ARTICLE
Freihoefer, K., Nyberg, G., & Vickery, C. (2013). Clinic exam room design: Present and future. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 6(3), pp. 138-156.
Abstract
The continual advancement of technology and activities performed in exam rooms has drastically changed design characteristics of exam rooms such as size, interior layout and relationship to adjacent spaces. Furthermore, activities performed in and the flexibility of exam rooms differ based on a clinic's care model and specialty. Exam rooms are where a majority of patients' clinic experiences and interactions occur. Therefore, the interior environment and design of exam rooms contribute to the overall satisfaction and success of patient care.
This article addresses key design qualities of exam rooms that can affect delivery of patient care, and influence interaction and behavior within the space. Relevant literature supporting advantages and disadvantages of each design quality is presented; however, this article will demonstrate that not all qualities are thoroughly researched.
This article does not discuss the material or finishing selections of interior design elements, but rather planning-related details. In addition, various examples of annotated exam room prototypes are provided to demonstrate different design strategies discussed. These prototypes are referred to throughout the text. The article concludes with a discussion of future trends of exam room designs.
Experts
Gary Nyberg, recently retired, was vice president and principal for the Healthcare Practice Group at HGA. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a medical planner, master planner, and designer for healthcare projects nationally—from community clinics to replacement hospitals, acute care centers, community hospitals, surgical suites, and other facilities. Throughout his career, he has served as an informed advisor to healthcare clients on demographic, financial and technological changes impacting the healthcare industry. He continues to research how evolving legislation will affect changes in healthcare delivery processes. Nyberg is co-author with Christine Vickery of the book Clinic Design: Enhancing the Patient Experience through Informed Design, which synthesizes the changes impacting the healthcare industry to provide a research-based approach to clinic design.
Christine Guzzo Vickery, CID, EDAC, is vice president and senior interior healthcare designer with HGA Architects and Engineers in Minneapolis, where she works with national healthcare systems to design supportive, healing healthcare environments that inspire patients, family, and staff. She regularly speaks at conferences and contributes to industry journals on healthcare design topics. She writes a healthcare interior design Blog for Healthcare Design Magazine. She is working on a new book with HGA colleagues Gary Nyberg, AIA, and Douglas Whiteaker, AIA: Modern Clinic Design: Strategies to Impact Patient Experience, to be published by Wiley in 2015.
Kara specializes in applying evidence-based design principles to inform design decision and project outcomes. She serves as the co-chair of the Research Council where she helps spearheads research initiatives across all disciplines firm-wide. Kara has multiple publications in Health Environments Research and Design Journal and is a reputable speaker at national healthcare and design conferences. Her integrated approach to applying research into project work has been recognized with several Evidence-Based Design Touchstone Awards by The Center for Health Design and Certificates of Research Excellence (CORE) by Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA). In 2017 she received George Pressler Under 40 Award by Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo for her leadership and vision within the healthcare design field.