Clinic By Design

Clinics By Design

What to Consider When Setting Up

As you are probably well aware, there are numerous things that you need to consider before signing a lease or purchasing a property in order to start up your new medical, dental or veterinary clinic.

Here are a few things that we raise with potential clients when discussing their new practice and interior design requirements.

Location – Research the area. Not only do you want to make sure you aren’t setting up next door to an already well established competitor you also want to make sure you are easily accessible to some form of public transport. Are there parking restrictions and is there any on-site parking already available? As this may flag a town planning application.


Future Growth: Where do you see your business in 5 years time? Is the size of the tenancy sufficient for the future?


Interior Colour Scheme: You want your practice to be a warm, welcoming yet professional environment. Incorporate more of a neutral colour palette for your initial design and then add a few brightly coloured items (you may want to tie in with your corporate colours), in the form of a feature wall or signage. This way it is easier to update your practice interiors in the future without spending a fortune.


Breakout Space: Another area that tends to get overlooked is the importance of a break out space for staff members. This doesn’t have to be a large space as such, just somewhere that can fit a table, chairs and room for staff to enjoy their lunch or a coffee on their break. Research shows that when you provide your staff with a good quality working environment you can improve staff performance by up to 40% – in other words it can be the little things that make a big difference to your staff and their productivity levels.

Living, Breathing Walls

If you were to write a list of the things you most look forward to, a trip to the doctor or dentist generally wouldn’t rate very high.

 

Unfortunately when we think of any clinical environment our minds can easily wander into old waiting room, worn out carpet, copies of Vogue from 2008 territory. Coupled with the anxious feeling you get while waiting in a room with 15 other potentially sick people its not the best experience, and that is why Clinics By Design are here to help!

So how do we break this fear in patients and make clinics an enjoyable place to visit?

There are many ways to spruce up your clinic but one sure way to make an impact while considering space is to install a living wall, also known as bio-walls, eco-walls and grow walls.

 

These vertical gardens not only look great but they also pose immediate health benefits for you, your staff and patients by cleaning the air of toxins and generating oxygen.

We Are Yellowtracers

Here at Clinics By Design we are big Yellowtracers and will be sharing some of our favourite articles from time to time.

 

Although our primary focus is the medical industry it is also important to keep up to date with what is happening within the hospitality, retail and residential interiors world as inspiration can come from anywhere!

Check out the beautiful use of natural materials used throughout Noma Restaurant in Yellowtrace Copenhagen.

Rainbow Umbrella - Clinics By Design

The Theory of Colour


Different colours can produce different feelings and emotions and are an integral part in any clinical environment.

By implementing certain colours within certain areas of your clinic can be of great benefit to you and your patients.

Colours such as blues and greens are said to be both productive and calming which create a soothing atmosphere, great for waiting or consultation areas.

Reds and oranges on the other hand are more aggressive colours and can actually increase tension. This is due to the eye having to work harder in order to perceive these particular colours meaning the eye has to focus and then refocus.

When it comes to picking the right colour for your clinic there is no right or wrong answer and every colour has a home somewhere but it is a good idea to look at different options in order to work out which will be best for your particular space.

Thinking Outside the Design Box

Gone are the days when patients feel the most comfortable in a stark and sterile medical environment.

 

Of course you want your clinic to look clean (which this look definitely achieves and is best suited to treatment rooms) but we are seeing a strong trend with patients enjoying a clinic that has something different about it.

 

When it comes to GP’s and Dentists, children’s areas are extremely popular in order to give the kids a place to play quietly while other patients are waiting. Other items such as USB port access give patients the chance to recharge their devices or even do some work while they wait.

 

We like to give veterinary clinics a colourful, fun feel in order to put fur mums and dads at ease as soon as they walk through the door (usually they are more nervous than the patients themselves!)

Specialist’s clinics suit a look that is luxurious and modern which is where beautiful seating and upholstery can really shine.

 

Whatever the type of clinic we have a solution to make it unique, functional and most of all comfortable for you, your staff and your patients (whether on 2 or 4 legs!)

Find Your Way

One main aspect of any medical, dental or veterinary practice which may not seem like a comfort as such but can actually put a lot of minds at ease is good signage.

 

By having sufficient signage in the way of logos and way finders (within larger practices), your patient is given clear instruction on where they are and what way they need to go.

Once your patient has made it to where they need to be you may not want to stop there. Items such as flooring, painted graphics, paint colours and even furniture can be utilised in a way that helps to distinguish different areas and rooms.

Making Your First Impression Last

When designing a new clinic there are three main things that need to be taken into consideration:

 

Look Feel Function 

When someone walks into your clinic for the first time you want them to love the look of it. Unfortunately 99% of people aren’t skipping through the door when it come to a visit to the GP or dentist so it is important that you try to take away the inevitable feeling of unease by giving them a beautiful environment in which to wait for their appointment.

 

Once they are in the door and happy with the look of their surroundings you want them to also enjoy the feel of the place. This good feeling ignites an instant sense of relaxation which is imperative within a medical environment.

 

Now, not only do your patients need to feel comfortable in your clinic but so do your staff which is where function plays a big role. By creating staff areas that are user friendly and functional you make their jobs easier which in turns makes them more efficient.

 

These three aspects are extremely easy to accommodate in any medical environment.

With the use of certain colours, amenities and good access your clinic will be a place that not only staff love coming to each morning but patients may not cringe at the thought of either!

Body Protection and What it Means for You

When quoting on new or refurbished medical and dental practices the two main questions that come up are ‘what is electrical body protection?’ and ‘do we need it?’

 

Simply put, a body protected area means every power point is protected by a safety switch (imperative in any area where patients are being treated with equipment that is plugged in).

 

These particular safety switches are a lot more sensitive to earth leakage currants than those on a residential or office point therefore protecting you, your staff and your patients from any chance of an electrical shock while treatment is taking place.

 

Body protection is a requirement of the Standard AS/NZS 3003.2011 and therefore compulsory for any new medical or dental fitout.

 

Not only are new tenancies effected, if you have an older tenancy that is not body protected you can not have any new electrical works done without upgrading the entire tenancy. New electrical works can be something as simple as the addition of one new power point so be sure to ask whether body protection is included in any electrical quoting you receive to protect yourself from any unforeseen costs.

car parking - Clinics by Design

Parking Matters

car parking - Clinics by Design

As a complete design and construct solution for medical and dental clinics we constantly get asked about car parking and your legal requirements.

In a nut shell, as per the current Victorian Planning Provisions; you need to provide:

  • 5 parking spaces for the first person providing health services, plus
  • 3 parking spaces for every other person providing health services

Under the Building Code of Australia (BCA), some of the required number of car parking spaces must be allocated as disabled car parking spaces, which must be in accordance with Australian Standard AS 2890.6-2009 (Disabled) and the BCA.

 

You must always speak to your local council first to see if they have any further requirements as it can vary from council to council.  You may also require assistance from a Town Planner if an application for a car parking reduction is required.

 

Clinics By Design are experienced in the Town Planning process and can take care of your town planning application plans & reports.