AHEAD Architecture + Health Design Consultants
Clinic Design Comparative Analysis
A Post-Occupancy Evaluation Comparative Study was conducted including three clinics from award-winning healthcare design firms. The study focused on the assessment of four outcome categories: Operational Efficiency, Space Efficiency, Clinical Effectiveness, and Positive Experience. The study led to the development of EvidenceBased Design Guidelines to inform design.
CLINIC 1 1
LEGEND - Indirect access from waiting area to exam rooms - Distributed staff work areas - Unstandardized clinical pods
Waiting and Check-In Patient Care Areas Staff Work Areas Support Areas
- No visibility from staff work areas to patient care areas
Patient Flow Staff Flow
CLINIC 2
- Indirect access from waiting area to exam rooms
LEGEND Waiting and Check-In
- Standardized Clinical Pods physically separated
Patient Care Areas
- Patients and staff separate access to exam rooms
Support Areas
Staff Work Areas
Patient Flow
- Centralized staff core with direct visibility to patient care areas
Staff Flow
CLINIC 3
LEGEND - Direct access from waiting area to exam rooms
Waiting and Check-In Patient Care Areas
- Standardized Clinical Pods physically and virtually connected - Centralized staff core with direct visibility to patient care areas
Staff Work Areas Support Areas Patient Flow Staff Flow
METRICS Operational Efficiency Movement and Flow • Space layout • Throughput time • Wait Time • Travel Distance • Visibility Flexibility • Clinical Pod Standardization
-
-
ACTIVITIES Patient Observations using UMT Plus and Layout IQ Software Surveys Interviews Plan Analyses
Metric Example Travel Distance
Activity Plan Analyses
Clinic 3 Providers Medical Assistants
Clinic 2
Patients
Clinic 1
0
50
100
TRAVEL DISTANCE IN FEET
150
200
250
Metric Example Patient Throughput Time
Activity Patient Observations
Clinic 3 Necessary Check-in & Check-out
Non Value Added
Clinic 2
Waiting & Walking
Value Added Assessment, Examination, & Education
Clinic 1
0
25
50
75
PATIENT THROUGHPUT TIME IN MINUTES
100
Metric Example Operational Efficiency Staff Satisfaction
Activity Staff Surveys
Clear visibility between staff and patient care areas Total patient wait time
Clinic 3 Patient throughput time
Clinic 2 Walking distance from staff work areas to patient care areas
Clinic 1 Space layout to support efficient staff flow Space layout to support efficient patient flow
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
STAFF SATISFACTION SCORES Clinic 3 had the best throughput time recorded through Patients’ Observations. However, the Surveys indicate the staff at Clinic 3 was the least satisfied with their throughput time. This discrepancy is explained by differing Clinics’ expectations.
FINDINGS OVERVIEW Direct access from waiting area to exam rooms ü SHORTER TRAVEL DISTANCES
Standardized Clinical Pods with physical and visual connections ü GREATER FLEXIBILITY
Exam rooms organized around centralized staff core ü ü ü ü
EFFICIENT PATIENT AND STAFF FLOW GREATER TEAM COLLABORATION INCREASED PATIENT MONITORING AND CONTROL LOWER THROUGHPUT TIMES