Ideas to Reduce Patients’ Stress in the Doctor’s Office

Health

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It is really important that you provide your patients with a calm experience before they step into the exam room. It has been proven that a well-designed waiting room will make your patients have a positive experience. Keeping that in mind here are design ideas that will help your patients have less stressful experiences. It is in your best interest to make your sick patients feel as comfortable as possible.

Incorporate Natural Elements

As we are all aware nature has healing and calming effects on people, when they are incorporated with natural lighting has amazing calming effects. There are so many ways that you can incorporate nature in the doctor’s offices and not to feel overwhelmed by looking after them. Pick plants that are easy to look after and don’t require much sun and don’t have pollen. Another good thing to do is to incorporate wood materials throughout the facility. It is also a great idea to incorporate neutral colors like green and brown and some calming artwork on the walls. That way you will bring some outdoor into the indoors and that will reduce your patients’ dress while they are having a check-up. That is why sometimes it is best to consult with professionals like Konnect Health that will help you out.  

Pick Calming Colours

Colours of the walls have a huge effect on people’s stress levels. There have been many studies that have shown how much impact that has on our mental health as well as how certain colors can produce different moods and emotions. If let’s say you have a red waiting room, not many people will feel calm and relaxed being in that room. If you are surrounded by colours like blue and green you will feel a sense of relaxation and calmness. Depending on how you would like your patients to feel you can pick the colours accordingly. 

Play Relaxing Music

Sitting in a medical waiting room is a common part of visiting a doctor. Waiting is part of daily human life in modern society. Whether this is waiting for public transport, waiting in traffic, waiting in a queue, or waiting for an appointment, it is common in modern life. In terms of the medical waiting room just as colors can have a calming effect, so can music. Playing relaxing music releases chemicals in mind and helps the brain to relax and enjoy the release of certain hormones. Not only can music have a positive effect on patients, but also it has the same effect on office staff. Music and other relaxing sounds can change heart rate, breathing rate, and cortisol (stress hormone) levels, all of which can regulate how relaxed, and positive we feel about an environment.

Have Comfortable Seating Areas

When you are a patient at a doctor’s office, the last thing that you want to do when you are sick, in pain or stressed out is to sit in an uncomfortable, cramped chair until the doctor can see you. Aside from picking out chairs that are comfortable to sit in, make sure that your furniture is arranged so the patients can sit however far apart they want from other people in the waiting room. 

Wearing Uniform 

Wearing casual clothes may not make patients feel good. Dress codes are standard in many professions. How medical staff dress can influence patient care and satisfaction. Appearance can be a determining factor in how much we trust a person upon first sight. If they don’t have proper and neat attire you might not give a second thought to trusting them with your health. That’s why choosing the right and ideal uniform for your staff is essential in your medical center. In this way, 

Offer Your Patients Small Luxuries

Little things like offering your patients snacks and beverages will make them feel less stressed about their appointment. The simplest way to do so is by displaying complimentary beverages and healthy snacks. If there is a possibility it is great you can provide your patients with a variety of healthy snacks that they can choose from. Another great thing to add is an oil diffuser and put some essential oils that will make your patients relax.  

Make Waiting Active

Another great way to help your patient feel relaxed is to provide them with an activity or something they can do instead of sitting around and sitting at the clock waiting for their name to be called. Provide them with places where they can charge their phones or laptops and most important of all is to have free Wi-Fi.  Another way to make the waiting room look very beautiful and stylish is to use informational posters. This can be done by placing attractive posters in the form of stylish and modern decor frames. It can get patients’ attention in the waiting room. 

Keep Patients Informed of Wait Times

There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait around in the doctors’ office when you are stressed and ill. Unfortunately, long waits are avoidable. But the thing that can be done is to keep your patients informed on how much they will have to wait. It is always best to be transparent. 

The only thing that you need to do is to do your best to design a space where everybody that has to come in feels comfortable and doesn’t get more stressed. Keep the space simple and your queues as short as possible and that way you will help reduce your patients stress levels. 

Author Bio: 

Maggie Holmes is a passionate blog writer who is extremely keen on writing about renovation and design. Her exclusive hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with some fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time. Follow her on Twitter.

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