Recently, major advances have been made in healthcare design, particularly in the UAE. This is in line with Wellbeing 2031's national strategy. It aims to ensure that all aspects of healthcare design contribute to overall well-being. Today, it is more appropriate than ever to focus on thoughtful, patient-centric healthcare design.
Historically, the outpatient department was comprised of doctors' offices. There, the doctor turned to the patient from behind the desk. This traditional setup created physical barriers between physicians and patients, leading to interactions that were generally more formal and less attractive. Additionally, patients often experienced long waiting times due to inefficiently designed offices and isolated workflows.
Recent innovations in healthcare design have led to a rethinking of outpatient spaces. Instead of restricting physicians to individual offices, as with traditional office-based models, the new design prioritizes flexibility and mobility, allowing physicians to travel between patients rather than the other way around.
This modernized layout offers several important advantages.
Reduced waiting times: Modernized healthcare space layout allows multiple patient rooms to be prepared in advance, allowing doctors to efficiently view patients and minimize waiting times.
Enhanced patient provider interactions: Removing desk-like physical barriers from outpatient spaces promotes a more personal and interactive relationship between patients and healthcare providers.
Improved workflow efficiency: A centralized, interdisciplinary staff area, or “pods,” allows medical professionals to collaborate and document notes outside the patient room. This setup makes it easier to make faster decisions and improves the overall care experience.
Aesthetic effects: Incorporating natural light to design hospital spaces and providing unobstructed views will improve aesthetic quality. Studies have shown that exposure to natural light reduces patient stress, reduces recovery time and improves overall satisfaction during hospital visits.
Designed for privacy and efficiency at IVF clinics
Another area in which healthcare design plays a vital role is in specialized clinics such as vitro fertilizers (IVF). The design of these spaces must carefully balance the need for privacy and clinical efficiency, creating an environment that supports both emotional well-being and optimal medical outcomes. While traditional setups often emphasize clinical efficiency at the expense of patient comfort, modern designs incorporate elements that currently cater to the emotional needs of patients undergoing fertility treatment.
Important considerations when designing an IVF clinic
Private and calm space: Clinic interiors should be designed to provide a warm and calm environment with private areas for confidential conversations between couples and individuals and their healthcare providers. This approach contrasts with the sterile and clinical appearance of embryology labs, operating rooms and frozen layers, ensuring a clear distinction between care spaces and technical areas.
Streamlining operations: To minimize errors and optimize efficiency, it can be considered to introduce windows between the operating room and the IVF lab. This allows for seamless sample transfers. Additionally, outpatient areas must be organized to provide easy access to patient rooms from the centralized station. This design ensures patient privacy while maximizing the time that physicians can devote themselves to their care.
Treatment transparency: A large viewing window to Embryology Lab allows patients to observe the process, promote transparency and reduce anxiety. This design element helps to understand the IVF procedure and promote trust between patients and healthcare providers.
Impact on patient outcomes
The impact of these design innovations goes beyond aesthetics and convenience. They have a measurable effect on patient outcomes. In an outpatient setting, a more efficient layout reduces stress for both patients and providers, leading to better diagnosis and treatment planning. In specialized clinics such as IVF centers, thoughtful designs enhance patient comfort, reduce the chances of errors, and promote positive patient experiences.
Designing healthcare spaces is essential to improving patient outcomes. Whether it's a reimagined outpatient department or a thoughtfully designed IVF clinic, the impact of well-thought-out architecture and interior design is profound. As the healthcare industry moves forward, continuous innovation and adaptation in healthcare design ensures that every element of these spaces contributes to improving patient experience and quality of care.
Amir H. Grease He is the founder and CEO of SharpMinds Consulting Engineer.
