What does interior design have to do with the quality of medical care your patients receive and how can it affect positive patient outcomes? The design of your space contributes in tangible ways to the healing process. Through fostering trust, improving efficiency, and creating an environment that helps to lower stress, your patients will recieve extraordinary care. In this blog, we’ll share some of the principles that guide our health and wellness design process, to assist your practice in creating exceptional patient experiences.

Research shows that “satisfaction with the hospital environment is an important part of service quality. The physical environment is not a mere backdrop for healthcare delivery—it is an integral part of the hospital experience.” (Hathorn & Nanda, 2008)

Creating an environment that inspires trust

Set up your practice so that the first impression you make inspires trust when patients first walk through your door. The more patients trust your expertise, the more likely they are to follow your guidance.

Showcase your expertise and instill confidence in your brand. Consider what makes your practice unique, what are your focus areas or specialization and the impression you want your brand to create overall. Perhaps patients can learn about your practice or answer common questions through technology or signage placed in waiting areas and consult rooms.

Consider these design elements when building trust in your brand:

vinyl wall signage
lit signs
logo placements

Upgrading the design of your space signals to patients that your practice isn’t outdated. By renovating your space, patients will trust that your practice is also up to date on current scientific research. You can achieve this while maintaining the loyalty of long term patients, by upgrading your space in a way that embodies your brand.

Functional design for efficiency

When your practice functions efficiently, patients are affected in positive ways. A well functioning space supports clarity, time management and assists the flow of information. You can achieve this by carefully considering traffic and movement patterns to generate ease of movement flow through your space.

We also recommend custom built in storage to provide optimum use of the space, ease of accessibility to supplies, as well as style. Built in storage allows you to meet your specific needs while utilizing the space to its fullest potential.

Signage and lighting that directs wayfinding also contributes to efficiency by implementing clear instructions, reassuring patients and illuminating pathways. To accommodate aging patients with eye disorders, brighten fall risk areas like stairs and include guide lighting in patient rooms so they can see how to get to the restroom during the night.

Lastly, consider privacy and acoustics in waiting areas and rooms with multiple patients. Healthcare spaces tend to be busy places with a lot of activity going on. The more you furnish your space with privacy and sound control, the more patients will feel comfortable and relaxed in your care.

Consider traffic patterns
Incorporate wayfinding signage and lighting
Include closed built-in storage to hide junk and to utilize the space
Pay attention to privacy and acoustics

Empathic design

Designing your space from an empathic perspective means considering the patient experience in each area of your practice. Understanding how your patients feel, allows you to implement specific design elements that provide a more healing environment.

Utilizing materials and furnishings with a certain functionality is integral to the success of your practice, such as washability of surfaces, or a particular weight limit on chairs. However, you can accommodate functionality while also creating a space that is personable, comfortable and styled. Start with the essential pieces and add in texture, materials, paint colors, decor and artwork to build a more personable environment.

For example, if your walls are neutral, you can add an accent wall with a contrasting paint color to make the space more appealing.

Also consider the user experience of the products you integrate into your space. Many advancements have been made, with products being developed through a user-centered design approach. Especially products that allow the user to have some control, contribute to better patient outcomes. Dimmable lighting and temperature control in patient rooms are two simple ways to allow patients greater autonomy over their experience.

How do your patients feel?

If they are sad, utilize calm colors that are found in nature
If they are scared, incorporate soft - tactile materials
If they are tired, allow user control through dimmable lights

An elevated environment generates healing

Renovating your space can uplift how patients feel. The way it is designed can promote relaxation, achieve a sense of safety and provide points of interest. First, establish how you want patients to feel for greater clarity when you make design decisions.

Holistically designed spaces can increase the patients sense of wellbeing during their visit. Incorporating biophillic elements, such as plants and natural materials has a calming and rejuvenating effect. Living green walls or mindfully placed plants bring life to your space, while skylights allow additional natural light to soak in and elevate the atmosphere.

“Viewing plants during the recovery period had a positive influence linking directly to health outcomes of surgical patients. Patients in hospital rooms with plants and flowers had significantly more positive physiologic responses evidenced by lower systolic blood pressure, and lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue…” (Park & Mattson, 2009)

Adding certain types of artwork aids in the healing process. Additionally, artwork with positive or diverse messaging is another way to inspire your patients and create an inclusive space. Along with, select reading material and decorations, you can construct a cozy environment that sparks joy.

“Upali Nanda, who has a doctorate in architecture with a specialization in health-care systems and design, says scientific studies show that art can aid in the recovery of patients, shorten hospital stays and help manage pain.” (Kalter, 2009)

From the Mays clinic case study on the role of art:

Healing: Art makes patients and staff feel better.
Positive distraction: Art allows patients and visitors to focus on something other than their (and the surrounding people’s) condition.
Branding: Art improves the perception of care at the hospital and serves as an element that users identify with.
Deinstitutionalization: Art makes the hospital less intimidating.
De-stressor: Patients, visitors, and staff use favorite pieces of art to destress; this is particularly true for the staff.
Way-finding: Prominent pieces of art serve as landmarks for patients and visitors.
(Hathorn & Nanda, 2008)

Another way to promote healing through design is to apply color palettes for a specific purpose. Color palettes can be warm and inviting or intended to lower stress. They can also be youthful, modern or refined. Working with color is one of our favorite aspects of the design process.

Tailor the design to your community

Thoughtful design tailored to your community makes patients feel welcome and builds lasting relationships. Considering your local community shows that you understand your patients and your practice is set up to serve their needs. This can be achieved through style, color, space planning and how the space functions. For example, strategically placed technology that streams information has become popular in recent years.

As a commercial space, your practice contributes to a larger context of culture that your community exists within. Consider what makes your community unique and design for the culture of your target audience. While at the same time, pay attention to diversity and inclusion. We specialize in striking this balance for our clients and are committed to cultivating a sensitive and respectful space for the diverse populations you serve.

Design ideas to connect with your community:

An information table with community handouts such as LGBTQIA services. Or a Planned Parenthood, for example, might handout this list of organizations that need support or volunteers.
Cork-board with local arts information

Designing for your particular community promotes loyalty, helping you to better serve your patients. A well designed practice, transforms into a space that patients will feel good in and will want to come back to.

REFERENCES

Hathorn, K. & Nanda, U. (2008). A Guide to Evidence-based Art. The Center for Health Design.

Kalter, L. (2009). Artwork at hospitals can help in the healing process. [online article] Medicalxpress.com.

Park SH, Mattson RH. (2009). Ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms enhanced health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery. J Altern Complement Med. (9):975-80.