During these times, medical offices and facilities are busier than ever before. The coronavirus pandemic has frontline healthcare workers’ schedules full seeing to the medical needs of countless patients.
Because of the volume of people that regularly come in daily, some facilities have already outgrown their space and are in dire need of renovation.
In 2016, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) conducted a survey and found that over half of the respondents said they made several improvements and updates in their medical facilities and clinics.
Improvements and updates to medical offices are no longer a luxury but a necessity because these things are vital to the business’ growth. But how does one know if they need to get in touch with a medical office contractor for a makeover?
Three categories that determine a makeover
Typically, the need for a renovation in a medical office is determined by three categories: space, appearance, and productivity.
Space
As mentioned, hospitals and clinics are operating at capacity. Patients and their companies no longer have any space to wait for their turn because reception areas are always full. A lot of them stand outside or wait in the car because of the lack of space.
If you were the patient, how do you think you would feel? Would you be satisfied with the overall experience? What do you think a patient’s impression of you would be if they are greeted with this kind of scenario?
If you’re already at this point in your practice, perhaps you need to consider making some adjustments to your space to better serve your patients and make it as convenient to them as possible.
Productivity
Sometimes, the reason for a makeover is the overall functionality of the space. Poor spatial planning and accessibility affect the way a business runs. If your workplace isn’t as organized and zoned well according to function, you might need to bring in a contractor to help you improve your productivity.
Appearance
Among the three categories, appearance is the least priority. But that’s not to say that it isn’t an important aspect that contributes to a patient’s overall experience in your clinic. While it may be the least priority, the need to freshen your facility’s aesthetics, especially the reception or waiting area, is still one of the catalysts of a renovation project.
In most cases, doctors aren’t truly aware of the concerns in the waiting area because they rarely see it. This is because most clinics and medical offices have a separate entrance for the doctors and staff, thus the disconnect.
When doctors spend time in the reception area, they immediately are able to identify some of the aesthetic problems in their clinics. If they haven’t seen their waiting area for some time, they need to set aside time to sit down in the room, put themselves in the patient’s shoes, and ask themselves if this is where they would want to spend time to wait and see the doctor.
Identify the changes that need to be made and execute the project
Once you determine that your practice is in dire need of a makeover, you now need to identify which changes need to be done. Is there a need to break down a wall to add to your waiting area? What types of furniture do you need to purchase to give it an updated look? Will you still stick with carpet for flooring or are you going for tiles? Do you need to install more windows or some skylights to add more natural lighting?
These and some others are the things you need to think about. If you’re uncertain how to go about the execution of the project, talk to at least a couple of contractors and ask for their opinions and recommendations.
It doesn’t need to be an extravagant or luxurious makeover. Keep in mind that your goal is to make your patients’ and visitors’ overall experience a pleasant and comfortable one.
