The Modern Medical Office
If you've ever seen one of those old movies where somebody's having an operation or being seen by a doctor, it sure is bizarre to see how those old-time medical offices were laid out. Did you know that in the late nineteenth century physicians often saw patients in their own homes? It's true. Doctors typically had two areas in their homes dedicated to seeing patients, with the 'parlor,' or front room being the waiting area and the back room being the exam room. In fact, at the turn of the twentieth century, surgeons even performed operations out of their own homes. Patients often protested because there was very little privacy, as many doctors had no choice but to perform examinations with other patients within viewing distance. Back then, doctors' offices were simple and barely functional, with no attention to style or even patient comfort. Waiting rooms were tiny, with barely enough room to hold a few patients at a time, and exam rooms consisted of a table and a desk. As a matter of fact, it wasn't totally uncommon for both waiting area and exam area to be in one room, with only a dressing screen in between. Patients could hear each other's medical information being relayed by doctors, and personal data often got passed around to other members of the community because of this breach of privacy. Thankfully, modern medical offices are nothing like those old uncomfortable layouts. In today's world, as privacy and the patient experience have come to the forefront of the healthcare industry, medical office remodeling is all about a combination of comfort, privacy, and functionality that points to the number one reason for these changes ... the patient experience.
Medical office evolution
By the 1930s, the medical office had started to become more efficient and effective, from the perspective of both doctor and patient. As prevention of disease became more vital to keep germs and infections from spreading, doctors' offices were now much less cluttered. Waiting areas, exam rooms, and operating rooms were separated for better disease containment. Additionally, where walls and floors were once stark white and cold, colors began taking over to better calm patients' nerves and allay fears. Warm yellows and vivid greens were considered color schemes that promoted serenity, and these were used most often in the design of newer medical offices. Because linoleum floors of white or a combination of black and white were considered to give off a feeling of cleanliness, they were prevalent at the time. Authentic skulls and skeletons were taken out of areas where patients could readily see them, and charts of human anatomy replaced them for an eye toward a better patient experience. Clutter was replaced with functional organization and, as physician specialties began to emerge, medical offices became more distinct with specialized equipment.
Patient privacy
Today's medical office is designed with optimal privacy in mind. As HIPAA laws make confidentiality a must in the medical setting, physicians must ensure that all patient information is held in the utmost confidence. Therefore, it is vital that modern medical office layout create separation of patient information, patient examination rooms, and patient waiting areas. Each area must contain distinct separation from the other. Even waiting rooms and reception areas must be distinctly separate from each other, often with glass partitions to create clear-cut space between.
Patient comfort
Nothing is more important these days in modern medical design than patient comfort. If the patients in your Bellevue practice aren't as calm and comfortable as they can be, they'll go somewhere else. Today's doctors must be focused at all times on creating a relaxed atmosphere in order to soothe patient fears and decrease stress levels. After all, modern medicine has proven that stress is a factor in disease, and the last thing patients need is to feel more stress while trying to heal their ailments. That's why today's emphasis in medical office design is about warm, subdued color schemes such as pastels, muted oranges, and soft beiges rather than stark, cold whites. Modern waiting room furniture and artwork are chosen to establish pleasing surroundings. Even magazine choices are made to create a feeling of warmth and happiness.
With an emphasis on 'the patient experience' in modern medical office design, medical offices are being rethought, rearranged, and redesigned in order to create the most optimistic patient reality possible. If your medical office does not meet today's idea of comfort and style, contact a commercial contractor in your Bellevue area for information on better design for the optimal patient experience.
Medical office evolution
By the 1930s, the medical office had started to become more efficient and effective, from the perspective of both doctor and patient. As prevention of disease became more vital to keep germs and infections from spreading, doctors' offices were now much less cluttered. Waiting areas, exam rooms, and operating rooms were separated for better disease containment. Additionally, where walls and floors were once stark white and cold, colors began taking over to better calm patients' nerves and allay fears. Warm yellows and vivid greens were considered color schemes that promoted serenity, and these were used most often in the design of newer medical offices. Because linoleum floors of white or a combination of black and white were considered to give off a feeling of cleanliness, they were prevalent at the time. Authentic skulls and skeletons were taken out of areas where patients could readily see them, and charts of human anatomy replaced them for an eye toward a better patient experience. Clutter was replaced with functional organization and, as physician specialties began to emerge, medical offices became more distinct with specialized equipment.
Patient privacy
Today's medical office is designed with optimal privacy in mind. As HIPAA laws make confidentiality a must in the medical setting, physicians must ensure that all patient information is held in the utmost confidence. Therefore, it is vital that modern medical office layout create separation of patient information, patient examination rooms, and patient waiting areas. Each area must contain distinct separation from the other. Even waiting rooms and reception areas must be distinctly separate from each other, often with glass partitions to create clear-cut space between.
Patient comfort
Nothing is more important these days in modern medical design than patient comfort. If the patients in your Bellevue practice aren't as calm and comfortable as they can be, they'll go somewhere else. Today's doctors must be focused at all times on creating a relaxed atmosphere in order to soothe patient fears and decrease stress levels. After all, modern medicine has proven that stress is a factor in disease, and the last thing patients need is to feel more stress while trying to heal their ailments. That's why today's emphasis in medical office design is about warm, subdued color schemes such as pastels, muted oranges, and soft beiges rather than stark, cold whites. Modern waiting room furniture and artwork are chosen to establish pleasing surroundings. Even magazine choices are made to create a feeling of warmth and happiness.
With an emphasis on 'the patient experience' in modern medical office design, medical offices are being rethought, rearranged, and redesigned in order to create the most optimistic patient reality possible. If your medical office does not meet today's idea of comfort and style, contact a commercial contractor in your Bellevue area for information on better design for the optimal patient experience.