Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.
Issue link: https://mcdmag.epubxp.com/i/677235
Mitigate a challenging entrance A holistic design that accom- modates the patient's physi- cal and psychological needs contributes to a superior patient experience. If a patient starts their encounter with confusing or distant parking, has dif culty getting into the building or fi nding their way to their appointment, the staf is at an immediate disadvantage with an already agitated and dissatisfi ed patient. Many of ce buildings have a series of 3-foot-wide manual doors in the succession of a vestibule. Not only does a patient need to maneuver themselves and a walker or crutches through one heavy door, but also as they pro- ceed — another awaits. For a successful ambulatory care center, patients in wheelchairs or with walkers or crutches will require more than one 3-foot automatic entrance door activated by a paddle on the wall. The appropriate entrance design includes an enclosed vestibule with wide, sliding doors that automatically open by a motion sensor or a large revolving door solution. Either solution requires adjustment to the mechanical systems to keep the environ- ment in the vestibule or en- trance lobby at a comfortable temperature as the original de- sign likely never contemplated the number of door openings experienced in a healthcare occupancy. Alleviate patient wait times One of the most common complaints is patient wait time. Great advancements provide for ef cient patient throughput within the practice site. These new technologies and Lean design processes, however, are for naught if the fi rst experience a patient has is waiting a long time in a crowded elevator lobby. When considering an existing build- ing to retrofi t to an ambulatory care center, one must evaluate the elevator count, speed and cab size. For facilities that will have a high patient load for orthopedic and/or physical therapy services on an upper fl oor, a larger cab size is ideal. This type of attention to verti- cal circulation is important, as the original building use was probably not designed for this extensive and consistent fl ow of persons. One process technique often employed to create ef- fi ciencies is a centrally located registration area near the front door with both staf ed check- in stations and electronic kiosks. Does the building being considered accommodate this type of space? For patients who are smartphone and computer savvy, there is likely no hesitation with entering the required information at a kiosk and then waiting to be called for their appointment. For patients intimidated by the kiosk, staf should be stationed nearby to encourage and assist the use of this technology. The key to central registration is that it is central and occurs once during the patient visit. Requiring multiple registra- tions during that day's visits to multiple services in the build- ing is a substantial dissatisfi er for all age groups regardless of registration methodology. Creating warm, hospitable interiors Though a room's layout and the 3-D space created within is critical to consider, color and texture play a powerful role within a space. Selecting col- ors and materials of elements found in nature invokes a calm feeling for patients during what might be considered a stressful experience. By adding a bold accent color or mosaic tile to one wall, the space will seem more grounded and inviting to patients. The goal is to create a warm and hospi- table space, with comfortable furniture, interesting fi nishes of color, pattern and texture and warmly lit decorative lighting, so that patients feel at ease with their experience. Finally, consider the overall feel of the spaces within the building. Is the fl oorplate depth narrow enough and exterior glazing large enough to provide adequate natural light in all patient areas? Is the fl oor-to-fl oor height such that higher ceilings can be provid- ed in larger spaces like waiting rooms, a therapy gym or X-ray room? If a tenant of a leased building, will you have control of the fi nishes and signage in public spaces? Or, will patients struggle to navigate through a low-lit, beige lobby with mini- mal signage? There is much to consider when evaluating an existing building for a new ambulatory care center — all of which are important issues and potential challenges to overcome so that the most holistic building de- sign can be provided. Keeping the focus on the patient ex- perience is the key to success and high patient satisfaction. This includes providing a clear and convenient circulation path, seamless and friendly registration, ef cient patient throughput and an aestheti- cally pleasing environment. Tami Greene, AIA, NCARB, is an as- sociate and project manager with IKM Incorporated. Wood tones, decorative lighting and curved lines add to the design aesthetic in healthcare interiors. MCDM AG.COM | M AY/ J U N E 2016 | Medical Construction & Design 35