Trends in Waiting Rooms
Nobody likes waiting, but everyone has to do it at one time or another. Recent studies show that the average person spends upwards of an hour every day waiting. Waiting on red lights, waiting for orders to arrive, waiting for computer programs to download and upload, and, of course, waiting in doctors' offices. Waiting has almost become a national pass-time, as life in modern society seems more than ever to be about waiting for calls to be answered and services to be rendered. And that's why waiting room design is so important these days. As a healthcare professional, you certainly don't want your patients getting agitated and anxious while they're waiting to be examined, especially since now we know that stress can add to health problems. As more time is spent in waiting areas, the healthcare industry is answering the call with spacious, engaging, and all-around better-designed waiting areas. Here are some of the top design elements trending in this year's waiting rooms.
In today's healthcare world, there isn't just one kind of waiting area anymore. There are main waiting areas that hold patients and families as they await appointments. There are sick and well waiting areas that are designed to reduce the spread of infectious ailments. There are sub-waiting areas where patients go to change in private. There are waiting areas within waiting areas designed to keep children engaged. And there are waiting lounge areas for families who are standing by for family members who are receiving care. As each of these areas has its own purposes, each area has design elements and trends all its own.
Main waiting areas
Main waiting rooms typically are the largest areas for patients awaiting care and their families. Most of the time these are located near main entrances of healthcare facilities, and in today's main waiting areas, the trend is toward vast space and luxury with amenities such as coffee shops, vending areas, and even areas for healthcare tips and education. Many hospitals and healthcare buildings are opting for huge, luxurious rooms reminiscent of hotel lobbies, for utmost comfort while patients and families await their appointments.
Sick and well waiting areas
These waiting areas often appear in clinics and hospitals, mostly for children. They are designed to provide privacy for patients who are immunosuppressed and need special attention. As these are typically for children and their families, their designs are trending in larger spaces with engaging games, education, and even walls designed with educational themes for learning while you wait.
Sub-waiting areas
These waiting areas typically show up near diagnostic rooms for patients who need privacy for changing into healthcare gowns. The design direction for these areas is trending much the same as for exam rooms, with colors that are chosen with warm liveliness in mind, such as muted yellows, pumpkins, and pastels.
Child waiting areas
As with other areas designed specifically for engaging the minds of children, sub-waiting areas within main waiting rooms are separate spaces for children where they can play while parents are still able to watch them closely. These areas are being designed more than ever with child-sized furniture, primary colors, and games that keep children from getting bored. Whimsical design patterns on walls and sections of carpet are being added for an extra level of activity.
Waiting lounges
These areas are also trending toward vastness and comfort, as they are created for family and friends of patients who are receiving treatments such as dialysis or day surgeries. Color schemes for these are going in the way of the comfortable and soothing, such as soft blues and other pastels. They are also being created nearer to gift shops and coffee shops, for better access to various needs as patients' families wait.
If you're like most people, you hate waiting. Like most people, however, there's not much you can do about it. All sorts of elements have every one of us waiting all day long, and that's why it's crucial to all Bellevue physician practices that waiting areas are designed with the total patient experience in mind. Take into consideration this year's top waiting room design trends for your next commercial remodeling project. Contact a medical office design expert in Seattle for more information on these and other trends that will make your medical office more functional for staff and more pleasant for patients.
In today's healthcare world, there isn't just one kind of waiting area anymore. There are main waiting areas that hold patients and families as they await appointments. There are sick and well waiting areas that are designed to reduce the spread of infectious ailments. There are sub-waiting areas where patients go to change in private. There are waiting areas within waiting areas designed to keep children engaged. And there are waiting lounge areas for families who are standing by for family members who are receiving care. As each of these areas has its own purposes, each area has design elements and trends all its own.
Main waiting areas
Main waiting rooms typically are the largest areas for patients awaiting care and their families. Most of the time these are located near main entrances of healthcare facilities, and in today's main waiting areas, the trend is toward vast space and luxury with amenities such as coffee shops, vending areas, and even areas for healthcare tips and education. Many hospitals and healthcare buildings are opting for huge, luxurious rooms reminiscent of hotel lobbies, for utmost comfort while patients and families await their appointments.
Sick and well waiting areas
These waiting areas often appear in clinics and hospitals, mostly for children. They are designed to provide privacy for patients who are immunosuppressed and need special attention. As these are typically for children and their families, their designs are trending in larger spaces with engaging games, education, and even walls designed with educational themes for learning while you wait.
Sub-waiting areas
These waiting areas typically show up near diagnostic rooms for patients who need privacy for changing into healthcare gowns. The design direction for these areas is trending much the same as for exam rooms, with colors that are chosen with warm liveliness in mind, such as muted yellows, pumpkins, and pastels.
Child waiting areas
As with other areas designed specifically for engaging the minds of children, sub-waiting areas within main waiting rooms are separate spaces for children where they can play while parents are still able to watch them closely. These areas are being designed more than ever with child-sized furniture, primary colors, and games that keep children from getting bored. Whimsical design patterns on walls and sections of carpet are being added for an extra level of activity.
Waiting lounges
These areas are also trending toward vastness and comfort, as they are created for family and friends of patients who are receiving treatments such as dialysis or day surgeries. Color schemes for these are going in the way of the comfortable and soothing, such as soft blues and other pastels. They are also being created nearer to gift shops and coffee shops, for better access to various needs as patients' families wait.
If you're like most people, you hate waiting. Like most people, however, there's not much you can do about it. All sorts of elements have every one of us waiting all day long, and that's why it's crucial to all Bellevue physician practices that waiting areas are designed with the total patient experience in mind. Take into consideration this year's top waiting room design trends for your next commercial remodeling project. Contact a medical office design expert in Seattle for more information on these and other trends that will make your medical office more functional for staff and more pleasant for patients.