Going to the doctor is never pleasant, but it's something that everyone has to do at some point. About 39% of Americans attempt to put it off for as long as possible. They feel anxious when setting up an appointment. 

Your medical exam room has the power to ease their fear. You need a welcoming office design stocked with toys for children to play with and magazines for adults to read.

Hanging artwork and painting your walls a fun color can do a lot to make patients feel better about coming to the doctor as well. Continue reading to learn more. 

1. Make the Waiting Room Your Priority 

The idea of examination rooms can feel daunting. Putting a patient at ease starts with your waiting room. 

When a patient walks into a welcoming environment, it will make the rest of their appointment better. TVs and Wi-Fi will take the patient's mind off their impending examination and help them to relax. 

Spread the chairs in the waiting room out to give patients plenty of space. Hang artwork and provide toys for children to play with. Some people enjoy reading magazines while they wait too. 

2. Prevent Patient Traffic Jams

When it comes to medical office design, efficiency is key. Traffic jams are frustrating to patients. It will also make everyone's job harder. 

Create a circle. Patients should walk from the waiting room to the examination room one way and come out a different way when they leave. 

3. Consider Patient Privacy

HIPAA rules require patient information to stay confidential. It's for that reason that your doctor exam room needs to make patient privacy a priority. 

That means putting plenty of space between the reception desk and the waiting room. This will reduce the chance of someone catching a glimpse of another patient's records by accident. 

Patients in the waiting area shouldn't be able to see or hear those in the examination rooms. 

4. Think About Your Lighting Design

Fluorescent lights are outdated and not welcoming. In fact, they can increase a person's anxiety. 

Natural light is better in almost all instances. If you have no way of bringing in natural light, use LED bulbs.

They can brighten a space and are cheaper to maintain. They can also make your office space appear larger. 

5. Noise Pollution

Your medical office design should take noise pollution into account. Hearing cars honk and angry pedestrians can make a patient more nervous. You can block out the noise with plenty of insulation.

You should also consider soundproofing your examination rooms. This will ensure that a patient's information stays confidential. 

Creating a Better Medical Exam Room

It's no secret that people are afraid of going to the doctor. You can ease their anxiety with your medical exam room design. 

Creating a more welcoming environment by reducing noise pollution and preventing office traffic jams doesn't only create a better patient experience. It will also make your staff more productive. 

Are you ready to build a better exam room? Our team of professionals has completed over 1,000 construction projects. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for your medical office.