When considering the medical facility design for a clinic, hospital, or other health care facility, color psychology often plays a big role. In fact, the current discussion in the field of medical research is largely centered on color psychology. Color psychology is basically the study of how various hues affect our moods, feelings, and behaviors. It applies to interior design as much as it does to marketing and business.
One of the most important elements of color psychology is the environment. In many cases, medical professionals have difficulty deciding on a natural office design or a color scheme because their work environment is so sterile. The result can be that they have trouble conforming to the medical professionals’ vision, even though the surroundings are sterile. A natural office design would allow medical professionals to relax in an environment that mimics what they see in nature-or at least the natural environment. Color psychology can alleviate this stress on medical professionals.
By considering specific questions such as how colors can enhance the emotional states of patients, the medical facility design team can design a medical facility that provides a calming effect on staff and patients. For instance, if the walls are painted a neutral color, but the centerpieces are red, then patients will find the atmosphere more violent and chaotic than if the walls were pink or blue. A bright and vibrant environment will make the patient feel at ease, just as long as the medical facility design includes natural materials and accents that make a medical facility welcoming and comforting.
Office space is also a big factor in medical facilities. As medical facilities become more vertical in nature, the need for more floor space arises. Since the design of most medical facilities is to make maximum use of the space available, offices must be designed so that the maximum number of people can comfortably work. In offices, the medical facility design team may consider color psychology to provide a medical facility with a warm, inviting feel. If the offices feature white walls and stark gray floors, then patients may feel closed in, even if they are physically able to leave.
Staffroom design plays a large role in patient flow throughout the office. A good way to increase patient flow is by choosing proper size patient charts. Even if the number of patients in a room is the same, the size of the charts needs to be different so that employees don’t face any difficulty moving between patients. Most medical facilities design their offices to follow a logical, functional floor plan so that the flow of movement through the office maximizes productivity.
Medical facility design incorporates all of these components in a coordinated and appealing manner. Before designing a medical facility, the team should first determine the primary function of the facility. They should then create a draft of the plan based on the current requirements. Once the basic structure of the facility is finalized, the team can add in the other elements such as patient care, medical amenities, furniture, lighting, etc.