Trends in Exam Rooms
As patients become more sophisticated and involved in their own care, so too must exam rooms keep up with the times. Most patients probably don't even think about the layout, design, or color scheme of an exam room ... and that's just how it should be. When it comes to an exam room, patients should not be mindful of the look and feel of it. They should merely feel comfortable in it, just as they should feel confident in the care they receive from their healthcare providers. It isn't a patient's job to assess an exam room in order to decide if it fits well with 'the patient experience.' That's the job of the healthcare professionals who own and manage your medical office. Today's exam rooms are getting bigger. They have a better for feel for the patient-doctor relationship. And modern exam rooms are trending toward color schemes that aren't the same old stark white of their predecessors.
Regardless of the type of area, modern exam room design trends are about functional space and comfort. Medical office designs are moving toward more pleasant environments, as patients look to lessen stress levels and physicians insist upon it for better health and optimal care. Whether exam rooms are large with added amenities such as educational areas, or they are small with more emphasis on efficiency, healthcare professionals are now in closer proximity to patients throughout exams, placing a greater importance on the provider-patient relationship and patient education.
With nearly 60 percent of all hospital healthcare performed on an outpatient basis, outpatient facilities have grown exponentially since the 1990s. In all exam room design, trends are heading toward more style, which in turn creates more comfort and patient satisfaction. For the clinic and outpatient atmosphere, where expeditious care with an eye toward convenience has become a vital part of the healthcare industry, exam rooms are trending toward uniformity in order to be replicated. Design trends for these are about functionality, with basic seating in waiting areas, small areas for one or two staff members, and an exam room that includes the essentials, i.e. exam table, examiner chair, sink, supply storage. Colors for these are trending, as in most areas of medical office settings, in soft yellows, pastels, subdued oranges, muted blues, and other hues that promote wellness and help to alleviate anxiety.
Hospital exam rooms also are getting more stylish, with a trend toward more of a hotel feel. Children's hospitals especially are becoming much more comfortable, as white walls and decor are nearly phased out for softer color palettes that are more enjoyable to look at and more comfortable to be examined in. Walls with murals painted directly onto them are huge this year and expected into the next in hospital exam rooms that are made solely for child patients. Functionality with more high-tech medical equipment, naturally, is a must, but these are combined with more patient-friendly surroundings in order to minimize feelings of intimidation and angst. As patients spend more time in exam rooms, especially as they await care, it's becoming vital to healthcare professionals, patients, and families alike that exam rooms are more attractive and restful.
Even emergency departments, formerly known as emergency rooms, are growing in size, style, and patient satisfaction. As more hospitals are replacing the old idea of the 'emergency room' with entire departments, the emphasis now more than ever is on 'the patient experience.' Typically, these new emergency department trends are toward two separate ED divisions, with one side for critical care and one side for less critical care. Color schemes in these rooms are also moving away from cold white to softer blues, pinks, greens, and yellows. As nurses' uniforms moved away from the austere all-whites of the past, opting for today's more colorful attire, so too are emergency department exam rooms being painted in muted neutrals rather than whites that help to soothe patients' nerves and create a more relaxed feeling. Many hospitals are finding it useful to remodel and emergency departments to be friendlier – such design elements tend to improve patient care. For more information on emergency room design in Seattle contact a local contractor and discuss your design options.
As patients take more and better charge of their own health and healthcare options, examination rooms are becoming areas that allow for more trusting relationships between patients and their healthcare providers. Commercial contractors are finding that more clinics, hospitals, and private practices are opting to incorporate soft color schemes and more comfortable furniture into exam rooms in order to create a more positive patient experience. For information on how your medical office can achieve a better patient experience in its exam rooms, contact a commercial designer for assistance.
Regardless of the type of area, modern exam room design trends are about functional space and comfort. Medical office designs are moving toward more pleasant environments, as patients look to lessen stress levels and physicians insist upon it for better health and optimal care. Whether exam rooms are large with added amenities such as educational areas, or they are small with more emphasis on efficiency, healthcare professionals are now in closer proximity to patients throughout exams, placing a greater importance on the provider-patient relationship and patient education.
With nearly 60 percent of all hospital healthcare performed on an outpatient basis, outpatient facilities have grown exponentially since the 1990s. In all exam room design, trends are heading toward more style, which in turn creates more comfort and patient satisfaction. For the clinic and outpatient atmosphere, where expeditious care with an eye toward convenience has become a vital part of the healthcare industry, exam rooms are trending toward uniformity in order to be replicated. Design trends for these are about functionality, with basic seating in waiting areas, small areas for one or two staff members, and an exam room that includes the essentials, i.e. exam table, examiner chair, sink, supply storage. Colors for these are trending, as in most areas of medical office settings, in soft yellows, pastels, subdued oranges, muted blues, and other hues that promote wellness and help to alleviate anxiety.
Hospital exam rooms also are getting more stylish, with a trend toward more of a hotel feel. Children's hospitals especially are becoming much more comfortable, as white walls and decor are nearly phased out for softer color palettes that are more enjoyable to look at and more comfortable to be examined in. Walls with murals painted directly onto them are huge this year and expected into the next in hospital exam rooms that are made solely for child patients. Functionality with more high-tech medical equipment, naturally, is a must, but these are combined with more patient-friendly surroundings in order to minimize feelings of intimidation and angst. As patients spend more time in exam rooms, especially as they await care, it's becoming vital to healthcare professionals, patients, and families alike that exam rooms are more attractive and restful.
Even emergency departments, formerly known as emergency rooms, are growing in size, style, and patient satisfaction. As more hospitals are replacing the old idea of the 'emergency room' with entire departments, the emphasis now more than ever is on 'the patient experience.' Typically, these new emergency department trends are toward two separate ED divisions, with one side for critical care and one side for less critical care. Color schemes in these rooms are also moving away from cold white to softer blues, pinks, greens, and yellows. As nurses' uniforms moved away from the austere all-whites of the past, opting for today's more colorful attire, so too are emergency department exam rooms being painted in muted neutrals rather than whites that help to soothe patients' nerves and create a more relaxed feeling. Many hospitals are finding it useful to remodel and emergency departments to be friendlier – such design elements tend to improve patient care. For more information on emergency room design in Seattle contact a local contractor and discuss your design options.
As patients take more and better charge of their own health and healthcare options, examination rooms are becoming areas that allow for more trusting relationships between patients and their healthcare providers. Commercial contractors are finding that more clinics, hospitals, and private practices are opting to incorporate soft color schemes and more comfortable furniture into exam rooms in order to create a more positive patient experience. For information on how your medical office can achieve a better patient experience in its exam rooms, contact a commercial designer for assistance.