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Building Design for Animals
Article by Becky Gasser - Director of Design
Veterinary Exam Rooms - Comfort, Function, & Care
A thoughtfully planned veterinary exam room is crucial as it shapes client perception, fosters the human-animal bond, and directly impacts the efficiency and quality of care delivered.
Optimally configured exam rooms are pivotal to a veterinary hospital's success. It's the single largest income generator in the hospital and the place where clients and staff interact, where medical care is delivered, and where the crucial bond between pet owners and the veterinary team is forged. The experience clients have in these rooms significantly shapes their perception of your practice and the value of your services. A thoughtful design exudes confidence, ensures an orderly environment, and makes clients feel secure and welcomed.
Key Considerations for Design
Designing effective exam rooms involves addressing numerous questions, from the practical to the experiential:
1. Determining the Right Number and Size
The initial step is to ascertain how many exam rooms your practice needs. A general rule of thumb suggests between 1.5 to 3 exam rooms per full-time on-call veterinarian, though this varies based on practice focus, specialties, and staff leveraging.
Room size is equally important. While specialized areas like blood draw alcoves can be as small as 5' x 5', typical general-purpose rooms range from 8' x 8' to 10' x 15'. It's common to include at least one oversized room (e.g., 12' x 15') to accommodate families, multiple pets, or serve as a consultation/procedure room. Remember, clients rarely come alone, and practices may have up to three staff members in a room simultaneously, so accommodating 5-6 people comfortably is often necessary.
2. Access and Orientation
How clients and staff navigate to and from exam rooms greatly impacts workflow and client experience. Decisions must be made regarding:
- Access points: Direct access from the waiting room, a separate exam hall, or single versus double entry doors for each room.
- Adjacencies: Proximity to the pharmacy/lab or treatment room.
- Traffic flow: Separate staff and client hallways can optimize efficiency and privacy.
- Grouping: Arranging rooms in "pods" can enhance the practice image and streamline operations.
3. Enhancing Comfort and Convenience
Both client and staff comfort are non-negotiable. Clients spend considerable time in exam rooms, so incorporating amenities and design features to help them feel comfortable, safe, and well taken care of is vital.
- Client Comfort: Provide adequate space for all occupants and comfortable seating. Consider amenities like televisions with educational clips or fish tanks for entertainment. Windows to the exterior offer natural light and a calming connection to the outside world. Designing for a visual connection to staff walking by ensures clients don't feel forgotten. Ensure sufficient ventilation to prevent overheating, and design rooms to accommodate elderly and disabled clients.
- Staff Comfort: Good lighting and comfortable flooring are essential for staff who spend long periods on their feet. Dedicated spaces for record notation streamline their work.
- Convenience for All: Exam tables should be appropriate for both pet and doctor size; adjustable tables are ideal. Consider how you want clients involved in restraint—room design can facilitate or limit their participation. For practices using computers, strategically place monitors for both staff education and client viewing.
4. Flexibility and Special Purpose Rooms
Many practices utilize exam rooms for alternative procedures or treatments. Beyond general exam rooms, consider incorporating special-purpose rooms such as:
- Comfort/Grieving rooms: Offering a private, serene space for difficult conversations. These rooms should ideally have a separate exterior entry/exit or be located very close to one. This allows grieving clients to leave discreetly without having to walk back through the main lobby and waiting area, preserving their privacy and easing a difficult moment.
- Separate Species Exam Rooms: Providing wholly separate species exam rooms can significantly reduce stress for both pets and their owners.
- Special procedure rooms: Equipped for minor in-room treatments. These rooms might feature unique furnishings or specialized equipment.
5. Layout, Equipment, and Finishes
The specific layout will depend on your practice style, but common elements to consider include: exam table type (built-in vs. portable), writing/charting areas, sink integration, computer integration, counter configurations and durable surfaces, storage (cabinets, shelves), diagnostic equipment (otoscope, film viewer), seating for clients and doctors, trash and sharps disposal.
Finally, interior design and décor play a significant role in creating a less clinical, more hospitable environment that makes clients and their pets feel relaxed and welcome. By using colors, textures, and materials strategically, you can completely change the way people and animals feel within a space. From floor to ceiling, every element—color, lighting, acoustics, ventilation, and cleanliness—contributes to the overall feel. Even small details like doorknobs and light fixtures influence client comfort and continued confidence in your professionalism. Your exam rooms should be an extension of whatever personality you want to portray to your clients—whether you aim for a homey and inviting atmosphere, a modern and cutting-edge feel, or a clean and friendly vibe.
By carefully considering these elements, veterinary practices can create exam rooms that are not only efficient and comfortable but also truly reflect their commitment to exceptional care, benefiting both clients and the hardworking staff every day.
