NGV Triennial
Has anyone else had the chance to check out this incredible exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria yet?
If not, don’t despair it is running until the 18th April
The Benefits of Investing in a Professional Office Fitout
Although it may seem like an easier and more cost effective option to project manage your own medical office fit out there are real benefits in having a professional company take on the task for you.
When it comes to fitting out your new office or medical facility there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before works can start.
By making a list of the general things you should take into consideration is worthwhile and will give you a real insight into just how much time needs to go into everything from floor plan design to which trades you should use.
Consider the following when it comes to your new office fit out.
Know Your Trades
Probably one of the biggest positives to having a professional office fit out company running your project is that they know their trades.
For someone starting up you will most likely be finding your trades through recommendations or reviews which a great place to start is but you won’t really know what you are getting yourself into until the works have begun.
We have worked in this industry long enough to know that good tradespeople can be very hard to come by and once you have them you do not want to let them go. Clinics by Design have long standing relationships with the majority of our trades which means if there are any issues they can be resolved quickly and effectively.
Finding a Location
If you are in need of a new location you will need to engage a real estate agent to find the perfect tenancy for you and your business.
Firstly, you want to make sure the tenancies you are considering tick all the boxes in the way of requirements. Depending on the type of business you are running (i.e. if you are medical do you have enough accessible parking, amenities within the building, are you zoned correctly etc.) you will have to be up to date with all the current regulations and standards yourself.
Not all office fit out companies offer a tenancy search service but if they do we believe it is money well spent and something we definitely recommend. Not only are companies such as ourselves up to date with all the current standards we know what to look for in the way of hidden issues within structural or services areas that may not be as obvious to the untrained eye and therefore can save you a lot of time and money in the future.
Designing for Growth
Even if you feel like you have everything you need within your business right now there is no harm in preparing for the future.
Before you make any final decisions on your floor plan let’s think about how we can utilise the space in a way that is both suitable for today’s needs as well as future growth. Think administration areas that have the space to add additional reception staff when needed or storage rooms that already have the bones (i.e. electrical and plumbing services that are easy to access) to be converted into consultation rooms should any additional specialists join your team down the track.
Don’t let your new office fit out be the thing that gets in the way of your growth.
Designing for Staff
Over the years we have seen a lot of offices designed and then re-designed as soon as staff members got to see any proposed plans.
We like to suggest displaying any proposed drawings in communal areas within the office for a short time before anything is set in stone. This gives your staff members the opportunity to come to you with any suggestions regarding layout of their area. Of course we aren’t saying each workspace needs to be customised to that particular person, this wouldn’t be feasible, but you would be surprised at how many little things can make a big difference in the efficiency of someone’s day. While you might think you are saving space by placing the printer at the rear of reception your receptionists may find it saves them time having it on the desk next to them.
If you don’t ask you never know, and the last thing you want is to have to make changes after the job is complete.
Of course there are many other aspects of any office fit out that need to be taken into consideration but these few show just how much thought needs to go into even the most simple end of the design process and why a professional fit out company will save you time and money leaving you to concentrate on the most important thing, running your business.
How to Design for Behavioural Healthcare
When it comes to healthcare design within a medical environment dealing specifically with serious behavioural issues and mental health it is important to make sure you have a strong understanding of what patients will require in order to feel safe and comfortable before and during their appointment.
With mental health statistics growing more and more every year we can see that people that may have previously been suffering in silence are starting to speak out. The next step is for them to locate a healthcare facility designed specifically for their needs.
Certain things need to be taken into consideration when designing for healthcare and something that may seem small could in fact make a huge impact not only on the visiting patients but also your staff when it comes to safety and being comfortable within their working environment.
Floor Plan – Keeping your staff safe is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a business owner and getting your healthcare facility floor plan right from the beginning is one of the best ways to do it.
Designing your new healthcare facility layout take the following into consideration:
Ensure your doctors always have easy access to the door by positioning desks in a way that they do not have to pass a patient should they need to exit the room quickly.
Where possible make sure all public amenities are at the front of the practice and visible to reception staff. Although it may seem like a good idea to hide the toilets in the back where no-one can see them you want your patients to feel comfortable that they can easily access the amenities and this also reduces the risk of any patients wandering around the clinic, possibly gaining to access to consultation rooms or staff areas
The installation of duress buttons under desks is a great way to make sure your practitioners are safe at all times and know they can easily get help if they need it
Furniture – Another important element of healthcare design is selecting the correct furniture.
Choose seating that won’t take up too much space. With the new Covid safe rules you want to be able to fit the recommended amount of patients in your waiting room comfortably. By selecting chairs that are too big you may run out of room.
For safety reasons it is best to select seating that has a sled base as opposed to legs. This reduces the risk of damage should a chair be lifted up and used as a weapon. The same goes for upholstery, make sure all upholstered chairs have hidden staples to avoid removal
Items such as side tables that can be secured to the floor are recommended and if securing to the floor is not possible we suggest selecting items that are too heavy to be lifted easily by one person
Do not have decorative items such as vases etc accessible to patients
This is not to say you can’t decorate your new clinic to make it look welcoming, there are many things you can do to give your healthcare facility a modern, comforting look that will not pose any risk to staff or patients
Use calming colours such as blues and greens. These colours can be used in interesting ways through laminate, vinyl flooring, vinyl decals for walls and of course paint.
Live plants are not only nice to look at but they also promote a calming environment by cleaning the air, absorbing toxins and increasing humidity. Installing a live plant wall becomes not only a beautiful feature within your healthcare design but is also good for your clinic
As you can see it is easy to make your healthcare facility a calming yet modern place for patients and staff alike.
Office Fit Outs Melbourne
Although Medical, Veterinary and Dental clinics are our specialty we also have an extremely strong background in office fit out through our parent company Cooper Group Australia and throughout the years we have helped many medical professionals in creating functional head offices and training facilities across Melbourne.
We understand that medical services don’t stop in the clinic and the administration and/or training side of this industry is just as important as the onsite treatment of patients. As well as this, not everyone in an administration or research role needs to be based within a clinic to do their job and therefore if you are looking for some extra space an office fit out could be the answer for you.
Given the current Covid situation we are seeing a massive shift in medical environments and larger companies wanting to keep the amount of people working within their clinics at the onetime to a minimum in order to reduce nonessential patient staff contact.
Of course there will always be a need for administration staff within your clinic but the idea of taking some administration tasks to another location where possible has become more and more appealing.
Your office fit out can be set out in multiple ways depending on what kind of work you are doing and how you would like your staff to interact with one another.
Open plan offices can be beneficial for teams that need to work alongside one another on a regular basis but we also recognise that some tasks, especially within a medical environment, are confidential and need complete concentration when taking place.
Given most offices have a bit of both going on we generally suggest a mix of open spaces along with enclosed offices that can be used as shared spaces when required.
Of course some staff members may require a permanent office if the nature of their work requires it but other offices can be used on a booking, communal basis when needed.
The same goes for meeting areas. By creating a large boardroom and the inclusion of operable walls you can go from single meeting room to multiple training/ group activity rooms in an instant.
By putting the extra time into planning out your office fit out to match your staff member’s requirements you are setting yourself up with an efficient working environment.
A great thing to do in order to make sure you are on the right track in regards to what will work best for you and your staff members is to get them involved. Have your fit out company create mood boards that give everyone an idea of colour scheme and furniture choice. Print out a floor pan so staff can start to imagine where they will be working and if possible have some 3D renders made up to give them a real visualisation of their new work space.
With the New Year could come the opportunity to change the way you run your clinic by considering a medical office fit out.
Time to Plan Your Medical Centre
One of the most important things when it comes to your new Medical Centre is getting the plan right from the very beginning.
Although you may have a strong vision of what you want your clinic to look like there will always be important factors that you may not have taken into consideration in order to create a safe and functional working environment.
From forward planning in order to create a clinic that can accommodate future growth to the location of certain rooms, the little things are what will set your clinic apart from the others.
When deciding on your final medical centre plan, setting up not only for now but for the future is key.
Although you may not need that additional consultation room or space for extra receptionists on opening day it is important to look to the future and have a think about where you see your medical centre in 5, 10 or 15 years time.
Do you envisage inviting additional specialists to practice from your clinic? Will these specialists require their own administration and if so where will they sit and store their files etc.
Creating your medical centre plan with the future in mind is a smart way to safeguard yourself against the risk of having to do more substantial (and costly) building works in the near future should your business grow. As well as this the additional areas that are not being utilised can also serve the purpose of staff quiet rooms or extra storage in the short term.
The physical floor plan of your clinic is equally important. The location of certain things in order to make your staff members jobs easier will in turn make them more efficient.
Something as simple as designing a reception desk with enough space to accommodate a printer instead of locating it in another room can make all the difference to a busy day.
It is impossible to know exactly what is needed in a job that you do not do yourself which is why it is so important you get input on layout of certain areas from your administration and nursing staff before setting anything in stone. Something that you might think will work seamlessly could in fact be a disadvantage to someone else.
Another important area of any medical centre is the location of amenities.
Locating public bathrooms at the front of your medical centre makes them easily accessible to waiting patients and gives reception staff a clear view of who is coming and going.
If you were to place these down at the other end of your clinic, although this might seem like the best option as they are out of the way, you have all of a sudden lost site of patients who are now wandering around the corridors and could potentially gain access to consult and/or treatment rooms that either haven’t been locked or are occupied with other patients at the time creating a security concern.
Staff toilets (if you have the space to include them) on the other hand are of more benefit at the back of the medical centre. This gives staff members some privacy and can be located close to the staff room where they do not need to walk past patients in order to gain access.
These are only a couple of things that need to be taken into consideration when deciding on your final medical centre plan but as you can see, even the smallest of things can make the biggest difference.
Veterinary Clinic Construction and Fit Out Tips
The construction or renovation of your own veterinary clinic can be both an exciting and stressful time.
It is important to have good communication with your design and construct company along with a plan in order to help things run as smoothly as possible.
Here are a few tips we find can really help clients navigate their way through the initial ‘I’ve taken on too much and i’m in way over my head’ stage, and believe us, we get this a lot!
Prepare Yourself –
The design of a veterinary clinic is not something that happens overnight, nor is the construction of it.
When you are investing your hard earned money into something such as this it is imperative that you get it right from the beginning and thats where patience comes into play.
Getting plans perfect, and then getting those perfect plans through council can sometimes take upwards of 6 months so it is very important that you are aware of this from the get go in order to reduce the risk of disappointment when you realise you will not be able to open the doors of your beautiful new veterinary clinic three months after signing a contract.
Be Mindful about Keeping Moving –
We understand that in an ideal world trading through the renovation of your veterinary clinic would be ideal. While it can slow things down we know how important it is for you to continue treating your valued patients.
Unfortunately for handover reasons we are unable to make part of a new construction available while finishing the rest but when dealing with a renovation there are some things we can do in order to accommodate a functioning clinic. Creating essential areas is one way to keep you going while not being able to work at full capacity. It is important to think about the spaces that get used the most and how long these areas can be out of action for in order for us to create a practical time schedule.
Think about the Long Term –
It is always important to take potential growth into consideration when designing your new veterinary practice.
What you need now may not be the same as what will be needed 10 years down the track and although you may think the best option is to cater for todays needs you don’t want to get stuck with a space that is unable to promote growth and therefore cost you more money in the not so distant future.
Create spaces within your clinic that are functional now but can be adapted and extended on in the future for a different use.
Think about Your Team –
Each of your staff members are an integral cog in the machine that is your successful business and each of them have very different needs in order to perform their job efficiently.
In the same way your receptionist may not know which treatment room layout is going to be the most efficient for you or your specialist surgeons you may not realise just how important layout is for their area in order to complete their busy administration tasks quickly and effectively.
Something as simple as popping your preliminary plans in the lunch room and giving your staff the chance to voice their opinions on their specific areas really shows that you are open to having a conversation in order to make their workplace as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Small things such as access and layout can play a huge part in a staff members day and by making their areas functional you will in turn have happy, effective workers.
Psychology and Interior Design
When it comes to design within medial facilities that offer services such as psychological treatment interior design elements are more important than you think.
Although we may not realise it our environment has the ability to affect our emotions and general well-being which is why it is important to get it right from the get go when designing in a psychological environment.
There are certain do’s and don’ts when it comes to mental health clients and it is of the upmost importance that patients are made to feel comfortable from the second they walk in the door of your clinic.
Do:
Put time into selecting your waiting/ consult room furniture
Not only should your seating be comfortable but it also needs to be practical.
An easy way to make sure everyone gets a seat that is comfortable for them (and their body) is to alternate with the option of arms and no arms, this gives additional space on some chairs and additional leverage support to others.
Research Colour
Colour plays a huge role in medical settings and are an integral part of any clinic. Shades of blue and green are said to be both productive and calming whereas colours such as red or orange can be seen as aggressive and not appropriate within a clinic setting.
Understand the light
Natural light gives any space the feeling of brightness, openness and warmth so try to make sure windows are free of drawn blinds or dark drapes within waiting and consult rooms where possible.
Artificial light also plays it’s part within a clinic setting. Adjustable lighting that can be catered to your patients preference ensures they are comfortable and at ease during their appointment.
A good distraction
Sometimes certain topics or discussions may bring up feelings of vulnerability to a patient and therefore requires the need for a quick break. By providing positive distractions such as colourful artwork, an area away from the consulting room or even toys can give your patient the few minutes they may need in order to continue their session in a positive manner.
Don’t:
Create clutter
Try to keep your reception/ waiting area and consult rooms as spacious as possible. An untidy space can cause a sense of anxiousness for a lot of people as can a space that seems closed in due to clutter. You want your patients to feel comfortable when they walk into your clinic, not have a sense of being trapped.
Restrict movement
When it comes to selecting waiting and consult room seating it is important to make sure the style is right. Where possible do not use fixed seating, you want your patients to have the freedom of moving their chair around when they feel the need. Also try to keep a sense of similarity in the chairs patients are sitting on and you, as the therapist, are using to give the sense that you are both equal.
In saying that though there are a couple of things to be cautious of. Try to select chairs with sled bases instead of legs. If a circumstance arises where a patient is aggravated you do not want to give them the option of turning their chair into a weapon.
Be unavailable.
Neglected waiting rooms with no available receptionist on arrival can give the feeling that the expected level of care may not be there. When designing your psychology clinic layout make sure any shared reception and admin areas are open plan where possible so there is always someone in view to greet anyone walking in the door.
As this type of medical environment requires understanding, compassion and trust a beautiful, relaxing and tranquil environment can help immensely and it is well worth putting the additional time and money into creating the perfect practice for not only your patients but also you and your staff.
Mattonelle Margherita Tile Collection
Well to say things have been a little crazy around here lately would be an understatement but we finally have had some time to check out all things beautiful via Yellowtrace.
The Mattonelle Margherita tile collection by Nathalie Du Pasquier for Mutina is truely stunning!
Check it out here:
Time to Upgrade!
So the time has come for an upgrade to your existing clinic, or you have made the decision to build a brand new practice. Congratulations!
This is an extremely exciting time, but before we get caught up in what colour the floors are going to be or the style of visitor chairs you want in your waiting room (which don’t get me wrong, are equally as important) you need to make sure you are getting the right general practice clinic design done by a medical professional in order to make sure that not only are you getting the perfect practice to suit you, your staff and patients, now and in the future, but a general practice clinic design that meets all current codes and standards in order to pass a final inspection.
Some important things that need to be discussed during the design process in order to ensure your clinic is going to meet all codes and standards are:
Body Protection
Simply put, body protection means that every power point in your practice is protected by a safety switch therefore protecting patients if they need to be treated with equipment that is plugged into the wall.
These safety switches are particularly sensitive to earth leakage currants, a lot more sensitive than those in a residential or office setting, therefore protecting you, your staff and your patients from any chance of an electrical shock while treatment is taking place.
The main thing to take from this is not all existing tenancies are body protected, especially older buildings or buildings that were previously used for a purpose other than medical. This is something that needs to be checked when moving into or purchasing a tenancy and needs to be upgraded when any electrical works take place.
DDA compliance
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) states:
‘Where a physical feature (for example, one arising from the design or construction of a building or the approach or access to premises) makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons to make use of such a service, it is the duty of the provider of that service to take such steps as it is reasonable, in all the circumstances of the case, for him to have to take in order to :- Remove the feature, Alter it so that is no longer has that effect, Provide a reasonable means of avoiding the feature; or, Provide reasonable alternative method of making the service in question available to disabled persons’
Essentially everything needs to be accessible to every disabled patient, visitor or staff member visiting your practice. This is why it is extremely important that you appoint a Fitout company or builder that has the relevant medical experience when going ahead with your general practice clinic design.
There are many things that need to be thought out when designing your floor plan, from the amount of amenities required to the size of the rooms, in order to comply with DDA standards. All of these things need to be taken into consideration and designed correctly from the beginning to reduce the risk of expensive changes occurring once construction or refurbishment has commenced.
Social distancing
2020 has brought the new (and unwanted) craze of social distancing. Now whenever we visit the dentist, doctor or even supermarket we are required to stand 1.5m apart from the people around us and hand sanitisation is no longer an option.
We don’t know how long this virus is going to be an issue for so it is important that social distancing is part of your new general practice clinic design.
Whether you want to set something up temporarily, such as sneeze guards at reception that can be removed without too much disruption to joinery, or you are looking for something a little more permanent in order to reduce the risk of viruses spreading within your practice in the future it is important to make the time to go through all the available options to find what will be right for you, your staff and your patients.
These are only a few things that need to be taken into consideration when envisaging a new general practice clinic design and as you can see it is of the upmost importance to make sure you are dealing with a construction and/or Fitout company who have the experience and knowledge that goes with creating a modern, functional and up to code medical facility.
What to Know in Medical Clinic Construction
There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when heading into the world of medical clinic construction, but understanding the processes that you will need to go through in order to get off the ground is of the upmost importance.
Before you can even start thinking about design and how you want your clinic to look and function you need to make sure the land you are looking to obtain is within the correct zoning for medical.
Once this has been confirmed and you have secured the land the next step is to be prepared for a bit of a wait while everything goes through council.
There will be a period of time in which local residents can voice their opinion about your new medical clinic construction which can be a whole process in itself.
Be prepared for residents to give good feedback as well as bad and understand that this is something everyone has to go through. There may be certain things that have to be compromised in order to keep the neighbours (or council) happy and again this is a completely normal part of the process.
In order to get everything through council, ticked off and approved can take a number of months to finalise so it is also important to be patient and do your best to grasp a basic understanding of everything your builder is doing in order to get the ball rolling. Although things may seem like they are standing still from your end we can assure you the work going on behind the scenes in order to get your medical clinic construction off the ground is huge.
It is not uncommon for clients to think their clinic will be ready to open within 3 months or so of engaging a builder but this just is not the case. We like to be completely transparent when it comes to timelines in order to avoid any disappointment. We know how exciting it is to open a new practice and believe me we are just as eager to start your new medical clinic construction as you are.
So what can we do in order to make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible?
- Make sure the builder you appoint is experienced with medical construction as this is very different to building a commercial office or residential property. In order to keep things moving forward with council a complete understanding of a medical clinic construction is key.
- Hold regular meetings in order to finalise plans and discuss any alternative options should something in the design not work. There is nothing wrong with having a plan B in place and being prepared is one of the best things you can do when going through this process.
- Keep an open mind. This is very important. As we spoke about earlier factors such as neighbours and council guidelines can have an impact on design constraints so it is a good idea to become as familiar as possible with things that may or may not work depending on any objections.
By working closely with your builder, and becoming somewhat familiar with the guidelines that need to be adhered to, you are giving yourself the best chance at getting your plans approved and the ball rolling on your new medical clinic construction as soon as possible.