The ACA is changing interior design trends in the Medical industry.
Many interior designers see healthcare as the less interesting side of the design world, but the importance of interior design for medical facilities cannot be understated. And with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, designers must be able to adapt to the changing circumstances of the healthcare industry. The ACA reimburses healthcare providers for outcomes (patient satisfaction, fewer readmissions) instead of services rendered, which means design that improves the patient experience has never been more important. Here are just a few of the growing trends in healthcare interior design practices.
Outpatient Care
The ACA has encouraged the building of smaller ambulatory care centers. These facilities are often better equipped to handle low acuity patients due to their cheaper, more convenient cost of construction and operation. This will also mean that inpatient hospitals will need to accommodate more acute cases. Hospital rooms will have to find ways to carefully balance privacy and family needs with caregivers’ ability to to monitor patients.
Rethinking Hospitality
Healthcare design is no longer about making spaces that resemble a hotel. The focus is instead shifting toward personalization, service and interaction with staff. Healthcare interiors should strive to reduce wait times and put patients at ease, but they should also feel less harsh and clinical. Custom casework can contribute to building a warmer patient environment.
Workplace Design
For physicians and nurses, a healthcare facility is their workplace. It’s essential for modern hospitals to have office layouts and conference rooms that foster collaboration. Many facilities are also integrating their medical research wings with that of outpatient care, creating spaces that allow patients and researchers to intermix.
Flexibility and Nature
Medical technology and procedures are always evolving, and healthcare environments need to be able to adapt quickly. Prefabricated, standardized construction modules that are cheaper, faster, and safer to install are an increasingly popular option for healthcare facilities. Research has also indicated that nature and daylight are the keys to putting patients at ease and accelerating the healing process. More healthcare providers are finding the value of an integrated landscape and patient view.
Medical & Healthcare Furniture from Edwards & Hill
Need help choosing the right medical and healthcare furniture for your facility? Edwards & Hill can help you plan and install. Edwards and Hill is a leading office furniture supply and installation firm, able to install one cubicle with its applicable furnishings and computer hardware, yet equally adept at installing hundreds of cubicles, performing office relocation and reconfiguration services, including workstations, multiple offices, chairs, filing cabinets, and more. If you’re interested in talking to a professional about any of our services contact us at 301-317-4250. 1