February 14, 2019
Patience is a virtue that many don't have or want to learn to have. Let's be honest, no one enjoys waiting in a waiting room, but it's something we all do and sometimes we wait a while! Hospitals are slowly moving away from the stark reception areas with uncomfortable seating and re-evaluating how space is designed to improve the experience for the patient and family members alike.
Lounge chairs and couches are being utilized as a way to soften the environment that was once such a "clinical" setting. The importance of biophilic design has also been incorporated in hospitals and healthcare environments because it is understood that gardens, plants, daylight and natural elements make for more pleasant spaces. Ultimately, these natural elements will reduce stress and anxiety that can come from waiting rooms.
Choose colors carefully as they have such a powerful impact. When designing a doctor's office or hospital waiting room, you want to choose calming or reassuring colors such as green or blue. When people see the color green, they feel relaxed and refreshed and for blue, a sense of soothing, all needed for this environment.
Will a beautifully designed waiting room completely eliminate anxieties and worries? Probably not but implementing thought-driven waiting room design will positively affect the patients' experience. Hospital waiting rooms are moving more and more to strengthen both social and physical contact to bring a sense of peace to the waiting process.