Practice Management Alert

If you think your choice of lighting doesn’t matter, think again.

Setting just the right mood in your office involves a lot of big choices: type of flooring, physical layout of the space, room color, etc. There are also some seemingly trivial issues that could affect, positively or negatively, how patients and staff view the practice.

One of these issues is the type of lighting you choose for the waiting area. It’s usually cheapest and easiest to put up fluorescent lights, but that might not be the best choice for some practices. You’ll also need to decide if you will make coffee

or tea available for patients, and the decision will depend on staffing, practice culture, and patient expectations.

Help’s here: We conducted a roundtable discussion on a couple of features you might want to include in your waiting area. Here’s what they had to say:

Q: What type of lighting would you recommend for the waiting area?

Maria V. Ciletti, RN, who works as a medical administrator in Niles, Ohio, and is also a member of the American Medical Writers Association.

“I think natural light is best. It has a calming, soothing effect. But if there are no windows in your waiting area, you will need alternative light sources.

“We have table lamps on the end tables at the end of the chair rows. The lamps provide just enough light to be useful without being too bright. Directly over our check-in desk is a single bank of brighter fluorescent ceiling lights. It’s important to have brighter light where patients are filling out forms or receiving instructions so they can see what they are doing.”

Catherine Brink, BS, CMM, CPC, CMSCS, CPOM, president of Healthcare Resource Management Inc. in Spring Lake, N.J.

“Practices are getting away from fluorescent lighting since it is a harsh light and projects a ‘hospital’ image. Even if the practice’s building is older, some are updating their lighting.

“High-hat lighting is being used more, as well as end tables with table lamps positioned around the waiting room.”

Harlene S. Stevens, CPA,  a manager at Nisivoccia LLP in Mt. Arlington, N.J.

The waiting area should have soft lighting, but enough to be able to read easily. Also, if the practice uses high hats, these — and other overhead lights — should have scheduled cleaning.

Q: What’s your stance on providing patients with complimentary coffee, tea, etc.?

Ciletti

“There are pros and cons to offering coffee, etc., in your waiting room. It can be a nice amenity, but it can turn your office staff into waitstaff, needing to refill empty coffee makers and clean up after everyone —not to mention the potential for spills and other mishaps that could ruin waiting room carpet and furniture.”

Brink

“Yes, coffee can be messy and require staff time to keep the area tidy. Bottled water or a water cooler is a better perk.”