Are you looking for ways to improve patient health outcomes that don’t involve medical treatment?
You’re not alone.
Most facilities are entirely consumed by patient care. Once they leave the doctor’s office, they forget patients have other needs.
But what most providers don’t realise…
Your facility’s physical environment drastically affects patient wellbeing.
Changing your healthcare environment can reduce patient anxiety, boost happiness, and even improve recovery times. Best of all, it doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How Healthcare Spaces Affect Patient Outcomes
- How Furniture Impacts Your Waiting Room Experience
- 3 Environmental Changes That’ll Instantly Improve Your Healthcare Space
- What to Look for in Healthcare Furniture
How Healthcare Spaces Affect Patient Outcomes
The spaces you provide for patient care are already stressful.
Patients are sitting in a waiting room worried about their health. Uncertain what’s going to happen next.
Then they sit in uncomfortable chairs that distract them from whatever is happening.
This causes a chain reaction that most providers don’t even think about.
Studies have proven what many of us already know…
The environment directly contributes to patient stress levels. Spaces that are well thought out lower blood pressure and keep anxiety at bay. Some studies even suggest comfortable spaces reduce patients’ reliance on pain medication.
Research shows that 30% of patients left a medical appointment because of long wait times. When you throw uncomfortable seating into that equation, patients are much less likely to stick around.
Patients form an opinion about your facility the second they walk in your waiting room. Make a bad first impression and you risk losing them before you even see them.
Investing in your clinic waiting room furniture is one of the easiest ways to increase patient satisfaction. If you have comfortable chairs in your waiting room, patients will know you care about their comfort upon entering your facility.
How Furniture Impacts Your Waiting Room Experience
Have you ever underestimated the power of design?
Allow me to explain with a story…
Let’s say you have two patients that both waited 20 minutes for their appointment. Patient A sits in a room with natural lighting and comfortable chairs. Patient B sits in a room with fluorescent lights and hard plastic chairs.
Who do you think will have a better overall experience?
Patient A. Both patients waited exactly the same amount of time. But because one space was clearly designed with comfort in mind, they perceived their wait time to be shorter.
It doesn’t stop there either…
Researchers also found that patients in comfortable environments experienced less anxiety. When patients aren’t worried about their surroundings, they listen better to medical professionals and take better care of themselves after they leave.
Who knew something as simple as furniture could make that much of a difference? Gone are the days where you could get away with having metal crutches for chairs.
Your waiting room sets the tone for your entire practice. If you want your patients to feel relaxed and at ease, start with your waiting room.
3 Environmental Changes That’ll Instantly Improve Your Healthcare Space
You don’t need to remodel your entire waiting room to see results.
Simple changes can have big impacts when you know what you’re looking for.
Invest in Comfortable Chairs
Let’s address the glaring issue we mentioned earlier.
Cheap plastic chairs are never the answer. No matter how nice your waiting room looks, your patients are going to hate sitting in your waiting area.
Comfortable chairs should have the following:
- Proper lumbar support for patients sitting for long periods of time.
- Arm rests that allow patients to push up when standing.
- Varying seat heights to accommodate every type of body.
- Durability. Your chairs will be sat in and sat on all day.
You’ll also want to have multiple seating options available. Some patients will prefer tighter arm rests while others will look for more leg room. By providing a variety you let your patients take control of their surroundings.
Create a Welcoming Atmosphere with Lighting
Nobody likes sitting in a room full of fluorescent lights.
It gives off the vibe that you’re sitting in a prison cell rather than a doctors office.
If you have windows, let the mother nature help you out. Natural lighting is the best way to keep your patients calm and your mood regulated.
If that’s not an option, opt for warmer lighting options.
Reduce Noise
On any given day, your facility is probably bombarded with unnecessary noise.
Phones ringing. Medical equipment beeping. Staff talking loudly throughout the office.
Noise pollution can have a major impact on your patient’s stress levels. A lot of times, they notice it more than you think.
Try to sound proof your waiting room with absorber walls and ceiling. If that’s not an option, try throwing some carpet or acoustic panels up.
Add Plants and Distractions
Little touches go a long way.
Having plants in your waiting room and posters on the wall mentally prepare your patients for the appointment ahead.
Studies show that within 90 seconds of arriving at your waiting room, patients have already formed an opinion.
Throw some nature paintings and plants anywhere you can. It immediately takes the stress away.
Waiting rooms are hard because there’s nothing for your patients to do. Consider filling your walls with TV’s that have calming shows. If you can keep your patients entertained, they won’t think about the time they’re spending sitting in your waiting room.
What to Look for in Healthcare Furniture
Comfortable chairs and decorations aren’t the only thing you should consider.
Here are some other factors to consider when sprucing up your waiting room.
Durability is key.
Remember, you’re going to be using this furniture every day. Don’t buy cheap furniture that will fall apart in a month.
Make sure you look at how easily it can be cleaned. Can you easily wipe down the materials? Are they prone to stains?
Comfort is important, too.
As we mentioned before, people are going to be sitting on this furniture for hours at a time. Make sure you can accommodate every type of person that walks through your door.
- Will patients with bad backs be comfortable?
- Can your chairs support overweight patients?
- Is there enough room for someone in a wheelchair to navigate your chairs?
Don’t forget about disabled and elderly patients. Installing chairs with arms can help support patients when standing. Make sure you leave enough room between chairs for wheelchairs to move.
How will you clean these chairs?
Let’s face it. Medical offices are germ heaven.
Make sure you look at how difficult it will be to clean your chairs. Can you run them through the sanitize cycle in your dishwasher?
Colour and design matter, too.
If your chairs look like they’ve been here for the past 30 years, patients will assume your office doesn’t care about them.
Everything you put in your healthcare space should project welcoming and comforting energies.
Wrapping Things Up
Environmental factors have a larger impact on patient health outcomes than you think.
From lowering blood pressure to reducing anxiety, small changes can equal big impacts.
According to recent data, 80% of healthcare consumers will go to another provider if they experience one bad healthcare experience. If your furniture and environment is awful, patients will never come back.
Remember…
You can spend every waking hour perfecting how you interact with your patients. But if they walk into your waiting room and receive an unpleasant experience, they’ll never hear you.
Walk through your waiting room right now. What turns you away from your competitor’s space? Improve on those weaknesses and watch your patient happiness soar.