It’s important that your design meets today’s needs and expectations. In saying that, you should also consider how you can make your medical practice adaptable in case of growth or further changes in the industry.
1. Building regulations
There are a range of guidelines and standards to consider before designing your medical practice. These will affect many different aspects of your space. You should look into the Standards for General Practices developed by RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners), AusHFG (Australasian Health Facility Guidelines) and state regulations.
There are generally specific building guidelines for health facilities in different states. For instance, in New South Wales, you are required to complete an application for a license before you can build, alter or expand a private health facility. There can be a range of different fees involved depending on your situation and location.
2. Future proofing
When designing your medical practice, you should consider how you can plan around the future. For instance, you might only have 3 GPs working at the moment but you know you have the potential to have 5 working in a couple months. To comply with guidelines, you would need to have at least 5 consulting rooms to accommodate.
Future proofing can also be helpful if you intend to sell your practice down the line for any reason. Having multiple consulting rooms, updated technology and a flexible design will all contribute to increasing the value of your medical practice. If you’re unsure, speaking to a real estate agent about which features are in high demand for local businesses can help.
3. New technology
Speaking of new technology, this is another important consideration for your medical practice. For instance, you might want to install a smart thermostat for temperature control, helping you comply with temperature regulations. A strong wifi network is also important for your patients, staff and for making your facility more valuable.
4. Larger consulting rooms
In more recent times, there has been a need for larger consulting rooms. For one, many patients are bringing multiple family members or friends to help them. Hence, consulting rooms have needed to accommodate three or more people. There has also been an increase in multi-use consulting rooms that different health professionals can share.
5. Patient registration
Maintaining patient privacy is incredibly important for any kind of medical practice. Traditionally, patients are seated near the check-in desk. However, more people are deciding to create a separate patient registration area so that they have more privacy when checking-in, paying and completing any forms.
An effective design will help to make the experience of visiting your medical practice better for all your patients. By taking these 5 things into consideration, you can also ensure your staff can do their jobs in a productive environment. Stay ahead of your competition by taking your medical practice’s design to the next level!
Guest author: James Pointon is a Commercial Manager at OpenAgent.com.au, an online agent comparison website helping Australians to sell, buy and own property.
