Your practice may be growing, but that doesn’t mean you are outgrowing your medical practice space.
While your office may feel small, you don’t have to move to make the most of your medical practice space. Here are five small steps for optimizing your medical practice space for improved performance, a better patient experience, and a more efficient office.
Restructure rooms.
There is no need for a major renovation here. Simply rearranging the design of a room to allow more open space can make a small area feel spacious and welcoming. There are many things you can do with furniture to maximize space in a medical office. Some ideas include:
- Place examination tables at an angle to free up wall space for more chairs.
- Computers can be mounted to the wall on a swivel arm.
- The team can use laptops, so they are free to move around and face the patient.
- Use hangers to add patient education materials on the wall.
The arrangement, shapes, and types of desks, examination tables, and chairs must work together cohesively to encourage more room for doctor-patient engagement.
Apply a mini makeover.
Some inexpensive makeover ideas include:
- Brighten up a consultation room with additional lighting or soften harsh lighting with dimmer bulbs.
- Using light, warm-colored paint on the walls can make it feel comfortable and airy for nervous patients.
Develop workstations.
Workstations, if designed well, can improve efficiency and strengthen staff culture. To do this, place exam rooms close to the team’s work area to minimize the space between tasks and improve exam room visibility.
Create opportunities for your team to naturally interact and cultivate a positive office atmosphere. Glass partitions allow teammates to see each other while maintaining patient privacy and reducing noise.
[Need some ideas for staying organized at your medical practice? Click here!]
Add positive distractions.
Patients will take in your clinic’s surroundings and make assumptions about the quality of care they will receive. This could potentially influence their confidence in the practice and their overall experience.
For many patients, waiting rooms are a part of life. Adding simple and inexpensive details can make patients feel comfortable and peaceful rather than anxious and frustrated. With a small investment and a bit of creativity, you can make your waiting room a pleasant and positive place for your patients.
Encourage patient engagement.
The arrangement of your exam rooms can encourage patient interactions and promote eye contact. The shapes and types of desks, examination tables, and chairs can work together to inspire essential communication between physician and patient.
Keep in mind that if a patient can sit in a chair to speak with the physician instead of spending the entire visit on the examination table, they are more likely to feel good about their visit. Mount computers on the wall on a swivel arm and utilize laptops or other easily movable devices, so your team is free to shift their positions and face patients.
We hope these tips help take your medical office space to the next level. Optimizing your area isn’t about spending a lot of money or making massive changes. Using small but clever ideas and a little creativity can positively change the dynamics of your practice space.
Do you have a space you’re particularly proud of? If so, share a photo on our Facebook page—we’d love to see it!
Tags: medical office management, medical offices, Medical Practice Space, national organization of rheumatology managers, NORM, office management, office managers, tips for office managers Posted by
