As the healthcare landscape has evolved, convenience and customer service have become a top priority for healthcare providers. Quality of care is often measured using a combination of patient outcomes and patient satisfaction according to API Healthcare.
With fierce competition in the industry, finding ways to differentiate your facility and provide the highest degree of patient satisfaction is vital to the facility’s success.
One way to achieve that differentiation that is often overlooked is design. A well-designed space sets the tone for the patient experience and, when done correctly, can enhance efficiency.
To enhance the patient experience, consider some simple design elements such as incorporating natural light and arranging furniture to take advantage of any views that may be present. Another preferred design is a scaled-down waiting room with optimal furniture selections to accommodate guests in comfortable, intimate spaces.
Reallocating resources from common areas to examination rooms can also help establish more favorable patient outcomes. With an eye toward design, facility operators should rethink the conventional exam room layout and explore alternate designs that are more accommodating for a relaxed, friendly, patient-doctor interaction. An example would be including furniture that places everyone at the same level to encourage eye-contact and comfortability between a doctor and patient, rather than the stereotypical physician standing over a patient exam table. Adding more comfortable space for a loved one or companion can also increase the patient experience.
It is also important to consider the proximity of healthcare facility staff areas. Implementing designs that center around a collaborative staff space allows employees to better monitor patient rooms and reduces the time doctors spend in transit from patient to patient.
Technological advances can also present new design opportunities. As consumers, patients will likely be using smartphones and other personal technology when they visit their healthcare facility. Enhancing the space with check-in kiosks, tablets instead of hefty desktop computers, readily available outlets and USB ports can all improve patient satisfaction while also allowing the facility to maximize available space instead of crowding it with bulky, dated technology.
To learn more about healthcare design, read 5 Trends in Medical Office Design.
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers.
With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.
