The idea of ‘open plan design’ refers to a layout where physical barriers are kept to a minimum. Over time we have seen the domestic home be designed as ‘open plan’, then it was introduced in new schools – now in the 2020’s, we see this idea rolling out in the medical arena.
In this article we will delve into the ideas behind why medical clinic design is now favoring the open plan layout.
Personalised Interiors:
Investors and owners nowadays are better educated. With the introduction of the internet and google, stakeholders are now more informed and better prepared for what they wish to be the outcome. Through simply searching topics like ‘healthcare facility design’ or ‘medical clinic architecture’ an enormous amount of information will be available. At the touch of the button there will be case studies, medical clinic photos and medical clinic design layouts to sift through to get ideas and stimulate a dream.
Increasingly stakeholders are looking for design ideas to differentiate their medical practice. Showing innovation in your medical centre design can show that you care about your patients’ health. Using intelligent branding ideas that reflect your practice can play a big role in resonating with patients. Unique colour schemes or bold artwork can help your practice to be memorable to patients.
Flexible open plan layouts:
One huge benefit of the open plan layout is the ability for the space to have flexible purpose. To reconfigure a space quickly and easily can benefit patients. Adding a portable barrier like a partition medical staff could easily perform simple patient tasks like mass immunisations. We saw this happen during covid in 2020 and 2021 with pop up medical facilities.
We find shared spaces are being used in hospital interior design also. The physiotherapist and the psychologist or any other allied health specialist can share desks and offices without issue. The only characteristic required for this to function as required is human respect for others. But the benefit of allied health working closely is to benefit the patient. Knowing what the patient is going through with other health specialists will promote understanding and compassion.
Aesthetics:
Open plan medical clinic designs encourage the use of natural light to flow through the entire premises. The removal of walls and doors enables light to be far-reaching. In a recent vet clinic design, one particular design idea was to bring the outside in. The idea was to ensure that any animal in the waiting room together with recovering animals to feel embraced in greenery in an attempt to sooth and create a relaxed environment.
Further open plan designs for hospital layout planning, or even the smaller medical clinic design can reduce costs ie electricity and heating using mother natures sun to help light and heat the premises. Traditional medical designs struggled with air-flow. The open design alleviates any stagnant air.
Staff benefits:
There are many operational benefits to open plan medical centre designs.
Improved workflow increases efficiencies. Open plan designs allow for better visibility and communication between staff. In turn this can help reduce delays and boost productivity. Traditional medical clinic architecture designs promoted isolated working environment with patient flow being affected.
Open plan healthcare facility design encourages staff to be accountable for their time. There is no hiding enhancing productivity.
Hip Pocket
Open plan designs can be helpful to your budget. Using modular furniture – the cost can be less hefty. With fewer walls, heating/cooling ducts, and doors can improve the overall cost of construction. As an example, we see hospital interior design using moveable partitions to separate areas. This can be a sensible solution enabling fast adjust times to pressing medical/patient needs.
Further with shared utilities ie each room does not require heating and cooling the overall running costs can also be reduced.
In short:
Open plan medical centre design is excellent for high through-put clinics like urgent care and bulk billed clinics wanting to increase productivity and patient flow. Accordingly, if you are considering an open plan design for your next medical clinic design be sure to engage a specialist medical design company.
