a Doctor' Private Practice Does NOT have to be a "sterile and clinical feel"
66Office Requirements
Brief Overview: The office presentation is an important element of a high end cosmetic practice. While it is a medical practice, the office ambiance has to promote warmth and be inviting, avoiding the typical “sterile” look of most medical offices. But by the same token, it is not meant to be ostentatious, as this is not the goal.
Patient Flow through the Office:
Patients will enter the office via Entrance/Exit #1 into the Waiting Room at which point, a receptionist will greet them from the Reception Area. The receptionist will obtain paperwork from the Front Office Work Area for patients to fill out for their consultation. Prior to meeting the doctor, the patient will first meet with the patient care coordinator. The Patient Care Coordinator’s Office will be located close to the Front Office Area for easy access to patients. The PCC will invite the patient to her office for a pre-consultation discussion and to reacquaint herself to the patient. While this represents the first time face to face meeting between the patient and the PCC, prior to the actual office visit, PCC has already spoken to the patient at the time of consultation scheduling. After the meeting with PCC, the patient is then escorted to an Exam Room #1 or #2 by the PCC. The surgeon then meets with the patient for the consultation. After the consultation, the patient again meets with PCC to finalize the visit (to sign up for surgery, etc.).
If all goes well, then the patient will return for his/her surgery. Patient will arrive via Entrance #1 and will be greeted by RN at the Reception Area. The patient will then be escorted to the Recovery Room where there will be a Nursing Station/Work Area Bench for preoperative in-take (e.g. health questionnaire, vital signs). Patient will have changed out of street clothing into surgical gown in the OR Suite Bathroom which houses changing lockers. The anesthesiologist and the surgeon will also meet with the patient in recovery room area for their preoperative discussion. Then the patient will be escorted to the Operating Room for their procedure. After the surgery, the patient is taken to the recovery room for their postoperative recovery. After a successful recovery, patient then is wheel-chaired out through Entrance/Exit #2 and taken out of the building via the Side Entrance where their ride will be ready with their car.
After the case, the Scrub Technician will prepare the OR for the next patient and prepare the instruments for sterilization in the Clean/Dirty Utility Room by washing the instruments in sink and then using the autoclave for sterilization. Additional supplies from the Storage/Sterile Supply Room will be obtained.
Staff breaks will be taken at Staff Break Room (dining table, refrigerator, sink, dish washer) which ideally will be located away from Exam Rooms and out of sight from Waiting Room for obvious reasons.
Physical Requirements: Please refer to aforementioned to see how it all fits into place
1) Waiting Room
2) Receptionist Area
3) Front Office Work Area (equipments, charts, etc.) Charts should be out of plain view of patients in the Waiting Room for privacy reasons and to be HIPPA compliant. For space conservation, sliding file cabinets could be considered placed strategically.
4) Clinic Bathroom. While we have an OR suite bathroom, it is not conducive to have patients from the waiting room enter the OR suite to utilize the bathroom. While we can advise patients to utilize the common bathroom for the building, many patients prior to seeing the doctor desire to make a quick trip to the bathroom. So having a bathroom that is nicely appointed which can serve as a powder room is almost a necessity for a cosmetic practice. The entrance to this bathroom should ideally be from the clinic side of the office and not from the waiting room for privacy and comfort reasons.
5) Patient Care Coordinator Office. This is probably one of the most important rooms in the entire office as this is where it all “happens” – i.e. surgeries are signed up from this room. This room has to be appointed well.
6) Doctor’s Office. Probably the least important room in the entire office. It is entirely for my comfort only, but does not serve any other purpose than that.
7) Exam Rooms #1 and #2. Size: 9 x 8 thru 12 (roughly but can vary). Floor cabinets with sinks and overhanging cabinets. Tile floors. No carpet as bodily fluid staining an issue. Excellent lighting a must.
8) Consultation Room. I did not mention this in my office flow sheet as this is a truly a luxury item if there is space left over.
9) Storage Room. Can’t speak enough for storage room/space. There is never enough of a storage room for supplies, implants, etc. Ideally I would like to have a one large storage room for all of my clinic and OR supplies with wall shelving, etc. There is nothing worse than to be looking for a supply at 5 different places.
10) Staff Break Room. Table, chairs, refrigerator, dish washer. Away from patient traffic area.
11) Operating Room. Size varies by roughly 150sq ft. Coved floor with linoleum and surgical grade ceiling tiles.
12) Recovery Room. Roughly 150sq ft with Nursing Station/Bench. No floor or ceiling requirements.
13) Clean/Dirty Utility Room. Roughly 50sq ft.
14) OR Bathroom. Ideally with Changing Lockers for OR staff and Patients. More functional than the Clinic Bathroom which is more of a Powder Room.
