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Ruth de Jauregui | May 17, 2017

Gouverneur Health redesigns clinic space to boost efficiency

Gouverneur Health in New York recently redesigned its clinic space to boost efficiency and reduce patient wait times, an article posted on the American Medical Association's AMA Wire blog said.

"Our recently updated facility provides a nurturing, safe environment to deliver cutting-edge care,” Gouverneur Health Associate Executive Director Kenneth Feldman said in the posting.

Gouverneur Health, part of New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., teamed with a local design school to redesign the space shared by two primary care practices. Between the two practices, they saw 250 patients daily. The inefficient use of clinic space left the practice teams with few places to interact, which led to longer wait times for patients.

To maximize the available space, the patient flow was mapped, the space inventoried and space use analyzed throughout the building. The design team suggested changes that were similar to those outlined in an AMA STEPS Forward module.

The team suggested standardizing examination rooms and incorporating swiveling computer screens so the doctor and patient could have face-to-face interactions. The team also suggested repurposing underused exam rooms as team rooms, which would place the practice teams near the patients.

To enhance the patient experience, the team pointed out that more outlets in waiting areas would allow patients to stay connected and use their electronic devices while they wait. Adding art to the walls and programmable LED lighting would brighten long halls and help ease patient anxiety.

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