Patient comfort is an incredibly important part of running a doctor’s office and not just in terms of treatment and bedside manner.
Encouraging an environment of comfort, safety, and tranquility begins the moment a patient steps into the doctor’s office waiting room. Everything from lighting to decoration can impact how comfortable a patient feels in your office.
Here are ten ways to improve your office room design to bring the most comfort and care to your patients as possible.
1. Choice of Colors
For a doctor’s office, calming colors are recommended.
Light, cool colors will encourage feelings of safety and calmness, helping nervous patients relax. A light blue is often recommended for this purpose because of its ability to convey tranquility.
2. Creating Space
Having a cramped waiting room area will just make patients feel uncomfortable and put them on edge.
To avoid this from occurring, create seating areas. A couple of ways to do this are to have a few chairs around a table or arranging the furniture so that it is “sectioned”.
3. Furniture
Comfortable furniture equals comfortable patients.
Chairs should have soft padding and be in a variety of sizes and styles to ensure that all patients will be as comfortable as possible. There should be a mix of armed and non-armed chairs, plus a mix of multi-sitting areas and single chairs.
4. Art and Decoration
To make a doctor’s office room design feel more welcoming, decoration goes a long way.
Reasonably sized pictures and plants are always an easy way to make patients feel more at home. You can also add an interactive display, such as an aquarium to distract patients as they wait.
For extra tips on including decorations in a medical office design, discover more here.
5. Providing Storage
If your office is located in an area with inclement weather, it can be uncomfortable to lug around extra articles of clothing. Many patients may appreciate having a place to put their coats, hats, and umbrellas.
You can incorporate this into your office room design is by having a coat hanger or mounted wall hooks.
6. Lighting
It is important to have your office be well-lit.
Not only is good lighting necessary to comfortably read, but it can also be a safety hazard if the room is too dark.
Incandescent lights are typically recommended to create a more inviting environment for patients. Natural light can do this as well and will also boost patients’ vitamin D levels.
7. Sound Absorption
When developing a medical office design, you may want to consider designing the room to absorb as much sound as possible. This will help create an overall quieter room and is beneficial if you often have patients with noise sensitivity.
Some interior design ideas for sound absorption are adding:
- Carpets
- Drapes
- Upholstered furniture
- Acoustic ceiling tiles
8. Children’s Area
Including a children’s area in your doctor’s office design should be considered if you are expecting to have a lot of children patients.
A children’s entertainment area provides a good distraction for them while they are waiting, which will be appreciated by parents and other patients alike.
Some ideas for what to include in a children’s area are:
- Toys and books
- Child-sized furniture
- Use lamps and soft overhead lighting
- Include seating options for parents
9. Beverages and Snacks
Providing beverages and snacks is an easy way to improve overall patient comfort. This is especially the case for patients with certain types of medical conditions, as having access to food and water can help prevent their symptoms from worsening.
If you decide to incorporate food and beverages, be sure to check if your local area has any extra regulations because of COVID-19.
10. Entertainment Options
Having entertainment in the office helps distract nervous patients and minimize the irritation of impatient ones.
While you can include a magazine rack, many patients may prefer watching a TV screen more. A digital screen can also be used to provide medical information that is relevant to your patients.
Creating the Most Comfortable Office Room Design
Creating the most comfortable office room design will increase your patient’s satisfaction and help ease any nervousness or irritation they may have. This makes it more likely for patients to return to your office in the future.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out some of our other posts for quality tips.
