Healthcare Forum
submitted by: Heather Lombard, CDH Partners, IIDA, RID, RN
The continuing transformation of the healthcare industry and the changing Medical Office Building (MOB) gives providers, architects and developers a new perspective on designing MOBs. Culture, workflow and technology are shifting the criteria of designing and operating the typical medical office building.
Key trends in designing multispecialty MOBs:
-Fewer public hallways
-Larger shared reception areas
-Restrooms, storage, labs and imaging, breakrooms, conference rooms are becoming shared spaces
-Exam rooms are becoming standardized pods for multiple specialties and can easily be modified
-Business offices are centralized and possibly eliminated
-Some staff will be shared and will be cross-trained and cross-utilized
-Evidence-base design principles promote well-being and therapeutic environments
Benefits includes:
-Streamlining workflow between multispecialty MOBs to reduce costs
There will be MOBs that are naturally complimentary in a collaborative setting
Female Baby Boomers
o weight loss
o anti-aging
o mammography
o OB-GYN and
o plastic surgery
Orthopedics
o sports medicine
o rehabilitation
o physical therapy
-Technology
o electronic medical records
o tablet computing
o wireless networks with touchdown workstations
o materials selected to enhance connectivity
-Patients and employees
o multispecialty MOBs are all about the patient experience
o patient’s family, physician’s, staff, and health system as a whole as enjoy the collaborative, efficient flow
o simplified building layout makes for a pleasant, inviting visit
o health systems benefit from reduced construction and operating costs and great employee productivity
A well designed multispecialty MOB can create an environment that facilitates cultural shifts and changing needs. It is a one stop shop that is efficient, attractive, convenient and cost effective.
By Cinda Z. Terry, RID and Brenda Bush-Moline, AIA, LEED AP, EDAC
Healthcare Design, August 2012
