Academic medical centers are at the forefront of the American healthcare industry. Rising costs in medical education and cuts in medical research funding have led many AMCs to focus their capital resources on clinical projects that provide a high return on investment based on projected healthcare reimbursements. This has led to many hospital mergers and acquisitions as remaining healthcare systems compete for business. 

University of Rochester Medical Center has also been affiliating with community hospitals in upstate New York to recruit more physicians and to expand their network. In 2016, URMC Space Planning commissioned B+MD Architects to provide an update to the Facilities Master Plan, which we had completed in 2008 before the economic recession and the Affordable Care Act had a significant impact on the healthcare industry.   The 2016 Facilities Master Plan Update provides a 50 year framework for a phased hospital modernization to provide Strong Memorial Hospital with a platform to continue delivering the highest level of tertiary and quadenary care in upstate New York while maintaining regional facilities in local communities for urgent and primary care services.