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Clinics By Design

Build WELL

Design / By

These days we are all about health and well-being, so why not make your clinic WELL compliant?

 

The WELL Building Standard consists of features across eight concepts that  address not only the design and operations of buildings, but also how they impact and influence human behaviors related to health and well-being.

These features include:

1. Air –

Incorporate strategies to reduce or minimise sources of indoor air pollution. These strategies include, but are certainly not limited to: microbe & mould control, moisture management, air filtration, construction pollution management, pest control, cleanable environment, increased air ventilation and air quality monitoring.

2. Water –

Provide high quality drinking water and improve its accessibility. As we know humans are made up of more than two-thirds water which is why it is imperative we drink as much as we can throughout the day. But as we also know, many people do not! By providing clean drinking water that is easily accessible to everyone that comes into your building you are promoting regular water intake.

3. Nourishment –

Nutrition is so important but it can sometimes be hard to stick to eating well when there are so many goodies on offer. The easiest way to take temptation out of the equation is to remove it all together. Instead of vending machines that house chocolate, chips and soft drink provide fresh fruit and bottled or filtered water.

4. Light –

Sufficient light, whether it is natural or artificial, can have many positive effects on employees including improved alertness and plays a huge role in any office environment. By ensuring your office space is properly lit you are not only giving your environment a welcoming, warm feeling you are also reducing discomfort for your staff.

5. Fitness –

When working in an office environment it is easy to get stuck down at your desk for hours on end which is why it is imperative you not only give your employees the opportunity to move, you should also be encouraging it. Items such as sit to stand desks are a great idea in order to give staff the option of sitting or standing while they work but why not introduce other physical activities into your work day. Try standing while you hold meetings, not only does this give everyone a chance to get up and out of their seats but it is also thought to improve concentration and productivity.

6. Comfort –

Comfort is one of the most important things to consider when setting up a workplace. We all want to feel comfortable and considering the amount of hours we spend at work comfort is key in order to keep staff productive and alert. Three very important aspects of comfort within an office are acoustics, ergonomics and accessibility.

 

Acoustics – Although noise can be a benefit in getting the brain working and collaborating is encouraged in most workplaces it can also be a distraction so be sure to make sure you have good acoustics within the areas of your office you would like to be used as quiet space.

 

Ergonomics – The correct seating can make a huge difference in how someone works. If they are uncomfortable they are more likely to lose concentration and take more breaks. Ensure you give your staff good quality task chairs with approved AFRDI ratings.

 

Accessibility – It is extremely important to make everyone in your office feel welcome which is why accessibility is so important. When designing your office layout make sure it is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). By doing this you are showing that you do not discriminate against anyone with a physical disability whether it is an employee or client.

7. Mind –

It is incredible what the mind is capable of and with the rate of mental illness growing rapidly it is something that we need to talk about. Whether it is creating an aesthetically pleasing space within your office for staff to take time out when they need it or making it a priority that staff members are educated on mental illness, its variances, how to recognise it and what affects it can have is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ways of creating a mindfully healthy workplace.

And finally…….

8. Innovation –

An innovative workplace is a productive workplace. We don’t come to the above conclusions without research which is why it is so important to make time to look into ways of improving your workplace on a regular basis. Not only will you be rewarded with happy workers and content clients, you will have the peace of mind that you are doing all you can to improve the productivity of your business, making it the best it can be.

ceiling tiles - Clinics by Design

How Ceiling Systems are Keeping us Healthy

Allied Services / By
ceiling tiles - Clinics by Design

When it comes to a brand new fit out, rarely would ceiling tiles be the first thing you would think about when it comes to aesthetics and hygiene but they are more important to your health than you would think.

 

 

When it comes to ceiling tiles within a healthcare environment it is very important that you chose the right product.

A few benefits to selecting a ceiling tile made for health are:

  • Anti-microbial performance to assist with infection control
  • Clean room performance
  • Durable, washable, soil resistant and water repellent
  • High acoustic performance (perfect for busy waiting areas and rooms made for confidential conversations)
  • High light reflective finish
  • Appealing smooth surface
  • Humidity resistance
  • Sustainability – Green Star contribution

By selecting these types of products to feature in your new clinic you are looking after your patients from the moment they walk in the door.

Checklist - Clinics by Design

5 Steps to the Perfect Clinic

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Checklist - Clinics by Design

Making the decision to open or refurbish your own clinic is a big one and therefore sitting down with a professional fit out company in order to discuss options is a must!

5 very important things to take into consideration before any major decisions are made are:

Budget. This is the most important thing as it will determine what you can and can not include in your fit out. By sitting down with a professional fit out specialist you can go through your wish list in order to gain an understanding of just how much a fit out can cost.


Know what you want. It is helpful to have a general idea of what you want before consulting with a fit out company (although we are more than happy to take the reins in this aspect as well!) Whether you are refurbishing an existing space or looking for a new tenancy the easiest way to make critical decisions from the beginning is knowing what you want.


Know what you need. Wants and needs are very different things, and although we would all like to be surrounded by designer furniture and stunning (expensive) finishes and fixtures, other things such as state of the art equipment will probably take priority so before you start flicking through the pages and pages of beautiful aesthetics make sure you know what is required within your clinic in order to work to budget.


Know the guidelines. With the help of your very knowledgeable fit out specialists make sure you research as much as you can into what is required of dental or medical clinics. Standards and guidelines do change from time to time and something you have been doing for the last 5 years may not be acceptable today.


Prioritise. Make a list of all the things you will need in your clinic. This will help your fit out company to place everything in the space you have or are looking at comfortably and more importantly to budget.


That Musical Effect

Other / By

Studies have shown that music has a powerful effect on the brain, notably when it comes to reducing feelings of stress and even pain.

 

Of course the type of music you play will have an impact on this so we aren’t saying you should blast heavy metal through your waiting room but calming music playing in the background can actually alleviate stress by lowering cortisol levels, which is the hormone released in response to stress.

 

A 2013 study also found that patients who listened to music while having an IV inserted experienced significantly less pain than those who didn’t.

 

While some areas of course are better off quiet, adding some subtle music to your waiting area and even amenities could make a difference in the way your patients feel while waiting to see you.

Is Feng Shui For You?

Other / By

Feng Shui isn’t for everyone but if you are interested in the benefits it can be quite an interesting exercise when it comes to the lay out of your clinic.

Firstly, what is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the balance and harmony between you and your practice. Qi is believed to generate positive and healthy energy and create a calming environment and experts say when this energy is blocked it can increase anxiety and exhaustion.

By giving your existing clinic a simple facelift and repositioning some furniture you could be making a huge difference in the feel and vibe of your space.

In an environment where anxiety and nerves are prevalent adding a bit of feng shui could be the answer to creating some calm.

Fabric: Not As Simple As It Seems

Other / By

When it comes to upholstery it is a completely different ballgame in the medical world.

 

As you may or may not know, medical grade, or high performance fabrics are different to the fabrics you can choose from when you are shopping for a new lounge suite.

 

Companies such as Crypton, Instyle and Woven Image (just to name a few) have expansive healthcare ranges which are perfect for any medical clinic.

what makes high performance, medical grade fabric different and why do we recommend it?

Basically high performance medical grade fabrics are treated to ensure they can be cleaned easily when any nasty spills occur (something that is not unheard of within a medical environment).

 

There are of course different levels of medical grade fabric with Crypton being the highest. To be considered Crypton grade the fabric needs to meet specific fibre and construction requirements. It is then treated with stain and odour protection and are recommended in high traffic areas that are prone to spills.

 

Other healthcare options may not have the same structure restraints but are treated with the same or similar protection and therefore perfect for smaller clinics and specialist rooms.

 

So when selecting seating for your clinic make sure you take the time to investigate fabric options in order to get the product that is right for you.

Urban Dentist in Berlin

Other / By

We absolutely love seeing clinical spaces taken to the next level and turned into pieces of art!

Have a look at what Studio Karhard have whipped up in Berlin……

Article by Yellowtrace

 

The Urban Dentist in Berlin by Studio Karhard.
Cold &F Flu - Clinics By Design

Preparing for the Cold

Clinic / By

As winter starts to set in your clinic can become a completely different place not only for your patients but for you and your staff as well.

Sniffling and sneezing will be a sound that fills the air and muddy, soaked feet will leave lasting impressions on your floors.

So what changes can be made within your clinic to minimise the risk of passing on germs and slipping on floors?

Accessibility to amenities is of the upmost importance. Having public toilets close by and a refresh station in your waiting area can make patients feel instantly comfortable. Also consider areas in which items such as hand sanitiser and tissues can be on hand whether this is in the form or coffee tables or decorative shelving.

Appropriate flooring is another aspect to consider, especially if you have patients walking in straight off the street. Birrus matting is a fantastic option as it gets rid of any dirt while soaking up any water that has been walked in thus keeping the majority of it off the floor.

Although it may not seem like a big deal, having your front door closers in proper working order is essential! There is nothing worse than having people constantly walking through a door that doesn’t close behind them properly not only letting the cold air in but usually making that poor person sitting closest feel like they need to get up and close it each time a patient arrives!

As you can see its the little things that make a big difference and something as simple as an umbrella stand (with a couple spares available for staff who need to duck out at lunchtime) can put people at ease instantly as it is one less thing to worry about when they walk in the door.

 

out when they walk in the door.

A Space To Suit All

Design / By

Staff morale is such an important aspect of every business but is something that is often forgotten when it comes to planning your clinics layout.

 

Of course it is impossible to keep everyone happy every single time, and there are always one or two that don’t like the thought of ‘change’, but with some forward thinking and planning you can show your staff that their health and wellbeing are at the top of your practice’s priorities.

 

something as simple as seating can make a huge impact on the comfort of your staff.

Purchase ergonomic chairs with an AFRDI rating and if possible have an ergonomic chair specialist come into your clinic in order to fit each staff member personally for the proper lumbar and back support to suit them.

 

Create functional yet flexible spaces that can be used by staff, and yourself, for casual meetings as well as breaks by utilising acoustic friendly furniture and partitioning where possible.

 

Depending on the type of business you are running your staff may benefit from open plan spaces where they can collaborate or segregated areas in which confidential conversations and meetings can take place. Either way, both of these are easily achieved utilising furniture, partitioning and joinery creatively.

By taking the time to consider the needs of your staff you are more likely to have loyal, longterm relationships with your workers.

DENFAIR 2019

Other / By

We can’t wait to get stuck into DENFAIR 2019 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over the next two days.

 

These exhibitions help to keep us informed of up and coming trends across all types of design and we can’t wait to implement them into your projects!