Keywords: office build-out clinical space nonclinical space employee only legal surgical suite

93.1 Introduction

Office design is a very important part of building and developing a hair restoration practice. It requires a fair amount of introspection on the part of the physician, because it will need to take into consideration a variety of factors. Some of these will be based on patient needs, some on staff needs, others on physician needs, and still others on state laws. In addition to these issues, the office is your face to the world and your “brand” should be clearly display. Whether you are the “cost-conscious” choice or the “money-is-no-object” doctor, your office needs to convey a sense of who you are and what you are about. The design and function of an office should reflect the same level of thought that is put into a surgical plan. It should be well-thought-out and flawlessly executed. While this chapter will not dive into all of these subjects, many of the fundamentals that will create a successful surgical center will be discussed.

93.2 Surgical Suite

The surgical suite is perhaps the most critical portion of your design. Comfort of the individuals who will be using the room is paramount and all are equally important—including physicians, assistants, and patients.

Patients should be in a chair that is as comfortable as possible; this usually means adequate padding (memory foam is a good choice), a chair that can be adjusted to various positions, and one that has head rests, which can be changed if needed. Equipment that may cause anxiety to the patient, such as scalpels, needles, and bloody items should ideally have a place out of the patient’s sight. Additionally, if conscious sedation will be used, monitoring equipment should be positioned in a location that is easily viewable to the physician, but less obvious to the patient. Managing what patients see in the operating room helps ease anxiety and create a more positive experience.