Space is often at a premium for private practices, ambulatory care centers, and clinics. Optimizing clinical rooms is crucial to greater efficiency in patient care, especially as people seek more elective services. And just as “time is money,” so is space. Making the most out of your procedural and waiting rooms can ultimately help reduce costs — savings you can pass on to the patients.
Here are some strategies to consider:
Implement modular design
In recent years, healthcare facilities have needed to accommodate higher foot traffic and respond to emerging diseases. Modular design, which allows spaces to adapt to changing needs, became ever more important. It also reflected the industry’s shift toward person-centered, on-demand care, rather than siloed departments or cookie-cutter services.
By using interchangeable components, such as walls, doors, and windows, the layout of clinical rooms can be quickly reconfigured without requiring major construction.
This also helps save space and improve staff efficiency. Research by Haworth found that many nurses are concerned about shrinking square footage and its impact on their work (PDF). Rather than wasting time and energy moving patients or equipment, caregivers can accommodate varying needs with modular layouts.
Of course, modular design isn’t just for the rooms. Patient seating can also be modular so it can adapt to consultations, procedures, recovery — whatever the patient needs. For example, Champion’s Vero is a modular clinical recliner with swing-away panels and a fully adjustable back.
Use multi-functional clinical furniture
Furniture that serves multiple purposes can help save space in clinical rooms. For example, exam tables with built-in storage can eliminate the need for separate cabinets. Adjustable heights allow them to accommodate various procedures, as well as ergonomic needs.
Whether patients are seated or supine, they deserve to be as comfortable as possible. Traditional clinical furniture is single-purpose: procedure chairs or exam tables are separate from recovery chairs or beds. Often, it’s designed to facilitate the procedure, with patient comfort as an afterthought.
Multi-functional, modern patient seating supports both comfort and efficiency:
- By saving space, it reduces clutter and creates a more pleasing environment.
- It’s suited to a variety of needs, which helps it accommodate diverse bodies and patient preferences.
- It helps medical professionals save time, so they can focus more on providing care.
Champion’s TransMotion series offers a perfect example of multi-purpose clinical furniture. These innovative stretcher-chairs pull triple duty: patient transport, examination and procedures, and recovery. As a bonus, they take up drastically less space in their seated position than a traditional stretcher or exam table would.
Take a digital approach to records and services
Implementing electronic medical records (EMRs) can reduce the need for physical storage space. By digitizing records, healthcare providers can access patient data instantly, saving time and frustration.
EMRs may also help improve patient care as it’s easier to validate and track their documents. Plus, staff can access digital records at multiple touchpoints, which makes them a great complement to modular healthcare facility design.
EMRs also make it easier to implement telehealth services, which allow healthcare providers to offer consultations and exams to patients remotely. Telehealth reduces the demand for physical clinical rooms, freeing up that space for patients and procedures that absolutely must be done in person.
Champion Helps Optimize Healthcare Spaces
By implementing these strategies, healthcare providers can optimize clinical rooms and save space, ultimately improving patient care and reducing their costs. Multi-purpose clinical furniture supports modular design — and more importantly, patient comfort.
Browse Champion’s collections of versatile, person-centric patient seating solutions.
