Chico Eye center's vision of excellence

Light from the windows placed high on the walls of the two story entryway floods the lobby of Chico Eye Center’s new building. The state-of-the-art facility and experience has been painstakingly designed, from the bright welcoming entryway all the way down to the informative direction cards handed to patients upon check-in. Each facet of the design choice was made with an eye towards the best and most efficient patient experiences, and that eye has clear 20/20 vision.

Jana Gilbert, Chico Eye Center’s practice administrator, says that when shifting to the new office, they tried to anticipate and address any issues that may prove challenging to their patients in order to make the experience and transition to the new facility as seamless as possible. While the building is large—large enough to accommodate for current usage as well as future doctor and service expansion— the pod-based design offsets the size and creates a calm aesthetic.

The entry has a large central check-in desk flanked by general waiting areas on either side. A screen above displays a map of the building with real-time information indicating which doctors are working in each of the pods, what patients are assigned, and if the doctor is running on time. Dr. Arregui explains, “Sometimes people really are on a tight schedule, and maybe we had an emergency or are running behind. The display allows patients to see any time issues right away, and if their schedule won’t allow them to wait, they can immediately be rescheduled.” Once patients are registered, they receive a card showing them what pod they are being seen in, what doctor they’ll be with, along with arrows showing them how to proceed.

The walls along the way are lined with vibrant photos and prints created by local Chico artists. Patients will then sit in one of four small, secluded waiting rooms assigned to their prospective pod. Dr. Arregui shares they did a lot of research on the design and had valuable input from various architectural firms. “The pod system, as opposed to a spoke and wheel system, has been shown over and over again to reduce patient wait time.”

One of the pods is exclusively reserved for younger patients and was planned with the special needs of their pediatric ophthalmology in mind. These exam rooms have been specifically designed to accommodate longer spans for vision tests. When the usual series of mirrors that simulate a twenty foot vision test are used, a child can overuse their focusing muscles resulting in a less accurate measurement and prescription. So, the length of the room is more conducive for precise vision exams. In addition to addressing the technical aspect of pediatrics, the pod also focuses on making the experience inviting for young children who may be wary about seeing the doctor. One of the rooms boasts a lifelike undersea wall mural complete with sharks and colorful fish, while the other transports children into space with an astronaut’s view of the earth and its surroundings. Mobiles above the exam chair mirror the room theme and give younger ones something to look at as they lean back in the chair.

The centrally located optical boutique, which is easily accessible from any of the four pods as well as the entryway, means browsing the expansive selection of frames is available to anyone during their appointment or if they just want to drop by the space to shop.

The laser suite is found off to the left of the entrance and offers LASIK surgery, crosslinking corneal procedure, and cosmetic eyelid surgeries with access to the most advanced lasers available.

In addition to the newly designed pods, Dr. Arregui says that by having all of the doctors share one large central office, they are able to collaborate more easily and effectively. “There’s a lot more collegiality in that you can be sitting there looking over a case and ask other doctors their opinion. It allows us to bounce ideas off of each other and is designed to allow more interaction and cooperation.” In addition to the pod design, central office, and the advanced laser suite, Dr. Gilbert is pleased with the patient areas. “I think the space for patients is really nice too. The brightness of the whole office is fresh, and everyone sees better.”

Stop by Chico Eye Center to see how their vision came together in the new facility and shop the extensive optical boutique at 3401 Esplanade. If you’d like to set up an appointment call 530-895-1727 or visit their website at www.chicoeye.com.