The healthcare sector was one of the beneficiaries of the pandemic. The healthcare industry is rapidly growing. As investors plan for 2022, Meridian CEO John Pollock is predicting three trends will drive activity healthcare real estate.

First, expect more outpatient sectors. The transition to outpatient facilities has been an ongoing trend over the last decade, and it accelerated during the pandemic. "Services are migrating away from the acute care centers to more convenient outpatient centers" Pollock tells GlobeSt.com. "Ambulatory outpatient care facilities have been at the center of Meridian's focus for years and we expect this trend to continue to accelerate and translate into more opportunities for investors, developers, and providers alike."

Telehealth is the second major trend that Pollock sees gaining momentum this year. "Everyone has read about the rapid adoption of telehealth during the pandemic. It certainly spiked in 2020, and while it has since leveled off, it is still an integral and effective means to deliver care," he says. "The physical manifestation of that trend is creating more flexible exam and telehealth rooms."