The old adage, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” has never meant more than it does to practice-owning physicians. In a time when non-care related factors like the temperature of the thermostat and the comfort level of the waiting room chairs are fodder for online reviews, finding ways to ensure the patient has an optimal experience is critical for the success of the practice. While providing quality and compassionate care should always be the priority, there are elements of office design that physicians can incorporate to enhance the patient experience. Just how important is design? Studies show that architecture has a major effect on health outcomes.

If you’re a physician interested in improving the way your patients feel about your office, check out these top tips for medical office space design.

Focus on the flow

Before you start adorning the walls with framed photos of local landmarks or scenic sunsets, it’s best to think about how your patients (and staff) will flow throughout the space. Most experts agree that a loop pattern, or one that doesn’t involve the patient ever retracing their steps, is ideal. In this scenario, the patient would both depart and return from the same lobby, but their journey would be that of a circle.

In order to properly accommodate the loop pattern, you’ll need to have exam rooms line the outside of the loop. The patient is guided through one side of the loop until they reach an open exam room, only leaving that room after seeing the physician. After the appointment, the patient continues on the path of the loop until they reach reception and can check-out to conclude the visit.

Why does the loop pattern work so well? There are a few reasons, but they all revolve around efficiency. There are no hallway traffic jams or delays, patients always know where they are, and it avoids unnecessary chatter between providers and/or patients. That type of efficiency equates to more patients, which means more collections and higher revenues for the practice.

Exam rooms should be bigger, brighter and more personal

Gone are the days of coat closet-sized exam rooms that can barely house a table and desk. Today’s patient expects exam rooms that are larger and better appointed. It’s common for patients to bring a spouse or other family members to appointments, and a cramped space is likely to make an already uncomfortable situation that much more tense. The same can be said for a room that has natural light over one that’s dimly lit with an incandescent tube.

One of the most crucial aspects of exam room design should center on allowing the physician to maintain eye contact with the patient. This means implementing a solution that allows the physician to enter notes either into a digital or paper chart without turning around and using a desk. Small lap desks on wheels provide a good option for this because they can be stowed in the corner or under a console when not in use. In an ideal situation, the room would have a larger screen on the wall that wirelessly connects to the physician’s tablet or laptop, allowing the patient to see what the physician is writing for full transparency.

The wait should not be the hardest part

It’s never fun waiting for the doctor, particularly in a room that’s unpleasant or sterile. Like we mentioned above, your first impression with a patient is not something that you can repeat — and for many patients, the first thing they judge their doctor on is the waiting room. Simple amenities like beverage stations with fresh coffee, tea and water, and free Wi-Fi throughout the office can go a long way toward making someone feel more comfortable.

The waiting room should also be stocked with plenty of reading material, from local newspapers to popular magazines and health care-specific patient education materials. The furniture should be cozy but supportive, especially for physicians with an elderly patient population who may struggle with getting up from a deep-seated couch.

One of the latest design trends is to actually remove an old waiting room staple: the television. For some patients, the TV only ratchets up anxiety, while others become annoyed by the volume or the programming.

Take advantage of technology

The advent of electronic health records was a monumental leap forward for the health care industry since it encouraged collaboration and sharing of data across the continuum of care. Whether it spurs from a platform like artificial intelligence, machine learning, wearable technology or virtual reality, the next big tech advancement is still up for debate.

At Promaxo, we believe our system advances magnetic resonance imaging through multiple leaps in technology. Promaxo is an open MRI system to image the internal structures of the body. It’s designed for a physician’s office without the practice having to invest in substantial upgrades, and because it has a limited footprint and is completely mobile, it can be moved within the office freely.

But it’s not just the flexibility the system offers that can help physicians in planning their office space, it’s features like fast pulse sequences, fast imaging gradients and the fact that physicians can access images anytime with cloud-based backup.

Interested in learning more about how the Promaxo MRI system could benefit your office design and your patients? We’d love to hear from you: https://promaxo.com/contact-us/.