Issue 2 - February 2004

Office design meets multiple needs
By John D. Hickey, DC

More. That’s a four-letter word that safely describes the office needs of an integrated practice. Unlike offices in which all amenities are designed around the specific needs of a single doctor, an office designed around meeting the needs of several disciplines requires more planning, more time, more money, more compromise and more space.

A facility that accommodates more than one type of practice requires at least 3,000 square feet and may require up to about 15,000 square feet, depending upon the number of practitioners and functional requirements.

“More” makes design challenging but not unachievable:

1. Get everyone on the same page. Don’t assume that you and the other practitioners all have the same goals and ideas.

Plan regular meetings to discuss specific desires and needs as they relate to the overall design process.
For example:

• What kind of equipment will each of you need and where will it go?

• Will each practitioner require a private office?

• What record-keeping method will you use?

• What is the expected traffic-flow pattern?

• What are staff requirements?

2. Talk to other practitioners. Visit and/or talk with other doctors who have a similar type of integrated practice to identify practice requirements that you may not have considered.

3. Be willing to compromise. Don’t expect complete agreement among your colleagues. To avoid a meltdown of the entire project, agree to disagree and be willing to compromise.

4. Consider an open-style floor plan. Certain functions, such as physical exams, radiology and private consultations, will require dedicated rooms, but other functions can be accommodated with mobile partitions or curtains instead of individual rooms.

5. Consider multiple HVAC systems. A multiple HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system allows separate climate controls for different parts of the office so that each treatment area can accommodate patient needs.

6. Plan on wider hallways. Since multi-discipline offices are designed for a larger staff and patient base, the hallway should be approximately 5 to 7 feet wide.

7. Allocate adequate storage. Practices that include several disciplines need more storage for papers and equipment.

Utilize every bit of vertical wall space in non-public rooms such as closets, the break room and private offices.

8. Choose a good contractor. Consider reputation, skill and experience in alternative healthcare contruction and a willingness to listen to your unique needs.

John D. Hickey, DC is the author of The Chiropractic Office — A Guide to Contemporary Office Design. Dr. Hickey can be reached at johndh@socket.net