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Words of Advice

Words of Advice

This section shares lessons learned and tips from primary care clinics and community health centers who have been through new construction, renovation or have made changes to an existing clinic environment. You can browse the words or advice, or sort them by different process points. 

 
"Priorities need to be set organizational wide—the architect can help shepherd these decisions." -Stuart Stoller, SGP Architects
"When beginning the planning process for designing a community health center, don’t start with what you know, start with what you want.” -Mario Montanaro, Thundermist Health Center
"Clinica Sierra Vista identified 8,000 sq. ft. and four providers to be the most efficient facility size from an operations and patient management perspective. We found patients to be most comfortable in a facility this size. Also, plan these kinds of clinics on one level. This is most effective from a safety and way finding perspective." -Doug Moore, Clinica Sierra Vista
"Develop a good work plan and flow from the point of arrival to discharge and all of the process steps in-between before you begin construction." -Eric Walker, Parkland Health
"Obtain LEED credit. The Bolinas Community Health Center was very close to obtaining LEED credit which would have made a difference in the types of grants awarded." -LuLu Dee, Bolinas Community Health Center
"Study staff and patient flow through diagrams and  ask, 'How many times per day would staff go from one place to another?'” -LuLu Dee, Bolinas Community Health Center
"Identify and document what is in each exam/treatment room by going through the drawers, cabinets, wall space and measuring the room." -LuLu Dee, Bolinas Community Health Center
"Involve the staff to reinforce the community ownership of the building; develop mock-ups of the spaces and ensure all staff review them." -LuLu Dee, Bolinas Community Health Center
"Ensure the architect has clinic experience, not just hospital experience." -LuLu Dee, Bolinas Community Health Center
"Be willing to learn new concepts and dream big." -Zara Marselien, La Maestra Community Health Center

 

Browse Words of Advice from those in the field, or you can sort them by the phases of the design process, or the patient experience.

Submit Resources

Promising Practices in Safety-Net Clinic Design: An Overview 

Keller, A., Joseph, A., Taylor, E., Quan, X. 2011. Promising Practices in Safety-Net Clinic Design: An Overview. Concord, CA: Prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation by The Center for Health Design.

Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Cultural Sensitivity

Joseph, A., Keller, A, Taylor, E. Quan, X. 2011. Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Cultural Sensitivity. Concord, CA: Prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation by The Center for Health Design.

Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Flexibility 

Taylor, E., Joseph, A., Keller, A., Quan, X. 2011. Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Flexibility. Concord, CA: Prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation by The Center for Health Design.

Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Innovative Care Delivery Models 

Quan, X. Joseph, A., Keller, A., Taylor, E. 2011. Designing Safety-Net Clinics for Innovative Care Delivery Models. Concord, CA: Prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation by The Center for Health Design.

Improving the Patient Experience: Best Practices for Safety-Net Clinic Redesign

Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi, Anjali Joseph and Amy Keller, explore the physical features of ambulatory care center settings that have been associated with favorable patient outcomes.

 

Adapted by the authors of, "Exploring the Impact of the Physical Environment on Patient Outcomes in Ambulatory Care Settings." that was originally published in the Winter 2009 issue of HERD Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2. 

 

Get more information about HERD.

 
 

 
 
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