Blueprints for Better Care: Clinic Design’s Role in Patient Experience and Efficiency

By Zahra Zamani, Craig Puccetti, and Teri Joy

The growing shift toward outpatient care highlights the crucial role of clinic design in enhancing both patient satisfaction and operational efficiency. Through a comprehensive study involving behavior mapping, patient shadowing, staff surveys, and Gemba walk-throughs across four outpatient clinics, this research identifies key physical environment features that significantly impact patient and staff experiences. The findings highlight essential design strategies—from layout optimization to privacy considerations—that enhance clinic functionality, reduce stress, and improve both staff workflows and patient care outcomes. Policymakers, designers, and healthcare administrators are encouraged to integrate these evidence-based insights into clinic planning and renovation efforts.

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Keywords: outpatient clinic design, clinical staff perception, patient experience, technology engagement, waiting room design, operational efficiency, patient paths of travel