There are over 860.4 million visits made each year to a doctor’s office. People base a lot of their medical visits on things such as wait times, the bedside manner of the doctor, and the friendliness of the reception staff. However, there’s one area that many offices may not pay as much attention to, the doctor’s office waiting room design.
When a patient walks into the doctor’s office waiting room, they know they will be spending a good amount of time there. Most don’t look forward to the long wait, and who can blame them? There are things that a well-done waiting room design can do to help make the time spent a little more palatable.
Continue reading for 5 tips on how to design a doctor’s office waiting room.
1. Space to Maneuver
Recognizing the importance of a well-designed waiting room starts by making sure there is enough space for everyone to maneuver. If you frequently see patients who need wheelchairs or mothers with small children in strollers, allowing room for them to get through your waiting room is important.
Moving chairs up against walls and adding spaces between groups of chairs can allow for better maneuverability. You can search through these medical offices designs for ideas.
2. Offer Perks
Many people worry about bringing food or drink into a doctor’s office, so they don’t bring anything with them. On days with longer-than-usual wait times, having access to cold bottles of water, a coffee station, and healthy snacks can make a difference to irritated patients.
3. Comfortable Seating
Hard straight-backed chairs should be a thing of the past. When you aren’t feeling well or are anxious or nervous to see a doctor, being able to sit comfortably in a chair or on a couch can help boost morale. Find a fabric that can be maintained without a lot of effort.
4. Children’s Play Area
If your office serves lots of children, having a separate area where they can play is helpful for parents. Bright waiting room colors and recognizable references to common pop-culture shows can help children feel comfortable.
Add in seating for parents, cleanable toys, and a television to play movies will help the wait time to pass quickly.
5. Entertainment
While many doctor’s offices have stacks of magazines, they tend to be geared towards medical journals or popular gossip. If you have a high population of seniors who use your office try adding in some crossword puzzles, and travel or gardening magazines.
Provide some handheld electronic games that those of a younger age can check out.
Update the Design of Your Doctor’s Office Waiting Room
While it may seem like a daunting task to completely overhaul your doctor’s office waiting room, many of these tips can be implemented one at a time. Subscribing to new magazines, moving around chairs, and creating an area for refreshments will add that new charm to an old space and keep your patients and their reviews positive.
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