-term academic and research objectives of the university. The hospital will provide 180 inpatient beds, and it will be designed to expand in the future to accommodate as many as 600 beds.
Services offered will include emergency care, general surgery, diagnostic imaging, and specialized treatment in cardiology, neurology and orthopedics. The facility will be located on a planned 87-acre medical campus that is being developed to serve as a hub for clinical care, medical education and health innovation. The hospital will also provide clinical training opportunities for students and residents and will function as a hands-on education site for future health care providers. The recently announced project is currently in the early planning and design phase. A timeline for construction solicitations has not yet been released.
Officials in Cincinnati, Ohio, have announced plans for a $62 million dual-site project to address two important requests from local citizens — a community health center and a large-scale recreation complex. Both facilities will be designed to improve the quality of life for citizens. The new health clinic will be located in an existing building that will be renovated, repurposed and equipped to provide comprehensive services such as primary and urgent health care, dental services and pharmacy access.
A new recreation center will be constructed nearby to include a gymnasium, running track, roller skating rink, indoor swimming pool and fitness center. The facility will also have a rooftop outdoor workout space and a dedicated childcare facility. Programming and services in both buildings will be delivered in partnership with a range of public and nonprofit entities to ensure affordability and accessibility. The project is currently in the planning and design phase, and construction is slated to start later this year. Funding for both facilities was provided by a bond package that was supported by citizens.
El Paso, Texas, will soon have a new dedicated burn center. Currently, patients with severe burn injuries are often transferred to other cities, resulting in delayed care and separation from family support systems. The new burn center will be designed to double as a critical care unit and will be located on the third floor of the main hospital building, ensuring convenient access to existing clinical services. It will include specialized surgical suites and swing beds adaptable for both burn recovery and critical care.
To meet other standards, the hospital unit will also be equipped with advanced air-handling systems. The planning and design phases are still underway, but officials hope to release RFQs for architectural and engineering services in 2025. Construction will begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
Construction expertise, technology and other hospital-related equipment will be in high demand for these efforts.
