Introduction
The personnel’s operational efficiency can be improved with several tactics. First of all, room design in an outpatient setting can help physicians and staff to perform their activities faster. According to Hoppszallern and Vesely (2014), approaches to design that want to improve patient mobility can allow a hospital to increase the speed of operations and move patients in and out of surgery more efficiently. Therefore, the number of patients who can visit the clinic each day may increase. Moreover, employees perform better in facilities equipped with technology that allows universal access to data, standardized procedures, any automated use of control systems for rooms. Employees may benefit from better-designed facilities and treat more patients in a less stress-inducing environment. For instance, long distances and difficulty finding necessary equipment in facilities are among the leading issues reported by staff (Burmahl, Hoppszallern, & Vesely, 2017). Therefore, a focus on more efficient design can eliminate these problems and increase employee satisfaction.
Main body
The safety of patients and workers should also be prioritized by hospitals, where many persons come to and leave the facility every day. Thus, proper sanitation, hand washing, and the use of antimicrobial surfaces are necessary to improve patient safety (Hoppszallern & Vesely, 2014). These efforts may be more cost-inducing as they require equipping additional locations for sanitizing and using material that may be more expensive. However, the outcome of using better materials can save money and raise patient safety by reducing the rate of post-surgery infections and improving patient hygiene. The focus on accessibility and patient mobility is also important even in an outpatient setting, where all locations need to be equipped to help patients before and after surgery. For instance, individuals coming out of surgeries should be able to walk through the facility safely and without the fear of falling. Handrails and other supportive devices can be used to maintain safety.
Health IT can also improve an outpatient clinic. As the focus on speed remains vital in these facilities, the integration of technology in the automatic check-in of patients can significantly increase the clinic’s efficiency. To achieve better results, the clinic should have the latest equipment for data storing and access to create automated services for patient check-in (Hoppszallern & Vesely, 2014). This initiative can be rather cost-inducing during the building process and after the center’s opening. However, the ability of the hospital to register patients faster may balance out the additional costs with better performance and a higher number of patients served regularly. Automation of controls and systems can benefit all medical facilities, including outpatient surgery clinics, where speed has a vital purpose in the overall performance (Hoppszallern, Vesely, & Morgan, 2016).
Conclusion
Energy efficiency and sustainability can be increased with better technology and computerized control systems in the clinic. By installing automatic lighting, for example, the center can reduce overhead costs and support “green” practices (Hoppszallern & Vesely, 2014). Moreover, gas and water regulation can also help the facility to conserve energy. While the automation of these systems may be more expensive during construction, its effect on the clinic’s efficiency can significantly reduce long-term costs. The implementation of environmentally friendly and resilient materials into the design can also increase the clinic’s adherence to sustainable practices while protecting the hospital from possible problems (Burmahl & Morgan, 2018). The primary focus here should be on automation and the use of advanced technology to conserve energy and reduce unnecessary consumption.
References
Burmahl, B., Hoppszallern, S., & Vesely, R. (2017). Health care designers focus on efficiency.Health Facilities Management. Web.
Burmahl, B., & Morgan, J. (2018). 2018 Hospital construction survey.Health Facilities Management. Web.
Hoppszallern, S., & Vesely, R. (2014). Planning priorities.Health Facilities Management. Web.
Hoppszallern, S., Vesely, R., & Morgan, J. (2016). 2016 Hospital construction survey. Health Facilities Management. Web.