Design

The construction of your Psychology practice is a lot more in depth than just creating a nice waiting area and comfortable consulting rooms for your patients.

In sensitive medical environments, such as psychology clinics, certain things need to be taken into consideration in order to make sure each and every patient has the most positive experience possible.

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference.

Take parking for example. Parking can be stressful for some people especially if your clinic is situated in a location that is known for lack of it.

Although we realise it isn’t always possible to have ample private parking on site there are other alternatives. Choosing your location carefully to try and incorporate public parking that can be utilised by your patients and/or the ability to walk easily to and from public transport can make a big difference.

Now that your patient has arrived, you need to ensure they get a warm welcome.

The welcome someone gets when they enter your psychology clinic is very important and it is imperative your patients know exactly where they need to go from the moment they walk in the front door.

Where possible within the design of your psychology practice construction you should locate your reception desk as close to the entry as you can so there is a direct go to point for any new patients. If this is not possible and patients need to navigate corridors in order to find your consulting suites clear signage is a must.

Once patients have been registered and are waiting for their appointment to commence they will want to be within a comfortable, inviting and safe space. There are a few easy ways to achieve this.

Something as simple as colourful artwork and tranquil music can be a welcome distraction for patients who may be feeling anxious or stressed while they wait, as can access to reading material based around your services. By providing patients, especially new ones, with brochures on what you do it can put some minds at ease as you are giving them almost a heads up of what to expect in their initial appointment.

When it comes to comfort, safety (not only for your patients but also for you and your staff) is crucial. In the instance a patient may become frustrated or aggressive you need to make sure everyone around them is as safe as possible.

Not only is this important in the waiting area but also in any consulting suites.

The right furniture is key and it is advisable that when it comes to things like coffee tables, the heavier the better in order to prevent anyone picking them up.

This also goes for seating. On the one hand you don’t want your patients chair to be so heavy they can’t move it around themselves in order to get comfortable but you also don’t want to provide something that can be lifted and potentially thrown easily.

Selecting seating with a sled base instead of legs is the first thing that you should consider when choosing seating for both waiting areas and consultation rooms and in some instances even the type of upholstery used may need to be altered to suit. Selecting soft furnishings are great for comfort but you also want to make sure they have been upholstered in a way that all seams are hidden and therefore patients do not have a chance to pick out any staples.

The above aspects can be carried on into your consulting rooms but there are a couple of additional things you may want to consider when locking in the floor pans of your psychology practice construction.

We always recommend the use of a duress system for any doctor who is going to be working alone with patients at any time.

There are a few different options when it comes to duress systems. Buttons can be installed at each desk for discreet activation or fobs/ pendants can be worn. This is simply piece of mind for staff members should a patient become aggressive during their appointment.

We believe it is especially important in an environment that uses ample acoustics. Just as we want patients to feel assured their conversations aren’t being heard by anyone outside we also want staff to feel safe in their own consultation room and that help will be available quickly should they ever need it.

The last thing we like to ensure is a part of any psychology practice construction is the installation of adjustable lighting. Some patients may like a light bright room, something that can also be achieved with natural light utilising windows (or skylights where windows are not available), whereas some may like the lights to be dimmed in order to create a peaceful atmosphere during their appointment.

As you can see these simple things can easily be included into your psychology practice construction, and by including them you are showing not only patients, but your staff that you are willing to take the extra step in order to give them the most positive experience possible.

Who would have thought back at the beginning of 2020 that we were soon to be thrown into a global pandemic.

Our worlds have definitely been thrown upside down and things that were completely foreign to most of us (especially here in Australia) such as wearing masks to the supermarket (and even while exercising outside) and social distancing have become a little too familiar and part of our daily routine. As we hear ourselves mutter keys, wallet, phone, mask each time we walk out the front door it is clear this is life for the time being.

So how has this pandemic changed the way we design for medical environments?

Design within the medical industry, especially within clinical waiting rooms, has definitely changed in the last 18 months. There was a time when we would see clinics trying to fit in as many waiting room chairs as possible but now with the introduction of mandatory social distancing the design of these spaces need to evolve to suit our new way of life.

Whether you have a small general practice, or are running a busy hospital, social distancing in order to reduce the spread of infection is going to be one of your main priorities.

Not only does social distancing work but it brings a sense of security and piece of mind when a patient walks into your clinic waiting room or hospital foyer to see that proper precautions have been put in place in order to keep everyone as safe as possible.

There are a number of ways you can ensure social distancing and good hygiene is happening within your clinic.

Signage – Clear signage can play a bigger role when it comes to social distancing than you might think.

When patients walk into your clinic’s waiting room the first thing they will instinctively do is head for the first reception desk they see. In a smaller clinic environment this is absolutely fine (and encouraged), but if you have multiple areas (all with their own reception) clear signage can reduce the risk of unnecessary congestion in the one area.

Screens –  One of your main priorities when it comes to your clinic’s waiting room is the health and safety of your staff. As your receptionists are dealing with patients face to face for up to 8 hours a day the installation of sneeze guards can provide a protective barrier, creating peace of mind for both staff and patients.

Furniture – The days of sitting on a couch next to another patient are a thing of the past (and I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing!).

These days people want to feel comfortable sitting down in the waiting room with space between them and the next person.

Of course this means less patients per area but it also means you can get creative with some bigger furniture pieces to really give your reception/ clinic waiting room that special feel.

Medical Grade Upholstery – Although it may cost a bit more to have your furniture upholstered in medical grade fabric and/or vinyl it is well worth the investment.

Not only are you safe-guarding your staff and patients from the transmission of germs that may end up on your clinic’s waiting room seating but you are also purchasing a durable material for your furniture that will last much longer than your run of the mill fabrics.

Outdoor Space – Utilising unused outdoor spaces can make a huge difference to both staff and patients who are able to move around the facility.

Rooms with balconies where possible can make a huge difference in someones stay, especially if they are restricted to one room.

Landscape gardening in spaces that otherwise don’t get much use can also be beneficial to the recovery of patients by giving them somewhere to go for a walk.

When it comes to clinic and waiting room design not only do we need to be thinking about the current situation but what could potentially come in the future and the design we use to today needs to have the ability to adapt.

Clinics by Design are proud to be the first Australian company to provide Passive House design and construction services for the Healthcare industry.

So what is Passive House design and how can it benefit you?

The concept of Passive House design originated in Europe around 30 years ago and is based around the idea that adopting a few key design principals can enable the construction of buildings, both residential and commercial, with healthy and dry indoor spaces that require little to no heating or cooling.

Passive House design has been adapted to suit different climates, which is perfect for Australia. In a country where our heating and cooling requirements change from state to state, due to severe differences in temperature depending on where you are, it is helpful to have the one system that can adapt and function in all climates.

The way Passive House design in achieved to its full potential is by following the five principals of Passive house:

1. Airtightness – This is the first principal used to achieve energy efficiency and involves the construction of a highly insulated floor slab, windows, exterior walls and roof. Although this can be seen as a challenge within the Australian medical environment in which we have automatic doors and promote open windows where possible in order to create a better atmosphere for patients, it doesn’t mean your clinic will be constructed as an air tight box. The difference is that when these windows and doors are closed there is absolutely no gap for cold or warm air to escape, therefore maintaining an ambient and comfortable environment.

2.Thermal Insulation – Proper thermal insulation is essential in Passive House design. Not only does thick and continuous insulation provide the crucial thermal separation between the heated or cooled inside environment and the outdoors but it also improves thermal comfort by reducing the risk of condensation.

3.Thermal Bridge Free Construction – As mentioned above thermal insulation is only beneficial if it is continuous. Continuous insulation means keeping unnecessary penetrations through the insulation to a minimum. Where penetrations are unavoidable low or non-conducting materials should be used. This avoids thermal bridges in which heat can escape and reduces the risk of condensation.

4.Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery – or MVHR is the process of improving indoor air quality without having to open windows or doors in order to get fresh air into the building. This doesn’t mean windows and doors can’t be opened, it means they don’t NEED to be opened to ensure your clinic has fresh air quality. This is something that can be beneficial within environments that are dealing with skin or more serious medical conditions and therefore want to keep the building free from outdoor pollutants where possible. Not only do MVHR systems help to clean the air from pollution and contribute in regulating humidity they also recover warm and cool air which would otherwise go to waste.

5.High Performance Windows – The correct windows play a huge role in Passive House design. By installing airtight, double or triple glazed windows throughout your clinic it will allow for solar radiation to warm up the interiors in winter but minimise the radiation in summer.

Passive House design offers a realistic, cost effective solution for an economical building. It provides a high level of comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.

In an age where energy prices are steadily growing and global warming is a considerable issue Passive House design is the logical way forward in Australian healthcare.

Buildings that implement the Passive House design principals use approximately 80% less energy than buildings of equivalent size while providing superior air quality and comfort, two extremely important factors in any healthcare setting.

If you would like to learn more about Passive House design and how it can benefit your next medical construction additional information can be found at www.nzeb.com.au or talk to our in-house Passive House Designer Kostas Stefanidis.