Issue 8 - June 2003

Diversified technique calls for family-friendly office design
By Glen David

Dreams are just dreams until you start to plan. It’s then that dreams take the first steps toward becoming reality. When you envision your dream practice, you make it happen with a business plan — and with a facility plan.

Actually, some of the most successful chiropractic practices are designed around the treatment techniques that are utilized, followed by the business strategies that run that practice and finally, by décor.

Because of the countless combinations of technique, philosophy and business strategies, an efficiently designed chiropractic office is as unique as the personality of the individual doctor.

In this article we’ll look at one type of office designed around a diversified, full spine, and/or sacral-occipital (SO) technique. (In future articles we will look at designs that compliment other techniques.) The chiropractor using this technique wants to run a family friendly, insurance-based practice.

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To achieve this type of atmosphere, the chiropractor needs several key components in the office:

• A large reception room. This room can be converted into a spinal health and wellness classroom that can seat between 12-16. It also has a “kid friendly” corner where children can play in a child-proof area.

• Privacy door between reception and the treatment hall. The door prevents children from running down the hall and gives patients a private alcove to discuss payment issues.

• Secluded billing department. The financial discussions within the billing department are secluded from the cordial atmosphere of the front desk by pocket doors.

• Good visibility for CA. The front desk CA has a clear view of the adjusting hallway so she can set the pace for the doctor and keep the patients from getting lost.

• Family room in close proximity. The family room is placed closest to the reception room since there are many more “little feet” that sometimes take longer to keep moving.

• Child-sized table. In the family room, the décor should be family friendly without being childlike and the room should have a child-sized adjusting table next to “Mom’s.”

• Adjustment rooms. The size of adjusting rooms may vary according to the particular table requirements. The majority of adjusting techniques require at least 9 or 10 feet in length, but a high-low table usually requires more than 11 feet. With increased length, the room width may be reduced from eight or nine feet to less than seven feet.

For those of you looking for maximum volume potential, even if you do side-posture adjusting, rooms less than six and one-half feet are common. Some doctors prefer three oversized rooms, but five substantially narrower rooms taking up the same amount of space and yield a higher volume potential. If you prefer smaller rooms, glass panels or block can help alleviate a claustrophobic feeling in patients.

• Consultation room. To provide good patient education, especially education that highlights pediatric benefits, your consultation room will require a video player. Since this room is where you make your first impressions, it should be neat, clean and clutter free. Keep the most needed items at your fingertips so you can deliver a clear and concise consultation and report of findings. Keep x-rays and model spines secluded behind cabinet doors to avoid frightening small children.

• Exam and dark rooms. Since exams may take longer due to the additional family members, separate the dark room from the exam room to ensure accessibility by your staff.

• Restrooms. Building owners typically locate a rest room in the rear of the facility. If possible, locate an additional one closer to the reception area, but away from the children’s play area.

Glen David is director of Davlen Associates LTD, a firm that specializes in designing, building and furnishing chiropractic offices. He can be reached at 631-654-3511.