Is your doctor's office a blast from the past?

Believe it or not, the way your doctor's office looks matters to your patients. If you're going to instill a sense of trust and calm in your office, you need to think about redesigning it with current trends in mind.

Doctors who don't have a knack for design might not know when it's time for an overhaul. Today, we're going to tell you 4 warning signs that it's time for a new doctor office design.

No one said redesigning a doctor's office would be easy, but it starts with knowing what not to do. Keep reading and keep an eye out for these signs.

1. The Layout Doesn't Work

One of the keys to any medical office is flow. You know it's time for a doctor office remodel when the efficiency of your office is being affected by a lack of flow between rooms. 

Not only does poor flow confuse your patients, but it irritates your staff because it makes their jobs more difficult. When you're remodeling a doctor's office, think long and hard about the pathways between the rooms so that they make sense. Consult your staff about the best layout for their needs, as well as the patient's needs.

2. Drab Waiting Room

When your waiting room is dull and actively depressing, it won't entice patients to come back again and again. It's easy to forget to update your waiting room because it's not something you or your staff utilize on a daily basis.

The thing is, your waiting room is the easiest part of the office to modernize. Try to create some positive vibes in the waiting room, whether it's with decor or entertainment. The more that your patients can forget they're at the doctor's office, the better.

3. Communication Is Difficult

Is it difficult for your staff to communicate with one another? If your practice has grown over the years, there's a good chance that you've hired more staff to keep up with the workload. When you have more staff, you need to create more space for them to work efficiently.

No staff member should have to go to the other side of the practice to talk to another staff member. When you're doing a doctor office makeover, think about which staff members communicate with each other, as well as how you should be organizing equipment and supplies that they need access to.

4. No Privacy

A good way to save money in doctor office design is to create a more open-concept clinic. An open concept utilizes room dividers in lieu of separate rooms, but doing so really sacrifices the privacy of your patients.

People don't really want other patients to hear about their medical issues. Insert more private spaces in your office and you'll have happier patients.

Don't Underestimate the Impact of Doctor Office Design

It might not be your main priority as a doctor, but doctor office design matters to your staff and your patients. If any of these warning signs apply to your practice, it's time to start thinking about a remodel.

Are you a bit lost when it comes to designing a doctor's office? Arminco Inc. is a premier dental, medical, and veterinary office designer, so we can help take your office from outdated to forward-thinking. Contact us today to discuss your doctor office design needs.