Skytron Blog

The future of adaptable, efficient, and design-driven care environments

Across the country, healthcare leaders are rethinking what care delivery looks like and where it happens. The rise of ambulatory surgery centers, while not new, continues to accelerate alongside the emergence of small-format hospitals that blend inpatient capability with outpatient efficiency.

These models are not competing visions. They are part of a broader shift toward scalable, efficient care environments built around design foresight, integration, and long-term adaptability, the qualities that will define the next era of healthcare construction and operations.

A New Era of Surgical Care

Outpatient care has been steadily reshaping surgical delivery for more than a decade. According to Becker’s ASC Review, procedures performed outside traditional hospitals now account for more than 60 percent of all surgeries in the United States, a number expected to rise through 2026.

At the same time, small-format hospitals are emerging as the next phase of that movement. Typically ranging from 25,000 to 60,000 square feet, these facilities provide surgical capability, imaging, emergency care, and short-stay inpatient beds. Offering local access without the overhead of a full acute care hospital. Intent Market Research projects that the global micro-hospital market will exceed $70 billion by 2030, growing nearly seven percent each year.

Both ASCs and small-format hospitals reflect a common goal: doing more with less, while maintaining safety, accessibility, and performance.

The Shift

Economic and operational realities continue to drive the move toward smaller, more agile facilities. The 2024 Kaufman Hall Hospital Performance Report found that 57 percent of hospitals plan to expand outpatient service lines within the next two years to stabilize margins and offset inpatient declines.

These smaller settings deliver a leaner cost structure, faster return on investment, and a tighter alignment with patient expectations. They are less expensive to build, require smaller staffing models, and can be strategically located closer to the communities they serve.

For clinicians, the benefits are equally clear. Shorter distances, more direct communication, and simplified equipment access support faster turnover and stronger teamwork. All critical in an environment where efficiency and safety are closely linked.

As payment models continue to favor outpatient care, ASCs and small-format hospitals represent not just an operational shift, but an evolution in how healthcare organizations think about capacity and design.

Design That Adapts

Adaptability is the defining characteristic of the facilities being planned today. Scalable design, modular infrastructure, and integrated technology now serve as the foundation for both ASC and small-hospital construction.

Modern facilities are being created with flexibility built in from the start. Adjustable lighting, mobile equipment booms, and reconfigurable ceiling infrastructure allow spaces to evolve as new procedures, specialties, or technologies emerge.

Healthcare Design Magazine notes that flexibility in planning not only reduces renovation costs but also improves staff satisfaction and throughput. Designing with scalability in mind helps organizations extend the lifespan of their investment and create better working environments for their teams.

Technology as the Unifier

Technology has become the framework that connects every component of the surgical environment. Lighting, visualization, data integration, and environmental control systems all influence workflow and performance, and when they function cohesively, the result is a more efficient, safer, and adaptable space.

Skytron collaborates with architects, planners, and clinical teams to create integrated environments that combine architectural systems and workflow technology in a unified way. From surgical lighting to content media management, each system plays a role in improving communication, standardizing workflows, and ensuring long-term ROI.

Planning Forward

The facilities that will thrive in 2026 are those designed to adapt not just to new technology, but to new expectations. ASCs and small-format hospitals represent a thoughtful recalibration of healthcare delivery: right-sized, data-informed, and people-centered.

Planning beyond today means designing spaces that can grow with demand, respond to shifting care models, and support teams as technology advances.

The future of healthcare will not be defined by size, but by flexibility, and the organizations building for it now will be the ones leading it forward.
 

 
References
1. Becker’s ASC Review. ASCs Continue to Lead Outpatient Growth
2. Kaufman Hall. 2024 Hospital Performance Report
3. Modern Healthcare. The Rise of Small-Format Hospitals
4. Healthcare Design Magazine. Design Strategies for a Flexible Future
5. Intent Market Research. Micro Hospitals Market by Type and Region, Global Forecast to 2030