Whether you’re redesigning an existing clinic, undergoing an adaptive reuse project, or building from the ground up, the oral surgery design process should facilitate improved profitability. Here we look at the specific design best practices that help improve your oral surgery efficiency to foster revenue growth.
Using a Design-Build Approach
Choosing a design-build model offers an end-to-end solution that considers every factor of the project. From planning to the final inspection, the design-build process develops efficient space that meets the needs of the patient and staff for enhanced experiences.
Examples might include:
- Assessing the practice to determine how many chairs are required
- Reviewing the dental specialties offered to inform the design decisions for treatment rooms
- Understanding patient flow to find opportunities to improve efficiency
- Understanding what impacts patient comfort and finding solutions to overcome possible obstacles
- Considering integration of advanced technology and the mechanical systems required to support the latest equipment such as imaging, 3D printers, etc.
- Identifying underused space that can be adapted into revenue generating space or dedicated to more productive areas
This approach ensures every aspect from the floorplan to the infrastructure improves efficiency, workflow, and profitability.
Assessing Workflow
Operational bottlenecks must be addressed and eliminated to reduce practice inefficiencies. The goal is to assess workflow to understand the most suitable layout that fosters collaboration between practitioners, administrative staff, RNs, and assistants. This includes collecting feedback from all team members. They know best what will help reduce disruptions to achieve operational efficiency and enhance patient care.
Addressing Infrastructure for Sustainability
Considering how infrastructure can foster sustainable dental offices ensures systems adapt to changing patient needs and practice growth. For example, to avoid costly floor modifications, using alternative delivery systems such as ceiling-mounted options houses suction, power, and medical air out of the way. As a result, electrical and plumbing systems can be adapted to accommodate predicted workflow for complete sustainability.
Incorporating Ergonomics
Ergonomics are not just about patient comfort. Ergonomics improve accessibility, maximize the risk of injury, and optimize space. For example, adapting chair positioning to room size and shape optimizes workspace and flow.
Another example is considering treatment room limitations and advantages i.e., using mobile storage units for smaller spaces and wall mounted storage for larger spaces.
Other examples include:
- Incorporating ambidextrous designs to adapt to the different styles of working
- Positioning dental chairs in the corner of the room
- Installing u-shaped cabinetry to improve workflow
Improved Patient Experience with Design
Aesthetics help set the tone for the patient experience. The calming nature of colours such as blues, greens and neutrals should be carried throughout all elements of the practice to reduce visual disruptions.
Natural light works beautifully with these colours. The installation of larger windows, glass/frosted wall panels, or skylights for inner rooms of the practice all help leverage natural light.
Additional design considerations introduce calming imagery, noise reducing materials, and comfortable, attractive furnishings to elevate patient experience.
Equipment Integration
Advanced technology such as digital imaging and 3D printers are changing the way oral surgeries operate. As a result, equipment integration is critical to improve workflow, efficiency, and compliance.
Integration improves efficiency, reducing the movement of both staff and patients. There is no longer a need for transitions from diagnosis to treatment areas, improving productivity and patient care.
For example, integrated digital imaging provides immediate access to surgeons for improved diagnostics and accuracy when delivering treatment.
Compliance
Proper design facilitates efficiency for the sterilization process. Considering approaches such as employing temporal separation versus special configurations ensures adequate separation between patients and reprocessing areas.
Other compliance issues include:
- Proper placement of hand wash sinks
- Surface selection to improve disinfection processes and reduce contamination risks in sterilization areas
- Installing ventilation systems
- Creating logical workflows to reduce the risk of spreading infections
The holistic approach of design-build models improves efficiency, integrates sustainable infrastructure design, and enhances patient comfort to provide next level care.
Elevate oral surgery design with Apex
Apex prioritizes every aspect of oral healthcare design to ensure you achieve efficiency and elevate patient care. When you partner with Apex, we create a sustainable oral surgery focused on unmatched patient experiences and growth. Reach out to our team today.