Your customer care and skill sets tend to be the most important considerations you make when you open up your medical practice. However, studies have shown that how the medical practice looks can also be a defining factor. This is because it’s known to have an influence on your patient health, the morale of your staff and efficiency of how the practice works.
Considering all these benefits, how your practice looks should be something you should look into when you’re opening your medical practice. The health of your patients should be your number one priority and the design of your practice can contribute to this.
How does interior design boost morale in medical practices?
Medical practices are renowned to have a dull and sterile decor. However, in modern times practices are beginning to realise the importance of interior design to patient health. Now, we’re beginning to see brighter colour schemes and more consideration taken in furniture and decor choices.
Modern designs are starting to provide an open space for patients to wait, more comfortable seating through designer furniture for patients to wait on and an area for children to play in whilst they wait to prevent boredom. Additional space has managed to decrease complaint levels, reduce noise pollution and prevented cross-infection of patients. There also appears to be a direct correlation between the trust that patients have with the practice against how it looks.
Similarly, patient morale appeared to be higher when more effort was put into interior design of wards. This is because patients felt more relaxed and comfortable whilst waiting in the patient area before their appointment. It also decreased anxiety levels for patients, increasing patient care and health in general.
Plants
As well as the practice having furniture for comfort, the presence of plants around the practice have also impacted stress levels and ‘reduced the time necessary to heal’. Shrubs, trees and flowers are just some of the additional features that can be included in medical practices.
Influence of interior design on the sale of practices
You may be considering moving on from your existing practice for whatever reason but be sure to understand that your current property still holds value. When it’s kept well-maintained this can add value to your practice and potentially go for more funds than you anticipated. With this in mind, you should keep your practice appealing on the outside and on the inside.
Final thoughts
There has been little research to suggest interior design has a major impact on recovery time for patients, but more modern designs have still been influential with other crucial aspects of the medical practice. Invest time into your interior design and you’re likely to see positive results from this.
