Imagine it’s your patient’s first time visiting a specialist (you could be an Optometrist, Dentist, even a Veterinarian) and while they’re waiting their turn- they grow a bit restless. Everyone gets edgy when visiting any kind of Doctor, as you don’t know what to expect- you got so many things going through your head, plus let’s be fair, clinics make EVERYONE nervous. The anticipation of the unexpected grows and grows until it reaches the point where they can’t wait anymore and decide they need to take a break and use the restroom, you know, just to catch a 5-minute break or get the mind straight, whatever. Problem is- once they walk into the restroom, this is not what they expect to find; a restroom that looks out-dated, has a funky smell, plus it is small and feels weird. Yes, restrooms can be weird-looking. There’s little liquid left on the soap dispenser, a paper towel dispenser with NO paper towels, its poorly lit, a waste basket that has all sorts of waste in it, a very, very old WC brush AND in many cases, a Plunger. Yes, you read that right, a Plunger. Your patient, after contemplating the surroundings, NOW jumps into panic mode- thinks for a minute and can only deduct this- “Where am I?- When did I tele-transport myself and ended up at gas station’s restroom??”- your patient suddenly realizes “Is this is the person responsible for my care? What did I get myself into?” Of course all of this is based on assumptions and speculations- and if your client is not very much into details- you- my dear Doctor- are very lucky. Yet, if your patient is detail-oriented and becomes aware of all these nuances and starts spreading the word that your facilities are not the tidiest- (and you’re a Doctor) there’s nothing worse than a bad word of mouth when it comes to image. Remember that patients have become more and more demanding than ever before, they expect nothing but the best (i.e. a nice waiting area, comfortable chairs, impeccable facilities ,etc.), and trust me, a nice, well planned restroom won’t guarantee you becoming the next best thing, but it will create a very positive impression on your patients. Think about it, when you’re invited to someone’s house- you get a glimpse of the foyer, the living room maybe even the kitchen. Slim chance you will get to see the bedrooms, as these are quite personal areas- yet there is one room, one tiny room that people put extra effort on and that is the powder room. This small room IS in fact the room owners pour themselves into, because they have realized- people TALK about this room, this tiny room is like a small glimpse of how the rest of the house might be. It has become the go-to feature when trying to create a good impression. Same principle applies with your practice. I’ve always believed that a restroom is a direct reflection of the personality/values of the Practice/Doctor. A clean, well designed restroom provides more than just a moment of tranquility and composure. It is a direct reflection of your work, your persona-in others words it’s your image. Think about this, before any patient walks past that door that separates the waiting area from the practice- the only impression they get to make about you is what’s inside that “Visitor’s Restroom”, how is presented, the finishes the illumination, the colors all come into play when trying to project a positive image. Trust me, good facilities provide peace of mind to your patients. The irony is that it doesn’t take much or even impact your budget, but it will provide your patient with a long-lasting tranquility that they are indeed in good hands.
An exercise in Simplicity- Most of the times a simple, clean design will create a very positive first impression on your patients.
I’ve discovered that designing these small spaces have provided me with the opportunity to play with finishes and textures resulting in striking designs.
Illumination plays a special role in the Visitor’s Restroom scheme. Sometimes we get to think outside the box and create fun, creative spaces.