Patient-focused healthcare design and aesthetics

Once an afterthought, healthcare design and aesthetics are important considerations for your practice. Medical office design contributes to patients’ positive impressions of your practice. Well-designed medical offices and clinics have been shown to attract and retain patients, positively affect the patient’s overall experience, and even improve patient outcomes.

Concentrate on five patient-focused medical office design elements that have a great impact on your practice and patients.

1. Lighting
   Light is an important part of healthcare design and aesthetics. The general rule for waiting rooms and patient rooms is to allow in as much natural light as possible. Sunlight helps calm patients and boosts their mood. In waiting areas, the addition of warm light further creates a welcoming, calming environment for patients. In clinic spaces, additional lighting, such as overhead white lights, is often required for visual tasks. In this setting, a combination of natural or warm lights, along with white light, is your best bet. Consider overhead lights with sun-mimicking LED bulbs, which better simulate the warmth of natural light, while also providing the visual acuity necessary for your practice.
2. Nature
   Studies have tied improved patient outcomes to exposure to nature. If you have a view of a green space outside your waiting room or clinic windows, make those views accessible. If not, adding plants to your rooms can have a positive impact. Even artwork with nature scenes has been shown to have a calming effect on patients and can play an important role in healthcare design and aesthetics.
3. Artwork
   Nature artwork isn’t the only part of your medical office design that benefits a patient’s experience. Wall art, as well as sculpture, can provide a pleasant distraction that reduces stress. Consider both your waiting areas and clinic spaces, and keep in mind that your artwork should feature clean lines and soothing images.
4. Color
   Your medical office design should be centered around soothing, neutral colors. This is particularly true for the clinic rooms. Waiting rooms can be slightly stronger hues, but should still be warm, calming colors.
5. Ease of Use
   Your medical office design needs to not just be aesthetically pleasing, but also easy to use. Making it simple for your patients to find the office and navigate the space makes them feel comfortable. Feeling uncertain or confused will frustrate your patients and add stress to their visit. Simple signage and clear paths create a positive first and last impression for patients.

Let’s talk medical office design elements

Incorporating welcoming, approachable healthcare design and aesthetics into your medical offices will reap benefits for your patients and your practice. For more information about healthcare design and aesthetics as part of the overall patient experience, contact Catalyst Healthcare Marketing.