Orthotown December 2017 - 29

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Details matter

Vital location

Things to consider in office planning starts with an
exterior design that best represents your brand. After all,
this will be the first thing a new patient will experience when
arriving. This includes signage, parking and the entrance
to the office. Does the outside reflect the same feel as the
interior of the office? As we all know, first impressions are
important and the exterior appearance is part of that.
Is the reception area welcoming and large enough to
accommodate the queue of patients to be seen? Of course,
the team members at the front desk are important in setting
first impressions, but making the waiting area comfortable
and entertaining will help set the right tone. There are
many creative ideas to occupy the waiting patient and any
accompanying persons. One of the more recent trends in
waiting areas are cellphone charging stations. Why not top
off your charge before seeing doctor?
If your facility is large enough to have dedicated consultation
room(s), make sure it is sized adequately for the patient, guests
and the doctor. Having a comfortable exam chair in the room
will help facilitate the consultation and reduce patient anxiety.
Details of the treatment plan can be discussed with decision
makers without distractions-and quietly. If your office is not
large enough to allow for a dedicated space, then designate a
specific treatment bay as a consultation spot. In this case, be
sure it is in a location where the doctor can speak privately
and that the bay has equipment necessary to display images
to discuss treatment plans.

The treatment area is probably the most important
location to promote office efficiency. In lean manufacturing
terms, this is the most "value-added" area of the practice.
The operatory and adjacent areas need to be laid out to
minimize wasted movement by the doctor and team. To do
this, space treatment chairs approximately seven feet apart
with privacy screens between locations. Chair-side delivery
carts should be sufficiently stocked with treatment items to
handle the daily patient load. If this is not possible, then
make sure supply inventory is stored nearby and organized
to minimize the need to search for items.
Stools used by the doctor and staff should be ergonomic
to reduce fatigue and prevent injury. Often overlooked, the
comfort and stability of doctor and assistant seating has
become an important topic when selecting equipment for
the operatory. Be sure to purchase equipment and cabinets
that provide many years of trouble-free service. Unnecessary
equipment downtime can be disruptive and costly. When
evaluating equipment, the doctor needs to consider the
long-term product reliability, post-sales support and overall
performance of the product to be purchased.
A recent feature being designed into the treatment area
is a discrete location for the doctor to access their computer,
speak with a staff member or handle any HIPAA-related
documentation. Sometimes referred as a "perch" it serves as
a satellite of their primary office and eliminates the need to
frequently go to their primary office to handle routine activities.

DECEMBER 2017 // orthotown.com
http://www.orthotown.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown December 2017
