By Colleen Riordan, Contributing Writer

The days of going to the doctor and sitting in cold, uncomfortable waiting rooms are a thing of the past. Whether the facility is a freestanding orthopedic clinic or a large urban hospital, healthcare providers are increasingly seeking designs that provide a pleasant atmosphere while still optimizing efficiency. No matter the size or scope of the project, the most effective designs address the way functions will flow and the way users will feel in the space. 

Spotlight on flow 

The first step when a designer sits down with a healthcare client is usually an audit of office operations. It is important to understand the specific tasks that take place in the facility and the ways to most efficiently move patients through their care and allow team members to manage their responsibilities. 

For instance, for a primary care office, the designer should talk through where a patient will wait, check in, see a physician, have diagnostic tests and check out. Some offices might benefit from creating distinct areas for quick or preventive care. Many facilities are separating their lab areas so a patient getting a routine test or bloodwork can sign in, provide a sample and leave without mixing with other patients or going through the entire facility. Some clients also choose to create separate waiting areas for well and acutely ill patients. 

Healthcare clients also have embraced defined areas for providers. Each physician might have a hall or pod that includes several examination rooms, a nurse’s station and an area for the doctor to transcribe records. This design allows the provider and support staff to triage, test and treat patients in one area rather than walking throughout the facility. 

Planning for the future 

Efficient flow of operations is one of the most important elements to evaluate during the design planning process. But designers need to consider modernization issues specific to the medical sector. 

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A medical office might have one X-ray or MRI suite that all providers use. The designer can try to situate the equipment centrally for convenient access but also install it along the facility’s outside perimeter. That way, when the MRI machine needs to be replaced, it is possible to take down one wall for direct and simplified access to the space. This is an example of an element designers should discuss with healthcare clients to create a facility that allows for future growth. 

Providers know most patients have options about which doctor, clinic or hospital network to select, and competition exists among healthcare organizations to employ great providers and staff. While sturdy and hygienic materials are still necessary elements to consider, more healthcare clients are asking for designs that also prioritize a welcoming ambiance for patients and team members. 

An eye on ambiance 

A number of design strategies can improve the user experience in a healthcare space. One is incorporating biophilic design, which is an architectural approach to connect people with nature in a built environment. This goal can be achieved through windows and natural light, as well as with the addition of greenery like plants and other elements like aquariums. 

While these might sound like aesthetic choices, biophilic design can improve the way people feel or react in a space. Consider the example of The Pat Summitt Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, which treats patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The clinic’s design includes lighting that simulates natural light covered by partial shutters, based on research indicating memory care patients benefit from daylight, even indoors. The design makes it feel like windows with daylight are shining throughout the facility. These types of design elements can make a tangible impact on a patient’s experience. 

The same is true for providers and staff members, who often work long shifts treating patients. A visual connection to the outside can help ease the fatigue of a busy workday. Good design can make a powerful impact on the way it feels to spend time in a space. Many healthcare organizations have realized that and look at their facilities as ways to enhance offerings to recruit and retain top talent. 

Healthcare clients are requesting comfortable work environments and leisure spaces — from elevated lounges to courtyards — for staff to congregate. For example, Cherokee Health Systems in East Tennessee includes a wellness garden for employees and four large clerestory windows that channel diffused northern sunlight into the core of the one-story, 26,000-square-foot building. The design allows internal spaces a link to nature, which can improve well-being and evoke a sense of calm. 

When it comes to designing healthcare facilities, decision-makers are realizing that patient care should encompass the whole experience, from the first time a person sees the building to the process of checking out or paying the bill. It is essential to move patients through administrative and treatment processes efficiently, but it is also important to create an atmosphere where patients feel welcome and comfortable. The same can be said for creating environments that encourage happy employees, whether that is through the use of natural northern sunlight or a stroll in a wellness garden. 

Colleen Riordan is project manager for healthcare projects for Johnson Architecture.