“Exceptional results arrive only when exceptional people put in exceptional effort. It never arises by accident or good fortune.”
– Peter Thomas

Interior Design is never just about aesthetics. An intentional and collaborative Interior Design can work for any medical practice as a tool to drive more business, attract more clients, and elevate the patient experience that inspires trust and loyalty. Whether you are a start-up, a practice that is about to outgrow your space, or just looking to bring your practice to a whole new level, this blog is for you. SIMOUR Design will share with you today 5 secrets that are bound to let you attract rather than chase clients – building enviable experiences that increase your medical spa’s profitability.

1. Lounge not Waiting Room

   People hate to wait. As medical visits already include some built-in anxiety, placing patients in spaces to wait, further amplifies the anxiety. It may seem superficial, but this is an example of reframing the experience through fresh eyes. A lounge denotes a difference in approach. Using interior design strategies like comfortable seating, hospitality stations like a beverage counter, natural lighting or lively indoor plants here and there push the space from a transition space into a destination itself. A lounge is about relaxation and comfort, waiting then becomes sidelined into the background.

2. Maximize the space

   Improving the profitability of your med spa must involve accounting for your real estate so that they work effectively in delivering revenue into the practice. Wasting space is wasting money so making the layout as efficient and compact as possible is making your interiors work as hard as your staff does. Storage spaces can be placed in areas that are infrequently used so that they don’t always occupy a designated room. Dead-ends make for opportunities for a beautiful display or a mirror to visually enlarge the space. Television monitors can be framed like an artwork so they can do double duty as both art and informational display. Multiple uses are key to making the most of a space. Think of the vertical space too, not just the horizontal ones, they enlarge the viability for a space to be more productive.

   Planning for growth also considers how spaces will be used and re-purposed for future expansion with the least amount of disruption. Flexibility in the spaces can mean including strategies from the get-go that allows an office to be converted into a consultation room with minimal interventions. Imagine having a doctor’s workstation be built into a wall and having sliding panels come and conceal them to accommodate a consultation.

3. Intentional design pays for itself.

   By making the design rooted in your design and business goals, you will end up having a med spa that looks, works, and operates exactly how you forecasted it to be. It also means that you end up making fewer mistakes that will take more money to rectify. It will be important to put it in the discussion that Medical Interior Design is largely different from regular Interior Design in that it has more focus on the fineries of the industry and is more attuned to the psychology of patients and the familiarity with medical protocols. It may be tempting to just use any designer, but that expertise is a premium that is worth the expense. Having the clarity down at the soonest possible time and having everybody on your team be on board with the program is guaranteed to bring any med spa from mediocre to exceptional.

   SIMOUR Design’s Formula for success is this: Allot 60-70% for revenue-generating space. They are the lounges, consultation and procedure rooms, the pharmacy, and any patient-servicing spaces are included. Have the private offices, breakroom, storage, and utilities occupy the remaining 30% so that they do not eat into the bottom line. We believe that this proportion is the sweet spot between these two that will deliver financial results without sacrificing the patient experience. Anything less than this 60% to us is already lost opportunities that shortchange your business goals.

4. Restroom matters

   Often overlooked, the restrooms are the unsung hero of the patient experience. It is here that your patient is alone and is less distracted. Making the right impression here is going to make a mark. Keeping it clean, well-appointed, and well-ventilated will be much appreciated. Having it look extra special like having an artwork when least expected is most welcome. Also, avoid recessed lighting for the lavatory vanity. Always use a wall sconce so it doesn’t create unflattering shadows around the face. Also make sure that you use lamps that have 3500 Kelvins for excellent daylight color rendition. Make your restrooms an oasis for your patients and they will feel genuinely valued.

5. Happy staff, Happy business

   Of course, never forget the staff, they are the backbone of your practice, and their best work is the stuff that powers your enterprise. Steps must be made so that they can do their workload in an environment that supports their workflow. Using ergonomic chairs for staff that will spend most of their time sitting down greatly reduces body pain while anthropometric workstations allow them to have everything they need within easy reach. Strive to compartmentalize and have the equipment they need on hand when they need it without walking to and from one room to another. Have printers or bulky equipment stored in pull-out drawers so they can be pulled out when needed and stored back when not. Compounded together that spells time wasted that can add up in lost opportunity costs.

   Humans need breaks and a break room that allows for rest and a place to have their meals is a welcome gesture to tell them that they are valued. Have their break rooms well ventilated by having those silent types of exhaust fans so they can eat meals without fear that odors will waft into the patient areas.

   Technology is also a great way to reduce clutter and improve the interaction between staff and patients. In the age of the pandemic, iPad check-in in a separate kiosk reduced contact and enforced social distancing. As a rule, technology can do wonders for your office management system so take advantage whenever possible to automate repeating tasks for efficiency. Access to patient records through tablets and portable monitors is also a great way to introduce data into the workflow. Not only does it make your operation simpler, but it also tells your patient that you have made a significant investment to be more future forward.

The secrets here are not so much hidden knowledge as much genuine regard for delivering excellent experiences. Patients are the lifeblood of any medical spa and delivering results that inspire loyalty to your practice makes profitability a result you can count on. Contact us for a free consultation now. Excellence doesn’t thrive with the mediocre, let’s build exceptional together.