Hospitals are busy, stressful places. Patients and their families often feel nervous coming to the hospital, knowing there is a chance they will be admitted for some time. This anxiety can be compounded by the long waiting room experience that many people have to go through before they see a physician or nurse.
Smart waiting rooms can help reduce anxiety and hostility for patients, which can ultimately lead to better medical care. Creating a smart waiting room is not as simple as just putting up pretty pictures of flowers or clouds on the wall – although those might be nice touches! We suggest adding some smart waiting room decor ideas to your hospital’s design plan.
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Make sure the waiting room is well lit and has a comfortable seating area
If you have an older patient, having to sit on hard metal seats for hours can be painful. Make sure there are cushioned chairs that are easy to get out of. Also, make it clear where patients should park their walkers or wheelchairs in waiting rooms so they don’t trip anyone walking by! Additionally, keep in mind your lighting – if you want people coming into the hospital feeling good about themselves, make them feel great when they walk through those doors with brighter lights and cheerful colors throughout the space.
Include a TV with cable channels
Many people, especially those with kids and teens coming to visit them at the hospital, would appreciate having cable TV available in their smart waiting room. Put some entertainment touchstones in your hospital waiting rooms so that people can feel like they are still part of the world outside, even if it is just by watching their favorite shows. If you don’t want to go through the hassle or expense of cable TV installation into every single smart waiting room space, consider streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix instead!
This way everyone gets to watch what they love without having any equipment problems getting between them and their show – just make sure there aren’t too many inappropriate ads for kids’.
Provide magazines, books, or other reading materials
People often come to the hospital straight from work or school, and may not have had time to go home and pick up something lighthearted like a magazine or book. Make sure your waiting room has nice options for patients who might want to relax with something while they wait.
This is also great if you’re ever running low on things in stock since it’s always good to read! Plus, having reading materials will make people feel more comfortable about spending long hours in your smart waiting room – whether they are there because their son broke his leg at recess again, or they were admitted overnight after major surgery.
Offer healthy snacks such as fruit and granola bars
Being in the hospital can be hard on people’s diets, especially if they are stuck eating heavy or greasy food. Make sure your waiting room has healthier options for patients who might get hungry while being detained at the hospital.
Offering healthy snacks will also keep them from feeling guilty about not sticking to their meal plan during this stressful time! It is so easy to run down to a vending machine and grab some candy bars when you’re tired of sitting around – but it is important that hospitals help promote better health choices for all visitors.
Put up signs around blood type just in case it’s needed during surgery
It’s always smart to be prepared for any eventuality, especially when it comes to health care. Make sure your waiting room has all the tools you might need in an emergency – including blood type instructions on how they can help donate if needed! This way no one will have to leave at a time like this because of medical emergencies happening around them.
Hang family photos on the walls to make patients feel more at home
Hospitals are often cold and sterile, with fluorescent lights overhead casting down on everything. Make sure your waiting room has unique touches that make it feel more like home – cheerful colors on the wall or custom-made family photos to help patients relax when they need to go in for surgery!
This way everyone will be able to get through their procedure knowing what is happening at all times while also feeling comfortable about being there.
If you’ve ever been in a hospital waiting room, then you know that it can be an uncomfortable experience. Hospital staff work hard to make patients feel at home and comfortable during their stay but sometimes these efforts are overlooked when designing the waiting rooms. Fortunately, there are many ways for hospitals to improve the comfort level of their visitors without spending too much money or time on renovations. The list above includes some ideas for decorating your waiting area with smart designs that will boost convenience while also being more cost-effective than construction projects!
