Hospitals and clinics are headed away from downtown Nashville to get closer to neighborhoods and office parks, according to an executive with HCA TriStar.
Like Vanderbilt Medical Center’s takeover of the old 100 Oaks shopping mall, HCA TriStar’s senior vice president Tim Scarvey says more hospitals are looking for space outside of their downtown campuses.
“It’s simply the expectation of those we serve today, not to have to drive downtown, have to find a place to park. Bring services closer to the patient. I think that’s going to bring smaller structures, in some ways, but more of them.”
Scarvey says downtown hospitals will continue to expand their highly specialized care, but he says major development plans will target suburban communities.
On the healthcare jobs front, Scarvey says despite new college programs in the area educating more nurses, there’s still a nursing shortage. He also expects more and more healthcare will be delivered by nurse practitioners because doctors are also in high demand.
Scarvey and local real estate and manufacturing leaders were panelists at the Nashville area Chamber of Commerce business outlook summit Wednesday.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM