If you’re currently in the process of starting or developing your private practice—or you already have a business up and running—there’s one element about your workspace that you may not have considered. We’re talking about physical therapy clinic design—something that seems so basic but can have a significant impact on your success as a clinician.
No matter how excellent you may be at delivering quality care and rehabilitative services, knowing how to design a physical therapy practice that is optimized for the patient experience and revenue-driving services is a key driver for your clinic’s success. Even something as small as your layout can contribute to the health and success of your business—and your employees. This is one aspect of your practice you definitely can’t afford to ignore.
That said, deciding on your ideal physical therapy practice layout comes down to the philosophy of “Measure twice, cut once.” As a PT professional, a significant portion of your budget shouldn’t have to be allocated to multiple redesigns. Picking one design that helps you deliver the best care while reducing employee burnout is the ultimate goal.
“I am a living example of this. Over the course of my private practice journey, I’ve painfully learned what works and what doesn’t. I’ve gone from seeing 40 patients per day in a make up room of a medi spa that was ‘rented’ from a doctor to a 6000 square foot building that had a ninja wall and golf driving range. All of this trial and error has come full circle and (with the addition of the NEUBIE and other innovative tech), we’re now able to reproduce a full athletic performance, high level neuro, PT facility in about 1500-2000 square feet. We can now cater to the needs of the pro athlete and the patient all under the same roof”
-Jason Waz, Owner Founder of NeuPTtech
With that in mind, we’ve put together some of our top suggestions for what you should be considering when it comes to effective design.
Size Really Does Matter with Physical Therapy Clinic Design
Some people say the size of your space doesn’t matter—it’s about how you use it. In this case, we respectfully disagree. The space you choose should not only be able to house an attractive reception area, patient area, tech suite, etc. but also be selected with the future (and expansion) in mind.
- The right-sized space will give you the room you need to grow now.
- It also provides an improved patient experience, especially when it concerns privacy since client retention is crucial.
- Adequate square footage will keep you from needing to invest in yet another space so soon after the first.
- Shoot for about 1500 to 2500 square feet before considering the rest of your physical therapy practice layout.
Choose Wisely When It Comes to PT Design Aesthetics
We all know that a space’s color can dramatically impact mood and set the tone for what you wish to achieve there.
- Calming blue and green tones in your waiting room or massage space can help soothe and relax patients.
- High-energy orange and yellow in PT performance rooms encourage patients to push further during each session.
Incorporating the right graphic elements in each space and even considering something as simple as signage or flooring can make a dramatic impact on how your patients perceive your space.
Surprisingly, proper lighting is just as crucial as your color palette. Good lighting in the waiting room or reception is especially essential.
- Harsh lighting as an element of your physical therapy practice layout can set the wrong tone for recovery.
- Aim for lighting that is as close to natural light as possible to avoid negative impacts on patient care.
Finally, the shape of your layout matters as much as size.
- Your clinicians should be able to observe the activity happening around them easily.
- Rectangular spaces allow you to better divide up your available square footage into the functional areas you need.
- You’ll need at least a few private treatment rooms with soothing music where a patient can relax and recharge on NEUBIE protocols like the master reset.
The shape you consider for your physical therapy practice layout also determines the flow of traffic within it. Use the division of your floor space to help direct your patients’ journey while optimizing the workspace for your therapists.
Want to Know More About How to Design a Physical Therapy Practice?
At NeuPTtech, we do more for our clients than offer groundbreaking technology. We were built from the ground up by an actively practicing PT owner, founder!
With the experience that comes from running several successful practices, we have more coaching to offer our fellow clinicians. Download our Clinic Design of the Future Guide today and discover more best practices and layouts of physical therapy clinic design.
Want to chat now? Get in touch with us directly, and follow our blog for additional insights!
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