Healthcare real estate development has undergone a quiet but profound shift in recent years. The days of thinking exclusively in terms of large, single-site hospitals are behind us as health systems increasingly embrace decentralized, community-based outpatient facilities like urgent cares, freestanding emergency departments and multispecialty medical office buildings. The key driver behind this shift is clear: access. Patients want healthcare that is closer to home and better aligned with their expectations for convenience and service. But healthcare providers should proceed with caution. With the right strategy, they can meet community needs while also creating a natural gateway into their broader network of care for the more profitable higher acuity services and procedures. Another defining change has been flexibility. Five years ago, most projects were designed with a specific purpose in mind. Now, clients are seeking to build adaptable spaces that can shift with community growth/demand as well as technology. A building that serves one function today may need to look very different in 10 years. Designing with flexibility in mind allows new facilities to evolve with the changes in demand and care [...]

In today’s evolving healthcare environment, strong partnerships are more essential than ever. Health systems are expected to increase access, improve outcomes and remain financially stable, all while navigating rising costs, lower reimbursement rates, staffing challenges and shifting patient expectations. Meeting these demands alone is increasingly challenging. That’s where healthcare real estate partnerships can add significant value. When healthcare real estate developers collaborate with health systems across the country, the result is outpatient facilities that align with long-term strategic goals and bring world-class care closer to home. One example of a successful partnership is illustrated by the recent opening of the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at Norman Regional, a 48,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that will deliver comprehensive cancer care to patients throughout southern Oklahoma. This project, a collaboration between Bremner Healthcare Real Estate, the Norman Regional Health System and OU Health, represents a shared commitment to advancing care and access in that region. While Norman Regional could have pursued this project on its own, partnering with Bremner brought in specialized expertise in healthcare real estate development that elevated the outcome. The result is [...]

Facing constant reductions in payor reimbursement rates, regional and community health care systems actively seek ways to improve margins and enhance their effectiveness. To achieve this, hospitals are thinking lean: less cost, fewer employees and less cumbersome processes.  At the same time, health care providers are working toward enhancing the overall patient experience, ease of access, meaningful outcomes and greater market share. With this perspective in mind, an increasing number of health systems are expanding their footprint and geographic reach utilizing creative ambulatory strategies that increasingly focus on deploying the right facilities in strategic locations. In the current competitive health care landscape, many of the larger players have found that smaller, more efficient facilities located closer to the populations they are looking to serve that incorporate a branded appearance and programmatic design will quickly build brand awareness with the consumer and provide speed to market resulting in increased market share.  Whether it is an offensive or defensive play, this tactic has proven successful in the retail world, and it translates very well to the delivery of health care.  However, research and trustworthy [...]

By Jeff Behm, Senior Vice President of Investments at Bremner Healthcare Real Estate Over the last several years, healthcare real estate has arguably been the preferred asset class for real estate investors. As a broker and advisor for health systems and investors, I’ve observed several trends that are shaping the industry’s trajectory. 1. Investment sales volume expected to increase in 2025 After record-low activity in 2023, investment sale volume increased slightly in 2024 as interest rate and cap rates stabilized, with core plus and value add profiles being the most active. As investors diversify away from the less-favored sectors like traditional office, many have pursued healthcare real estate opportunities given its population and demographic tailwinds and less-cyclical nature. This also holds true for foreign investors. This influx of investment capital, combined with pricing stability, should serve to reduce the bid-ask gap and allow for meaningful price discovery and increase transaction volume in 2025. 2. Cap rates are converging among product types After significant expansion in 2022 and 2023, cap rate volatility moderated in 2024. According to CBRE, the average MOB cap rate [...]

At the intersection of healthcare and real estate, the landscape appears both promising and challenging for stakeholders in the industry. While the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, hospital systems face the financial strain of escalating labor and material costs, which have surged by 35% to 40% over an unprecedentedly short amount of time, along with additional increased operational expenses. Traditionally, hospitals have relied on internal funding mechanisms. However, many hospital systems are now exploring alternative avenues, such as partnerships and collaborations with nonprofit entities and universities. In a feature article for REJournals, Matt Bremner, President and Managing Partner, explains that a relationship-oriented approach to healthcare real estate may be more important than ever due to evolving industry trends.  To read the story, visit https://rejournals.com/the-headwinds-facing-healthcare-real-estate-require-a-nimble-innovative-response/

The successful replacement of an aging health care facility requires thoughtful answers to two questions: Where should it be located, and how do you continue to provide care to those affected by a change in location? On their face, these questions sound simple enough. However, those who work in the health care development space know that simple questions often pair with complicated answers. In a feature article for Inside Indiana Business, Kevin Knue, Senior Vice President of Development & Partner, explains the success of Bremner Real Estate’s development of Norman Regional Nine, a freestanding emergency department designed to meet the health care needs of a growing community adjacent to the University of Oklahoma. To read the story, visit https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/freestanding-eds-promote-innovation-into-health-care.

Baumeister to serve as VP of the firm’s business development efforts INDIANAPOLIS – Bremner Real Estate is pleased to welcome Dan Baumeister as the firm’s new VP of Business Development. As a long-time leader in delivering healthcare development solutions across the country, the team is excited to expand the firm with this new VP role and looks forward to extending its national reach during a pivotal time for the industry. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to bring Dan on board,” said Matt Bremner, President of Bremner Real Estate. “Our firm brings three decades worth of knowledge and expertise to the table for the hospitals and healthcare providers we serve. With Dan’s leadership, we look forward to making valuable industry connections, ultimately broadening our ability to deliver high quality developments to new clients and markets.” With a career in CRE spanning over 20 years and transactions totaling over $1.1B, Dan brings significant experience in contract negotiation, marketing, acquisitions/dispositions, underwriting, design and construction across multiple industry sectors. He began his career in Los Angeles, concentrating on third-party brokerage. In 2012, Dan relocated to [...]

Innovative freestanding emergency department project receives recognition NDIANAPOLIS – Bremner Real Estate is pleased to announce one of its recent developments was named as a finalist for the 2022 HREI Insights Awards. The Bremner team served as the developer of the Norman Regional Nine project, a 49,000 sf freestanding emergency department designed to expand access to critical care services for the communities surrounding Norman, Okla. The awards program is regarded as the most prominent recognition for excellence in healthcare real estate development and executive leadership. “We are thrilled that this project has been recognized by HREI as one of the best new developments of 2022,” said Matt Bremner, President of Bremner Real Estate. “Our firm is proud to have had the opportunity to deliver this innovative facility to help improve healthcare access for the communities surrounding Norman and the University of Oklahoma. As an Indiana based company with three decades of experience in the healthcare real estate development, we are proud that hospital systems across the country trust Bremner Real Estate to deliver projects that enhance their ability to deliver the best [...]