Although general opposition to real-estate development remains strong, with one in five Americans actively opposing it, there is significant support for new hospitals, according to results of an annual survey by The Saint Consulting Group, an international analyst in land-use politics. Seventy-one percent of Americans would support a new hospital in their community—the second most favored real-estate development after single-family housing (supported by 84% of respondents), according to the survey. In contrast, 68% of Americans opposed building Wal-Marts in their neighborhood, 57% were against the development of biotech research facilities, and 76% opposed the building of quarries. Over three-quarters of respondents (78%) said they prefer to be within 10 miles of a hospital (44.2% within five miles), and 90% supported an increase in emergency room capability at their local hospitals. Almost three of four respondents (74%) supported the development of non-profit hospitals over for-profit institutions.
Yet despite favorable public opinion toward hospital expansion, considerable--and effective--opposition persists. "Anticompetitive opposition is coming from other local hospitals, which may view the new facility as competition,” said Patrick Fox, president of Saint Consulting Group. “It also comes from organized labor, which is known for its ability to influence decision makers and effect change through political pressure. In short, this opposition is not grassroots generated. We are seeing this throughout the US."
