5 minute read
Setting new standards
from CCR Issue 4, 2022
Setting new standards
By Shannon English
Heale Medical, a membership-based primary care platform, sets itself apart with its mission to make quality healthcare more accessible and enjoyable to communities. By partnering with the company on the design and execution of its new appointment-only center in Tysons Corner, Virginia, the 3877 Design team challenged itself to set a new standard of healthcare design through a specialized lens of hospitality. The team regularly works with restaurateurs and hoteliers to develop high-quality environments and this extensive experience in hospitality design allowed it to create a fresh, patient-first design for Heale Medical’s new center. Within the hospitality sphere, it is key that the end user’s well-being and comfort remain top-of-mind throughout the design––a doctor’s visit should lend to a similar experience, one that prioritizes wellness and comfort to put patients at ease.
Community-focused care through hospitality-inspired design
With growth from general transportation infrastructure as well as commercial and residential buildings, Tysons Corner continues to grow exponentially. According to the US Census, the area’s population growth between 2010 and 2019 was more than four times the rate of surrounding Fairfax County.
As the community grows and evolves, so does the demand for diverse, customized healthcare options. Heale Medical’s new facility, which opened its doors to members of the community on Sept. 28, 2021, is designed precisely to meet that need. Inspired by Founder Dr. Amit Newatia’s mission to provide accessible, customized primary care treatment to a growing population, we took this concept and applied it to every stage of our design—ensuring that the environment itself complemented and enhanced Heale Medical’s patient-centered care. Heale Medical wanted the clinic to feel inviting and professional, straying from typical healthcare design with an elevated twist. This vision came to life through classic mid-century design elements such as a geometric wallcovering, brass lighting fixtures and a custom reception desk. The desk features a bold waterfall edge with a curated acrylic side panel and changes hues depending on one’s point-of-view in the waiting room. Emulating the guest experience in a hotel lobby, a luxury concierge service greets patients for an efficient check-in process. The space’s lighting provides another key example of hospitality-inspired selections; in lieu of typical recessed lights in a painted drywall ceiling, we designed a tray ceiling with a soft cove light and added a decorative fixture in the center. Two more fixtures are incorporated into the space above the beverage fridge and the reception desk. The mix of chic wallcoverings, layers of light, and warm woodlike flooring allows patients to feel relaxed in the elegant reception area. Throughout the space, 3877 Design infused modern elements with a calming and welcoming earthy color palette. Minimal pendant lights are asymmetrically balanced in the waiting area alongside neutral, soft seating, providing a comforting environment. The membership-based nature of the facility allowed us to make the waiting area smaller and more intimate, featuring a custom couch and cozy arm chairs.
Blue tones and mixed metals with diffused lighting produce beautiful contrasts and intentional moments of tranquility. Private visitation rooms are designed to mirror the lobby’s design through a more approachable atmosphere than the typical healthcare space.
Tech-forward treatment rooms
Throughout the design process, the 3877 Design team prioritized a technology-forward design fitting for a concierge-style medical office. Technological elements such as health risk assessments, comprehensive health scores, telemedicine, health goals, and action items, as well as the integration of an Apple health kit and detailed tracking of these parameters all promote Heale Medical’s mission. This data is shared between the doctor, nutritionist, and patient to establish lasting lifestyle changes and improve health outcomes. Patients actively take part in creating their own health goals alongside their doctor with the help of Heale Medical’s intuitive technology platform. 3877 also emphasized the doctor-patient relationship throughout our implementation of these technologies. Large screens placed in treatment rooms create a transparent mode of communication between doctor and patient, promoting detailed and digestible information sharing. Graphs, diagrams and other visual assets can be clearly displayed as doctors explain a diagnosis and treatment plans, providing enhanced doctor-patient communication.
Patient care that stands out from the rest
The 3877 Design team faced the challenge of fitting key components into the space: three exam rooms, two offices, a break room, a lab, and reception area. The guest experience is prioritized through spacious exam rooms and a hotel-style reception area. This detail is an important element that sets a foundation for the practice by demonstrating to guests––even subconsciously––There is no question that a visit to a clinic can be immensely stressful. Therefore, the goal was to leave the client feeling satisfied, cared for and comfortable with returning in the future.
that the allocation of space prioritizes their well-being. Comfortable and uncluttered, the facility stands out from traditional medical offices while remaining familiar to patients. By blending contemporary processes with a focus on the quality of care into a warm and inviting design, the facility provides a healthcare experience that is uniquely Heale Medical. 3877 Design understands that design is an integral aspect of the patient experience—trading cold and sterile aesthetics for welcoming, digestible surroundings can work wonders in easing the stress of a medical visit. Every detail of the space matters when prioritizing user experience, from the color temperature of the lights to the polished metal on the door hardware. There is no question that a visit to a clinic can be immensely stressful. Therefore, the goal was to leave the client feeling satisfied, cared for and comfortable with returning in the future. Shouldn’t all medical offices feel this way? 3877 Design thinks so. When you reframe the concept of healthcare into an approachable, customized experience for patients—as Heale Medical has—the design comes naturally. This facility introduces a fresh, hospitality-influenced era of medical design that reimagines the multifaceted components of health. CCR
Shannon English, NCIDQ, is an Interior Designer at 3877 Design, a boutique design firm focused on high-end residential, multi-family, restaurant and hospitality projects.
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