As I mentioned in my last blog post of 2011, this year has started off a lot like the previous year did: marked by healthcare reform dramatics, a still-sluggish economy, and general confusion. But surely there are some things to look forward to and to discuss, as well–and at the very least, some hot topics for debate.

So what are you looking forward to in the coming year? For my part, there are a number of exciting new projects that have been a long time coming that I am excited to get a look at. Among them, Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, and Palomar Medical Center West in Southern California, just to name a few. What other new facilities are you, the HCD audience, looking forward to seeing this year? Respond below!

As far as topics go, clearly reform and the economy will continue to be big issues, at least until they are ironed out a bit more. But, and perhaps this is inspired by those subjects, I suspect judging from the activity on our HEALTHCARE DESIGN Connection LinkedIn network going on with my collegue Jennifer Kovacs Silvis' recent blog post about delivery methods that this will also be a major talking point going forward. Can all these methods get along? Can there be a peaceful coexistence between design-build and design-bid-build and integrated project delivery?

Ultimately only time will tell, of course, but I look forward to engaging you all in the discussions, and learning what you are talking about around your respective water coolers. Feel free to drop me a line anytime and let me know your thoughts on the matter.