Business Retention and Expansion Study for Collingwood's
Medical/Health Sector

Final Report - July 2008

Future Plans

Future plans offer insight from practices on how and what they anticipate with respect to trends and whether or not they anticipate growth. Further, practices commented on their levels of satisfaction with their current location, and any plans they may have for relocation over the next three years.

The majority of practices reported growth in their patient base over the past three years, and anticipate similar growth in the next three years, attributing same to changing local demographics largely as a result of serving seasonal residents who are retiring to the area on a fulltime basis and who double up their direct access to health care and medical treatment by retaining their existing doctor(s) as well as retaining a second locally.

Overall:

• 55% of practices report complete satisfaction with their current site

• 7% will likely downsize

• 3% will close

• 34% additionally report being somewhat to very dissatisfied with their site and plan to relocate or expand within the next three years for the following reasons:

o expansion limitations 67% at current site

o inadequate existing facility in terms of building space 56%

All practices looking to expand identify they are moving forward without any difficulty in their respective plans.

Of the 34% of practices looking to relocate:

• 88% stated their decision is already made and nothing can persuade them otherwise

• another 78% plan to relocate within Collingwood, resulting in

o a 50% increase in the workforce

o a 100% expansion in patient services, equipment and technology, and process improvements

Those practices planning to close are doing so because of retirement of the sole practitioners, although in one case the decision remains under consideration.




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