Equity ensures fairness and accessibility
An essential part of the design process is making sure that healthcare practices are accessible to everyone, regardless of their age, physical ability or socio-economic background. This means putting people at the heart of design decisions.
- Community engagement: Understanding and engaging with the local community will ensure the practice design is tailored to local needs. Market research, focus groups and surveys will inform your decisions.
- Accessibility first: When designing a healthcare practice, it is important to plan spaces that meet the diverse needs of patients. Ensure there are wheelchair ramps, accessible toilets or adequate space for individuals with mobility aids so that the environment accommodates everyone. Include features like wide doorways and tactile indicators to help all patients navigate the space.
- Environmental considerations: Sustainable choices are helpful in creating equitable spaces. Choose eco-friendly, non-toxic materials and employ energy-efficient systems to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare practice. Sustainable design not only benefits the environment but also ensures a healthier atmosphere for patients and staff.
Equity in representation and cultural sensitivity
Ensuring that diverse cultural perspectives are represented in healthcare practice design is essential for fostering inclusivity.
- Incorporate diverse perspectives: Aim to reflect the cultural and social backgrounds of the communities you serve. This might include using artwork that represents diverse cultures, providing multilingual signage or ensuring that communication materials are culturally relevant and accessible.
- Privacy and dignity: Patient confidentiality is critical in healthcare environments. Incorporate private consultation rooms and implement acoustic treatments to ensure that sensitive conversations cannot be overheard.
Inclusion empowers patients and staff
Inclusive design is about creating spaces where all people feel welcome, valued and empowered. In healthcare practices, this means creating environments where patients feel comfortable and staff are supported in their work.
Inclusive design features
- Flexible spaces: Flexibility in a healthcare practice allows spaces to be reconfigured to meet changing needs. For example, modular furniture in the waiting area can be rearranged to accommodate larger groups, and treatment rooms can be designed to easily adapt for different medical procedures.
- Staff support: The design of a healthcare practice should support the well-being of the medical team. By creating staff lounges, private areas for reflection and spaces for team collaboration, staff will be comfortable, supported and able to do their best work. Breakout spaces can be used for brief breaks, training or downtime during busy schedules.
- Wellness spaces: Incorporating wellness spaces within a healthcare practice is important to support both patients and staff. Creating designated areas for meditation or relaxation can sooth patients before treatment. Staff may prefer to have staff-specific times of use, so they do not need to interact with patients during their downtime.
Designing healthcare for people
At Evoke Projects, we emphasise people-centric design, meaning that every element of the healthcare practice is tailored to the needs of its users. We engage with staff and patients throughout the design and fit-out process to gather insights and ensure the final space works effectively for everyone.
Find out more by calling the Evoke Projects healthcare design and fit-out team on 1300 720 692.
