Air quality influences the health, comfort and performance of everyone who uses your healthcare practice. Your business success starts with healthy staff, many of whom spend a third of their day at work. Controlling the risk of infection helps to avoid illness and reduce absenteeism.
Jerry Kennard, Director of Evoke, elaborates, “As practice owners and healthcare leaders, you know more about the circulation of viruses and other baddies than we do. But we know people and how much the workplace environment impacts the team’s ability to perform well. Look after your staff and they will look after your business.”
Jerry continues, “You also want to give patients confidence in your healthcare practice. Patients are very aware that their visit to your practice may expose them to germs from other people. Clean air and visible indicators of your commitment to air quality will reassure patients and create a more positive experience overall. The last thing you want is a patient telling their family and friends that they picked up a bug at your place! Even if not true, perception is all that matters…”
Unless there’s something obvious that affects the senses, like a bad smell or itchy eyes, we don’t notice a change in air quality. Air is invisible. Deterioration usually happens over time, so it is gradual, even less likely to be noticed. Negative health changes may be blamed on seasonal change, such as flu season, or factors outside the workplace. Unfortunately, it usually takes an obvious HVAC system malfunction or a severe bout of illness amongst staff to raise the red flag.
Staff are the beating heart of the healthcare experience. From the first greeting at reception, followed by the clinician and administration, all these interactions leave a lasting impression. But if staff are the heart, it is the building ventilation that powers the lungs of the experience.
Good ventilation within your medical fit-out supports a Well-Place™. It helps to remove viruses and bacteria, controls humidity, prevents carbon dioxide build-up and flushes out the indoor pollutants that emanate from carpets, furniture, printers and photocopiers. Invest in the best HVAC system that your business can afford. If there is a fancy feature, make signs for the waiting room to let patients know the extra steps you take to keep them safe.
While infection control clearly has the highest priority in any medical fit-out, have you noticed how much us humans think about and discuss body warmth? The weather, our clothing choices, different life stages, good or bad night’s sleep… there’s often a temperature consideration.
Thermal comfort affects concentration and fatigue. When people are too hot or cold, their bodies are having to work overtime to maintain their core temperature at 37°C. Studies have shown that ideal productivity is typically achieved in an environment around 21°C to 24°C, as bodies can regulate better within that range.
You will always have the cold frog and hot bod with everything in between. Trying to keep everybody happy is impossible, but you can contribute to a Well-Place™ by:
“Breathe Well” is just one aspect of the Well-Places™ Ecosystem, a science-backed approach to designing, delivering and continually improving healthcare environments where people can be and do well. Air quality, infection control and thermal comfort allow all practice users to Breathe Well.
Healthcare practices with a “well-positive” approach to their medical fit-out will reap the benefits of long-term business success. The aim is to create healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy environments. The next Evoke article will explore “Fuel Well”. Don’t worry, we are not venturing into diesel price discussions. We will focus on fueling the body of your team through good hydration, nourishment and hygiene.
