By By Dan Hounsell

Few facilities markets have been hit as hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as healthcare, where facilities have had to undertake changes to entryways, patient treatment areas, offices and HVAC systemsto protect the health and safety of patients and staff. Throw in the impact of the pandemic on hospitals’ bottom lines, and their futures look challenging at best. Now, help might be on the way.

The nation's hospitals want a share of the $2 trillion infrastructure plan put forward on Wednesday by President Joseph R. Biden, according to Health Leaders Media. In a letter to the president, American Hospital Association President and CEO Rick J. Pollack noted that the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency has left hospitals badly strained.

Without providing a specific cost estimate, Pollack offered recommendations for healthcare infrastructure improvements that included:

• Investing in hospital physical infrastructure, including physical plant upgrades, mechanical systems, IT, medical equipment, and supplies

• Building emergency preparedness and response capacity through continued funding and structural improvements for the Hospital Preparedness Program.