Scholz: Consumer demand is driving healthcare providers and commercial real estate professionals to adjust their strategies for new developments. Patient experience has been an important focus for the healthcare industry over recent years. Patients are demanding a higher level of quality with their care, and with advances in technology resulting in even greater choices, healthcare providers are striving to keep up with the demands, particularly in the acute-care setting. Part of the challenge moving forward will continue to be the reimbursement model and how providers can change or reinvent themselves. Regardless of the shift in the reimbursement model, care still needs to be delivered.

From a commercial real estate perspective, we need to look at the flip side of the consumer coin. How do we really know what is needed when one size does not fit all and not all consumers are created equal? To address that, we will continue to test innovative ideas with our healthcare clients and find different strategies to engage the consumer. Working together, our ability to shift as an industry will be transformative as we continue to evolve how best to serve individual consumers.

GlobeSt.com: How are healthcare trends and advances in technology impacting Orange County's healthcare industry in particular?

Scholz: Advances in technology are helping healthcare providers in Orange County to adapt in a positive direction. Consumers are using this technology and greater access to information to take greater personal ownership of their health. At the same time, consumer expectations for best-in-class patient experience and interactive healthcare solutions are accelerating. We are also seeing the use of TeleHealth technology to provide state-of-the-art care and access to physicians from Orange county out to other more remote or underserved areas. With the goal of population health behind the advancement, our community can support other communities.

GlobeSt.com: Is Orange County's commercial real estate industry keeping pace with the changes taking place in healthcare delivery systems?

Scholz: Orange County is keeping pace, and we are continuing to see the influx of facilities that are more community focused, providing greater access and even more convenience. In addition, we are seeing new startup companies emerge that focus on personalized health, and I believe we will continue to see this model expand.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—We are continuing to see the influx of healthcare facilities that are more community focused, providing greater access and even more convenience for patients, Alyssa Scholz, regional director of health and wellness for the Southwest region at Gensler, tells GlobeSt.com. An industry expert in healthcare, Scholz brings more than two decades of diversified experience delivering large-scale projects in the hospitality, retail and workplace sectors.

Gensler recently hosted a health-and-wellness panel discussion at its Newport Beach office during which Scholz moderated a discussion between Joe Kiani, CEO of Masimo; Richard Afable, president and CEO of St. Joseph Hoag Health; and Steve De Vries, area VP at InTouch Health. The panelists shared their different perspectives on how consumer demand is impacting the industry at a local and national level. As part of that, they also addressed what the healthcare and commercial real estate industry can learn from looking at different regions, as well as the impact of potential disruptors and how the industry can continue to harness technology and science to drive better solutions.

We spoke with Scholz about these topics and how the CRE industry here is keeping pace with changes in healthcare delivery.

GlobeSt.com: How do you see consumer demand shifting the state of healthcare and commercial real estate trends?

Scholz: Consumer demand is driving healthcare providers and commercial real estate professionals to adjust their strategies for new developments. Patient experience has been an important focus for the healthcare industry over recent years. Patients are demanding a higher level of quality with their care, and with advances in technology resulting in even greater choices, healthcare providers are striving to keep up with the demands, particularly in the acute-care setting. Part of the challenge moving forward will continue to be the reimbursement model and how providers can change or reinvent themselves. Regardless of the shift in the reimbursement model, care still needs to be delivered.

From a commercial real estate perspective, we need to look at the flip side of the consumer coin. How do we really know what is needed when one size does not fit all and not all consumers are created equal? To address that, we will continue to test innovative ideas with our healthcare clients and find different strategies to engage the consumer. Working together, our ability to shift as an industry will be transformative as we continue to evolve how best to serve individual consumers.

GlobeSt.com: How are healthcare trends and advances in technology impacting Orange County's healthcare industry in particular?

Scholz: Advances in technology are helping healthcare providers in Orange County to adapt in a positive direction. Consumers are using this technology and greater access to information to take greater personal ownership of their health. At the same time, consumer expectations for best-in-class patient experience and interactive healthcare solutions are accelerating. We are also seeing the use of TeleHealth technology to provide state-of-the-art care and access to physicians from Orange county out to other more remote or underserved areas. With the goal of population health behind the advancement, our community can support other communities.

GlobeSt.com: Is Orange County's commercial real estate industry keeping pace with the changes taking place in healthcare delivery systems?

Scholz: Orange County is keeping pace, and we are continuing to see the influx of facilities that are more community focused, providing greater access and even more convenience. In addition, we are seeing new startup companies emerge that focus on personalized health, and I believe we will continue to see this model expand.