Creating A Calm Space For Patients

Any medical waiting room will have a mix of feelings. Some people will be excited to hear the news, while others will be nervous and upset. It is a space where a lot of big emotions sit, and if the waiting room, hallways and even the bathroom are designed with that in mind, it can make the experience worse. 

If your waiting room needs to be updated, cold, worn down or generally not comfortable, not only will people have a poor experience there, but they might choose to switch providers. 

Photo by Copernico on Unsplash

Don’t let a bad waiting room experience impact your patient care – instead, create an environment that is soothing. If a quick glance around your waiting room gives you the feeling you wouldn’t like to be there, or it isn’t welcoming or calming at all, here are some changes that you can make. 

Reading

It is often the case that people will skim through magazines and books in the waiting room rather than read them – but they offer a good distraction for those who need them. The waiting room is a good place for leaflets about specific illnesses, diseases, care and support. 

During the time in the waiting room, give your patients what they need to fill up their time – but always make sure that they are up to date – no one likes old magazines. 

Tidy and Clean

When you don’t feel well or are waiting for what might be life-changing news – or just waiting to get your teeth cleaned, being surrounded by dust and clutter can make the process feel much worse.

Anywhere people need to sit in a medical location should always be clean and tidy – make sure that you have professional cleaners in every day and have a deep clean schedule too. 

Music & Tech

Technology like having digital notifications can make both the receptionist’s and the patient’s life much easier. The information is there for the patient to see, and if they have follow-up questions, they can ask them.

Sitting in silence is something only some are comfortable with; finding free office music can be great for having something in the background of the waiting room. You can create playlists that are soft and gentle so that they aren’t happy or sad – but soothing instead. 

If you can offer Wi-Fi, it can help parents keep children entertained or allow people to tune out if they want to until their appointment. There is a lot of anxiety that goes with medical and dental offices, and these can help to reduce it. 

Colors

Colors have a huge impact on how we think and feel, and sometimes though well-meaning, the waiting room can be too bold and bright and make people feel fidgety. The most calming and soothing colors are soft lavenders, pale blues and green. Another color to add in is greenery from plants. Even fake plants can have a positive impact on how people feel and act.

If you don’t have the time or the staff to make sure that real plants are watered, opt for some high-quality fake plants

Artwork

If you want to avoid having magazines around, and TV is something that doesn’t really fit with the aesthetic you want to create – then consider adding artwork to the walls (that is not associated with illness). Let pamphlets do the talking on anything serious, and give the people in your waiting room something to look at that is nice for a while.

And something that should always be a priority when it comes to your patients and those who work in the office should be the air quality: 10 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Workplace – RVCJ Media

The post Creating A Calm Space For Patients appeared first on RVCJ Media.

from RVCJ Media https://ift.tt/jJ9fusU