Healthcare is experiencing rapid change – new regulations, new responsibilities, and new roles. It should be patient-centered – encouraging patients to be more involved in co-managing their care.
The healthcare experience needs to be an integrated journey, providing for the need for choice, the need for control, and making meaningful connections between patients, clinicians and families. By connecting People, Place & Technology, the healthcare journey can be optimized. Faced with changes and new services, healthcare organizations shouldn’t overlook the assets like medical office furniture that’s highly leverageable and pivotal to success.
Right healthcare furniture helps in discovering insights and creating moments that can lead to change. Moments that enhance the wellbeing, empathy and connection to patients, clinicians and families.
One of the spaces Steelcase Health has studied is the waiting room - a space that is usually uninviting and unappealing. Waiting spaces are those where patients and family members spend time waiting for direction, for consultation, for results or for information.
Spending time in waiting room can become more difficult without proper healthcare furniture installations. Patients and family members want to use their time productively, and get work done or answer emails. The comfortable modern medical office furniture reduces stress and eases anxiety. The relatives of the patient should have the privacy to discuss questions they want to ask the clinician; information about care; proper storage space to put their stuff, and access to technology/power so they can stay connected to work or other family members.