Jan 31, 2025
April 19, 2024 - Arminco Inc.
Studies have shown that 33% of Americans are reluctant to visit their doctor. Medical hesitancy is a serious issue that kills thousands each year. However, it doesn't have to be this way.
Bringing patients in is a matter of making medical care more appealing to them. Unfortunately, a lot of this can't be addressed on the individual level, but that doesn't mean you can't change anything. You could improve your medical office design.
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes. We'll talk about a few of our decorating and redesign options for your office here.
People associate medical offices with negative emotions, such as anxiety or stress. This is understandable, seeing as you're there for medical care, and there's always at least a tiny possibility of bad news. Even in low-pressure situations such as annual checkups, the last thing anyone needs is an uncomfortable chair.
Your office furniture should be comfortable, but professional. Pod chairs or most office chairs work. These chairs are well-padded and comfortable, so you don't have to worry about your customers getting hurt by them.
We are complex creatures, and our emotions change for many different reasons throughout the day. Adding a few windows to a room can have a big impact on our mood. This is because sunlight causes our brains to release serotonin.
The bright, yellowish sunlight is also a perfect contrast to office lighting that's often used in medical settings.
Natural light gives you the opportunity to add plants to your office. The natural green and unchanging nature of plants helps people feel calmer and happier.
Plants have also been found to have a healing effect. Research has shown that people around plants tend to recover from illness and injuries faster. The exact reason for this is unknown, although it might have something to do with the calming properties of plants.
A common complaint of waiting rooms and doctors' offices is that they're impersonal and off-putting. They're often sterile, white, and somewhat frightening.
The bright white is useful in offices and halls because it helps those with bad eyesight distinguish objects more clearly. However, those with poor eyesight hopefully have glasses, and there should be measures in place to prevent accidents. Feel free to add some bright blue or green paint.
You might also try hanging up art to lighten the mood. Be careful with the art you choose, though. Something darker or more somber isn't going to improve the patient experience.
A more patient-friendly medical office design could benefit you greatly in the long run. We've discussed a few ways to spruce up your medical office here, but you can find more by reading our blog.
If you like the idea of an office remodel, but aren't sure how to make it happen, we can help. We've been in the business of designing medical facilities for nearly twenty years. Feel free to read more about us before committing to anything.