Curtis Skolnick

As health systems face margin pressure, workforce constraints, and shifting care demand, optimizing the ambulatory network has become a critical strategic priority. This session will explore how hospitals and health systems are rethinking network optimization through innovative ambulatory planning to improve access, align site of service, and support sustainable growth to create a plan to get from current state to an ideal future state.

Speakers will present national and regional perspectives on strategy, facility planning, and design considerations, including leaders from Corewell Health and Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) on structured approaches to ambulatory network planning integrating market demand, clinical strategy, site-of-care migration, and real estate planning, highlighting opportunities for systems that have grown through M&A. Strategy and architectural experts will share methodologies contributing to successful implementation.  Topics will include optimizing the role and mix of MOBs, ASCs, micro-hospitals, and hybrid ambulatory platforms, as well as aligning services to acuity, payer dynamics, and consumer expectations. The session will highlight how network design can reduce unnecessary inpatient utilization, improve patient experience, and enable scalable growth while considering patient safety, staff workflows, regulatory compliance, and health outcomes. We will conclude with actionable takeaways to inform future ambulatory planning and capital decision-making.

This session explores how trust, communication, and clear escalation pathways can be engineered into day-to-day facilities operations. Using the “Big Blue Chair” protocol as a case study, speakers show how structured huddles, visual cues, and shared expectations reduce delays, improve safety, and strengthen collaboration between clinical, facilities, and vendor teams. Attendees leave with practical steps to pilot similar trust-focused protocols in their own organizations.