Healthcare real estate has its own unique challenges as the crowd of 214 people found out at the recent Bisnow LA Annual Healthcare Expansion Forum at the LA Athletic Club in downtown LA. 

USC assistant director Melanie Joseph, AltaMed manager of real estate development Milan de la Rocha, Trammell Crow VP Nancy Moses, DPR Construction senior project manager Ryan Lippmann, CBRE Southern California healthcare practice leader Bryan Lewitt and Lionakis principal Curtis Lockwood all gathered to discuss healthcare delivery models.

Wembley Realty Advisors principal Peter Becronis moderated. He asked panelists to talk about the philosophies of their companies as well as how they approach building projects.

Curtis said working on the MLK Community Hospital was the "most inspiring" process in which he had ever been involved because of the way the community rallied around it.

The goal is quality care without exception regardless of a patient's background or whether they have the ability to pay, Milan said.

The aim is to treat patients with dignity.

Melanie said USC has expanded in recent years due to acquiring new medical practices.

USC is affiliated with other local medical groups and hospitals.

Trammell Crow aims to build to fit locations as opposed to constructing a building that is beautiful but "doesn't quite fit the market," Nancy said.

Ryan said one of his company's goals is to find ways to streamline the process.

It's less about technology, but rather about working with people, communicating, finding out what people need and how to make the process easier, according to Ryan.

The healthcare business "moves a lot slower than the rest of the world" for many reasons, including that people are being taken care of in hospitals and in medical offices, Bryan said.

As a result, hospitals are generally not focused on real estate as their primary business.