Over the last decade, it is evident that the delivery of healthcare has changed in Australia. Long gone is the idea that a converted residential home can provide an inspiring healthcare experience for patients and staff. Sporadically located, the converted medical practice is still identifiable but often they have had almost a complete overhaul, rather than simply removing the kitchen.
As a Healthcare provider, it is critical to deliver a welcoming, peaceful, clean and comfortable environment to ensure the patient has a good experience to ensure they return.
From experience, most of us at some point has made the decision to move on from a healthcare provider for some reason or another. It might be an overcrowded waiting room, outdated medical equipment or and ‘old feel’, the reason behind why patients move on. It only takes a patient to drive past a flashy new medical build that salivates a patients’ desire to move healthcare provider.
So if you are a healthcare provider and might be thinking about a healthcare fitout, – find yourself a healthcare builder and consider a few of these ideas:
Patient centered design for healthcare fitouts
If the delivery of effective and sound medical advise is the driving force behind investing in Healthcare construction and fit out then your intentions will be driven a patient centered design.
Partnering with healthcare interior design firms can be a good place to start. In practice, they will be healthcare design specialists that can lead you to a successful Patient Centered experience. The idea being that the environment supports the emotional, physical and psychological needs to patients.
Some ideas:
Natural light
access to abundant natural light has proven to have a healing effect on patients and can improve their mood.
Colours matter
Use calming colours, comfortable finishes, ambient lighting to promote a calm environment.
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Think about the Family and Caregivers
These days, Healthcare Interior Design firms ensure all Healthcare designs consider family members and Caregivers in the design phase.
Family Spaces
Ensure seating in waiting room enable family members to sit with patients. The support during waiting times is found to help patients stay calm.
Kid Spaces
It can be a good idea for child friendly healthcare providers consider children and their needs. This helps parents and other patient remain calm if children are occupied.
Intelligent Designed Consulting Rooms – ensuring each consulting room has all the ‘up to date’ technology and a well laid out room. Ensure there is additional seating for family members to promote emotional well-being.
Accessible with flow
Healthcare construction companies and healthcare design firms place a high importance on ensuring all patients have access to healthcare.
Access
Disabled access/wheelchair access is a primary concern during the design phase. Healthcare standards and regulations ensure all healthcare premises have disability access. Wider doors, wider hallways and ramps ensure access.
Universal Design
Most patient rooms are designed with a familiar layout and colour palette to ensure a universal feeling that enhances ease of navigation.
Clear signage
Smart ideas like using colour coded signage can help patients find their way with limited stress.
Quiet place
During the design phase healthcare construction companies will ensure that there will be a minimal amount of noise transmitted between spaces. Healthcare design specialists will ensure sound proofing is a primary focus as this helps to reduce stress.
Acoustic insulation
the use of sound-proof material like acoustic panels or mass-loaded vinyl will help limit the transmission of noise from one room to another. In turn this leads to a less chaotic environment and helps to reduce stress.
Double walls and Acoustic flooring
double walls with an air gap together with sound-proof plasterboard can act as a good noise absorber and will to limit noise between rooms. This helps to maintain patient privacy. Combine this with acoustic flooring ideas, rooms can maintain noise privacy.
Solid Doors and double glazing
using heavy solid core doors, windows with double glazing, hush glass in doors and windows will help to keep noise within a room. Patients in the next room do not wish to hear patients in a joining room.
Staff Centered work areas
Wellness rooms or breakout rooms are important for staff who become emotionally impacted with patient care. Ensuring that there is an area for staff to ‘breath’ is really important in staff wellbeing. Healthcare design specialists will always ensure staff well-being is a high priority. Staff are the first line of contact and its important they are well cared for.
Wellness room
comfortable break out areas with comfortable areas like recliner chairs and soft lighting can be an important room in a staff centered Healthcare provider.
Efficient Layouts
Ensure workstations and well laid out and most items are within arms-reach. This includes consult rooms and also reception areas. The use of ergonomic furniture like adjustable height desks, quality task chairs, anti-fatigue mats, furniture on wheels will help prevent injury and worker fatigue.
Are you ready?
If you wish to chat with a healthcare design specialist our team of designers are ready to take your call. As one of the leading healthcare interior design firms in Australia we will help you take your healthcare fit out and construction from start to finish. As Heathcare builders we are ready to chat – call one of our team on 03 9592 4655.
