By Gina M. Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO 
SYNOPSIS
Building a new office allows you to create an efficient space for you and an appealing space for your patients. Plan your construction or renovation with this compendium of design articles and videos.
ACTION POINTS
PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS. Layered lighting, accent colors and unique textures signal a top-level optical retail space in a medical setting.
MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION. Rich-looking materials highlight specialareas for high-end and mid-priced eyewear.
DESIGN TO BE WELCOMING. The practice should have a “reception area,” not a “waiting room,” so patients feel welcome.
Last year, I built a new office from scratch. In From the Ground Up: Build Your Ideal Office Space, I detailed the process of building the office I always wanted for my Minneapolis-area practice. Opened in November, the new space, housed in its own building, is what I aimed for: More parking space outside and enough space inside to improve workflow. Technicians now have the prime spot while everyone else in the practice flows around them with a combined optical/reception area.
We love all the room and the additional parking, and patients comment how much they like the design/decor. They also comment on easier access compared to the last location.
I had little office and building design knowledge, so I relied on the following resources to guide me to the winning office space I have now.
Barbara L. Wright, CID, of Barbara Wright Design
Office Design Gives Your Practice a Competitive Edge
Barbara L. Wright, CID, of Barbara Wright Design, created a new office for Thao Truong, OD, of ForSight Eye Center in Cumming, Ga., that incorporates rich materials and personal touches in an open and airy environment. With attention to details like layered lighting, accent colors and unique textures, the design of the dispensary makes for a top level optical retail space in a medical setting. When design elements work well together, they differentiate a practice and provide a competitive edge.
Designing an Office with a Feeling
Barbara L. Wright, CID, of Barbara Wright Designs, describes how she designed and created a concept-based eyecare office and optical dispensary for Dr. Robert Alongi of Gurnee Eyecare in Gurnee, Ill. In an office walk-through, Barbara shows how important it is to make a good first impression with a cohesive design and rich-looking materials. Key design elements: Specially created areas for high-end and mid-priced eyewear; a separate area for picking up eyewear, so as not to interrupt presentations at styling tables; and a dedicated area for contact lens dispensing and care instruction.
<<VIEW VIDEO>>
Additional Barbara Wright resources that helped me–her company web site and blog. She offers examples of what to do and not to do and how things can be improved with simple design elements, like appropriate layout. Loved the pictures on her site and blog, as well as the helpful diagrams.
http://barbarawrightdesign.com/services/design/
optometricofficedesign.blogspot.com
Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, of EyeLux Optometry
Office Design with the Patient in Mind
Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, of EyeLux Optometry in San Diego, describes how his office is designed for optimal patient flow and efficiency. The practice has a “reception area,” not a “waiting room,” so patients get a positive message. Pre-testing rooms and exam lanes are outfitted identically and electronically connected to make patient time with the doctor meaningful. In the dispensary, each optician is equipped to take the patient from frame and lens selection to checkout right at their own station.
Articles on Design
An Eye on Design:
A fresh look in your optical can improve your professional image and allow patients to see your practice in a whole new light
Review of Optometry
By Colleen Mullarkey, Senior Editor
4/16/2012
Key Takeaways: Your office design not only makes a difference and impression on patients, it also speaks to your investment in other areas of the practice. For instance, a patient might think: if you don’t have an updated office that’s clean, what sort of antiquated equipment do you have? Additionally, it was good to read perspectives of doctors who remodeled (which was an option for me) vs. moving and building a new location.
Design Do’s & Don’ts From the Experts
Review of Optometry
By Colleen Mullarkey, Senior Editor/Web Editor
9/15/2013
Key Takeaways: How to work with office design to get what you want. I learned from the questions answered by the experts in this article what will work for best office flow.
2012 “New Look” Office Design Contest
Review of Optometry
By Colleen Mullarkey, Senior Editor/Web Editor
12/17/2012
Key Takeaways: Provided inspiration for design for my new office and helped with the incorporation of technology with great design aesthetics.
An Eye for Design
Review of Optometry
Lynn Herndon, OD
4/4/2011
Key Takeaways: This article was good for addressing each specific area of the office for consideration in design elements.
Gina M. Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO, is the owner of Complete Eye Care of Medina in Medina, Minn. To contact her: drwesley@cecofmedina.com.
