Medical Practice Management · July/August 2003

24

Figure 4. Conceptual 4-room exam module.

Figure 5.

After you have determined the work zones, it is im-

MEDICAL DESIGN CONCEPTS

portant to also understand the interaction that takes place

The one aspect of your new medical office that re-

in the room and how to configure the room to keep the

quires the talents and expertise of an expert in the field is

doctor and staff in control of the exam process.

in the medical planning of your space. Most medical of-

A design of an exam room that reflects these needs

fices will center on maximizing access to the specialized

is shown in Figure 3. After placing walls around the work

medical knowledge of the doctor. This interaction usu-

zones, the particulars of the room can be worked out,

ally takes place in the exam room, so that is a good place

such as:

to begin.

· Is there a need for a sink in the room?

· What does the cabinetry need to hold?

Exam Room

· Are view boxes needed?

The exam room must accommodate the patient and

· Where should the sharps container be located?

a family member, the doctor, and a staff member. The de-

· Do you need to accommodate a monitor for an elec-

sign of the exam room needs to be broken down into

tronic medical record?

zones for each user. Figure 2 illustrates the relationships

· What type of lighting is appropriate?

for a primary care, internal medicine, or sub-specialty

· Where is the room light switch to be located?

exam. Other specialties will require different exam room

One important aspect of the exam room is the need

organization.

for acoustical privacy. This will dictate how the walls and

ceilings are constructed and the types of doors that are

used. These are medical planning issues that require close

The exam room must accommodate the

coordination with the architect to be sure the intent of

patient and a family member, the doctor,

the planning is carried through construction.

and a staff member.

Exam Modules

This set of relationships allows the doctor to do a

With the basic work environment for the doctor de-

"right-handed" exam, control the exam room, have the

veloped, you can then begin to arrange them into exam

patient and counter within an arm's reach, and be assisted

modules. As discussed in our previous article, the exam

by a nurse without getting in each other's way. By placing

module contains the rooms and spaces that are used by

the doctor/staff work zone near the door, you can elim-

the doctor in the course of their clinical day. The exam

inate the tendency for a patient or family member to block

module is supported by staff workspaces and should be

the exit from the exam room.

developed to allow the doctors to be well supported.