Waiting in a doctor’s
office is one of life’s small annoyances, and the problem isn’t going away
anytime soon. However, design can make the endless waiting a lot more
tolerable.
There are six ways of
dramatically improving waiting rooms…
Comfortable seating: Waiting when you’re sick is bad enough, and
waiting in an uncomfortable chair is even worse. Movable armrests and seating
pads with various amounts of cushion let people create their own comfortable
little space. Planters can keep the air feeling fresh and displays at the end
of each bench can tell patients how long they’ll be waiting.
Manageable queues: Queue management displays in waiting rooms
make people feel physically tied to one spot. A better idea would be to feature
wait-time displays prominently in multiple places and not just over the central
counter.
Clear medical records: Digital records are going more and more
digital as the years go by. Another low-tech alternative can be for patients to
store their medications and appointment dates in paper wallets that can be
thrown in a purse or back pocket and carted easily to the doctor’s office.
Healthy food: It’s always shocking and a bit depressing to see vending machines full
of chips, chocolates and fizzy drinks in a medical clinic. Encourage healthy
living by finding a vending machine that is stocked with nutritious snacks, or
get a water dispenser.
Welcoming signage: Doctors’ waiting rooms can sometimes feel
terribly impersonal. It is recommended that welcome boards be introduced so the
doctors on duty can post information about healthy activities, etc.
Communal space: Communal tables can help reduce anxiety in a
waiting room. Some people like their privacy when they’re sick, but then again
if you are with your family a large table would make sense.
Use these tips to better
design your waiting room and reduce patients anxiety while thy wait.
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