Healthcare facilities recognize that "wait" can be a four-letter word for patients and visitors, but simply renaming the “waiting room” as the “family lounge” doesn’t change the experience. 

According to an article on the FacilityCare website, lean planning and design innovation will evolve over time to improve the waiting room experience, but facility managers can begin to address the issue by recognizing trends driving the need for change: the increased presence of family in patient care and the escalated use of technology.

Creating comfortable, family-friendly waiting areas that reduce the anxiety factor is key. The furniture itself plays an important role in alleviating stress and in creating a relaxed, residential atmosphere for family members.

Supporting technology use also is vital to creating a better waiting experience, the article said.

Some visitors want to remain connected and others would prefer to work while waiting. Both types of visitors expect access to technology. Other expectations about technology begin the moment patients and families arrive at facilities that offer electronic kiosks for check-in or for wayfinding. 

Read the article.