Shelat Nirmit Amit

FD4005

Healthcare experiences are more than just the treatment and care - they also include the time spent in transition between tasks. Users may judge the quality of care centre and their journey ahead on the basis of their experience in the very initial phase. Once inside the premise, various users will proceed in different directions. Those who have visited the facility prior may go straight to the respective areas. Others, including first-time visitors, will proceed to the help-desk/reception. From the point at which a person approaches the healthcare facility and building entrance, to their first impressions of the inside of the premise, the reception area is the very first touch point of interaction. The reception area generally merges or transitions into the waiting area/section. These spaces are often intended to accommodate maximum number of people in the available space. People here often have feelings of stress and anxiety - with people experiencing discomfort with the intent to be relieved. These waiting rooms provide very basic amenities depending upon the type and category of the facility. From the visitor’s perspective, by name, it’s a room for waiting. But, it’s a worrying room for a patient who has come for treatment, a gathering room for the relatives and other visitors who have come for purpose other than treatment, and to the kids, it’s a playroom. It needs to allow for private conversations, while providing comfort at the most stressful time in a person’s life. The waiting room is the beginning of the treatment. Therefore, various aspects such as supporting various postures, conversations, information sharing or using personal devices to stay connected with the outside world need to be taken into consideration. Waiting spaces in care centres too should be adaptable and productive environments that provide better experiences alongside the treatment. The primary goal is to make the visitors in waiting area as comfortable as possible. The objective is to design furniture that is designed taking into consideration such relevant aspects to provide a better overall waiting experience.