Continuing on from Friday’s post on “office design”, here are Lauri Ward’s tips for creating a positive impression on patients.
Lighting
- Go with LED lighting, which is full spectrum lighting.
- The office needs to be well lit for older patients. Most offices have either poor lighting or too harsh lighting. You need to find the balance.
- For table lamps, use a 3 way bulb instead of a 60 watt bulb.
- If you’re using standard overhead lighting, be careful that it doesn’t reflect off computer screens. This causes eye strain and headaches. Also, be sure to use black baffles.
- If you don’t have natural light in your office, up the wattage of your bulbs.
- Use Lutron dimmers instead of round dimmers. All overhead lighting should have dimmers.
- If you have a low ceiling, use recess lighting.
Window Treatments
- Never use curtains or vertical blinds.
Flooring
- Older patients feel more secure on carpet.
- According to the National Building Association, carpets really help with an older person’s perception of a corporate location.
- Flor.com carpets are perfect for audiology clinics.
Fabrics
- Make sure they’re clean and not worn out.
- Ultra Suede is a good fabric to use.
- Solid colors make the space look bigger; patterns make it look smaller.
- Use commercial grade fabric on seating.
- Make sure that all seating is uniform in color.
Furniture
- Always choose rounded corners for tables. They offer good Feng Shui and make people feel more comfortable in the environment.
- Provide sufficient seating for patients and family members but don’t overcrowd the waiting room with furniture.
- Keep in mind that people prefer to have their own seat. Opt for individual chairs rather than sofas that require sharing.
- A u-shaped seating area is ideal.