Healthcare Is Under Pressure — Design Is Part of the Answer

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Join us as we sit down with Benjamin Pratt, Vice President of Steelcase Health, to explore a manufacturer’s perspective on the challenges — and opportunities — reshaping healthcare environments.

Steelcase has long been recognized for its leadership in workplace research — and healthcare is no exception. Through its Steelcase Health division, dedicated customer marketing and Workspace Futures teams are continuously exploring what the future of health might look like and how those shifts impact the people planning, managing, and designing healthcare environments.

By examining the forces reshaping the industry, Steelcase Health brings forward insights that go beyond furniture — highlighting how the built environment can influence patient outcomes, clinician wellbeing, and the long-term performance of healthcare systems.

To better understand where the industry is headed, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors connected with Benjamin Pratt, Vice President of Steelcase Health, following the 2025 Healthcare Design Conference in Kansas City. What emerged is a clear picture of an industry at a pivotal moment — balancing complexity, innovation, and the urgent need for change.

What specific challenges are keeping the leaders of our Healthcare Systems up at night in terms of planning for the future?

“Healthcare is at a crossroads, dealing with intensely competing priorities. Considering the aging demographic and chronic diseases increasing year over year, demand has never been higher. Financial pressure is building around managing increased costs of labor, supplies, and drugs, while reimbursement is going down; making margins tighter than ever.

Along with the reality of dealing with cybersecurity and ransomware, the necessary investments in new technologies, including AI, pose additional budget constraints. On a macro level, there is uncertainty as to how policies on regulation and tariffs might affect the bottom line.

Data tells us there is an alarming level of burnout suffered by clinicians, nurses in particular, during a time when there is also a workforce shortage in skilled nursing. Attraction and retention are top of mind. Access to care is changing dramatically, both in terms of where, how, and who is delivering it. You have everything from concierge medicine to big-box retail clinics, all with different payment methods.”

What were some key themes of the latest Healthcare Design Conference?

“One predominant message was AI and its influence in healthcare design, and its power to unlock new levels of productivity and efficiency. One example included a presenter sharing that around half of a nurse’s workday is spent on documentation and administration, which takes away from patient care and a nurse’s desire to deliver that care and feel a sense of satisfaction. Eliminating even some of that time spent on documentation will decrease burnout and improve patient outcomes, benefiting both. There was also a strong trend toward human-centered and collaborative design, along with sustainability and lean design strategies aimed at reducing construction costs. Spaces designed to flex for multiple purposes were highlighted as a way to maximize square footage. Health equity was another important topic — in the U.S., not everyone has access to quality care, and community-based services are gaining popularity. Key areas of focus also included planning for the increased demand for specialties, as well as design centered on behavioral health and mental wellbeing.”

In terms of Steelcase research, what messages and product innovations have been most relevant to the design community and those leading healthcare systems?

“Research, quality, and durability all resonate with those designing for healthcare facilities because these spaces must stand the test of time. Unlike corporate spaces, there is often an extended period between renovations, so the initial investment is a big decision. Another distinction is the demographics they are serving—these are 24/7 institutions representing a wide variety of users in terms of age, health, mobility, mental acuity, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Given this reality, the performance of any product must be robust. Steelcase’s test lab is a popular stop for visitors at our headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they can see that we are harder on our products than any of our end users.

Built-in flexibility in products and their application has become part of every healthcare project’s criteria — both in administrative and clinical spaces. Designers are creating templates for clinics that allow spaces to be repurposed as a way to future-proof patient environments while maximizing revenue. Today, rooms may be designated as med/surg; tomorrow, they may need to function as ICU or bariatric. The lens has to extend 10 years or more — how can we offer products and solutions that serve any type of patient, so rooms are always “in use”? As a manufacturer and research partner, this is one of the leading issues considered by our product development team at Steelcase.

In terms of leveraging technology, one of the products getting the most attention is one Steelcase co-developed with Logitech called Ocular™ View. It is an immersive, realistic, and personal meeting experience for hybrid and virtual users—eye-to-eye, distraction-free, and life-size rendering of those joining remotely. Although it is not marketed solely as a healthcare product, it has gained interest for hospitals and clinics hosting peer-to-peer virtual meetings between specialists, as well as for clinicians and therapists “meeting” with patients. This helps solve access-to-care challenges in rural areas, elevating telemedicine to more closely mimic an in-person experience. Additional feedback has shown that the clarity of the resolution can discern even the most subtle expressions and body language cues—helping increase accuracy in diagnosing and caring for those with behavioral health issues. A recent example is Children’s Hospital in Nebraska, where they are using Ocular™ View for their pediatric behavioral experience.”

What role does the dealer play in helping to serve the demands of the design community and the needs of a healthcare system?

“Steelcase has been fortunate to be the manufacturer of choice for renowned healthcare systems. However, the manufacturer is only part of the equation — the value of the dealer partner cannot be overemphasized. It is immense.

Healthcare is complex and cannot be treated like any other market sector. The tension is not in the big projects; teams and project managers at the dealer can orchestrate those. It’s the day-to-day, ongoing needs that can be logistically complicated, and the best dealers have the expertise to navigate them. Familiarity with the facility, the docks, and the institution’s culture — without disrupting the 24/7 nature of the work being done — comes with experience and trust. Dealers with specialized teams think through the needs of the system and complement it. They also typically have the capability to offer options in adjacent product categories to support needs beyond furniture. Healthcare clients value that kind of one-stop-shop approach. Bottom line: the servicing dealer is a long-term partner, so it’s important to understand the full depth and breadth of their capabilities beyond the project.

In conclusion, Steelcase and our dealers are here to support the design community and healthcare systems by providing research, products, and services that focus on improving patient experiences, increasing provider satisfaction, reducing the long-term costs of the built environment, and ultimately advancing healthcare outcomes and prevention for the greater population. These four goals comprise what healthcare systems refer to as the “Quadruple Aim”, and it is more relevant than ever.”