INEXPENSIVE MEDICAL OFFICE DECOR IDEAS

When decorating a medical office space blending a professional and comfortable atmosphere can often times prove to be a difficult task. Medical office decor often hits the sterile, lack lustre end of the spectrum and most often fails to provide warmth and comfort for anxious patients.
The good news is that there are some excellent ways of liven up your medical office space with a 'wow' factor all while staying on budget.

PERSONALITY: You have a blank canvas to allow the doctors personality to shine through by way of decor. If she/he is an avid hiker or nature enthusiast, displaying pictures of treks abroad and/or nature scenes, earth tone wall colours and decor accents will typically create a calm and relaxing space.

PAINT: Design experts agree: the least expensive and quickest way to freshen up the look of your space then paint. This low cost solution is relatively non-committal and can create a dynamic transformation for a room. Stick with neutrals tones such as cream, taupe, grey and moss green and avoid pastels and sterile white. By keeping your wall colours neutral allows for you to add bold colors as accents throughout your office, such as around doorways and windows.
If you have a chair rail try painting below the rail a slightly darker color to break up the wal, hide scuff marks and better define a long empty space. Create interest by selecting one wall within the space to be an accent color, possibly behind reception. Keep current with the color trends (not what matches old furniture). As well, paint is relatively inexpensive and should be changed out on a 5 year plan.

WALL ART: A few well-placed pieces of wall art can do so much to enhance a room. Great looking wall art doesn't have to be expensive, and it can be as individual as you are. In addition to online art galleries, which offer signed and numbered prints for as little as $20.00 a piece. Consider commisioning a local artist, photographer or student artist to feature their artwork in your space. This option provides publicity and support for local artists, but is an inexpensive way for you to keep your walls current and ever changing. Its a win-win situation.

PLANTS: The key ingredient to awaken  a space is live plants and fresh cut flowers. Live plants bring the outdoors in, they can be changed frequently, and are relatively inexpensive in regards to other design products.

OTHER TIPS: Don't hesitate to decorate a doctors individual office with framed diplomas, certifications, awards and other forms of medical recognition and achievement. It is a powerful way for doctors to win trust and respect of patients. Also a similar method for building trust and establishing persoanl connections is to display family photographs, holiday cards, thank you notes or other forms of communication that have come from patients.

Last but not least, the health of patients is imperative! This is top priority for anyone decorating a medical or health care facility. Because waiting areas are the perfect breeding ground for germs, make sure you select fabrics and surfaces that can be easily sanitized and frequently cleaned.

7 TIPS FOR MOVING YOUR MEDICAL PRACTICE PAIN-FREE

Moving Doesn't Have to Be Painful...

Moving a medical office is never an easy undertaking, but it doesn't have to be difficult. A move can be overwhelming: You must move expensive equipment from one office to the next. You have to keep your staff happy and productive during the move. Your patients have to be kept informed of your new location and hours. Fortunately by following some key rules you can make your medical office move a smooth one. Below are some of the biggest mistakes Doctors make when making a move and some tips how to avoid them.

1.  DON'T KEEP YOUR PATIENTS IN THE DARK

You don't want patients to waste their time driving around in search of your old medical building

only to find that you have moved. Start letting your patients know of your move long before your  

change. Be sure to have signs posted in your office making patients aware of your office move. Send patients letters, postcards with your new address and hours, along with the date it will be opening. If your budget can afford it send out refridgerator magnets with the same information. Also make sure you tell every patient individually, as this type of interaction typically resonates positively with patients. Finally a second round of postcards should be sent out after the medical move. This will serve as a reminder to those that already know of the move but primarily they provide the current information to those that may have been left out of the loop.

2.  SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME TO PROPERLY PLAN AND EXECUTE THE MOVE

Doctors should allot two to three months for planning and executing a move. Do not wait until your lease expires to start making plans. Once you have your move date schedule your moving
company ASAP. If your move is to a start up which includes design to construction, furniture and equipment purchasing and installation allow nine to twelve months as an ideal time frame from site selection through to move date.
Typically, there is no miracle month for a move. Timing should be based more
on business factors. Is there a slower period for your practice during which it would make sense
to devote time and effort to move? Consider a weekend move which would allow you to focus on
boxing, moving and unpacking, which can be all accomplished in one to three days if properly
planned.

3. BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS

Many doctors will appoint the entire moving project responsibility to their office manager or all staff members which can lend itself to a lack of communication, confusion and an unsuccessful transition. Keep in mind this is your business, so you need to be aware and in control of what is happening. After all, what if your office manager decides to quit before the move takes place. Schedule to be present at project planning meetings, touch base with your manager at least once a week, so your up to date on the details. Get to know any moving consultants that may be hired. Be significantly involved in the overall process.

4. HIRE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE EXPERIENCED MEDICAL OFFICE MOVERS

Medical offices have a large amount of personal files, and you must make protection a priority when managing the move. Choose a reputable moving company that has experience moving medical offices with confidential materials. Also, medical equipment is expensive so a reputable company can
successfully reduce the risk of damage both on the move and in the reinstallation of the equipment in the new space.

5. KEEP EMPLOYEES HAPPY

A medical office move can be stressful on everyone involved. Your employees take the brunt of this stress. They are involved in the moving process but primarily they are the direct contact with patients. Day in and day out for months your staff must provide the new information to each and every client and manage patient questions and concerns. To ease this stressful process keep your staff happy.
If your staff are packing boxes or storing files on moving day, make sure to provide them with
plenty of breaks. Spring for snacks, meals and beverages throughout the day. And to be sure to
reward their hard work with at least a small financial bonus. They'll really appreciate it.

6. UNDERSTAND THE HIDDEN COSTS OF YOUR MOVE

Getting an itemized invoice or statement that details exactly what the movers will be responsible for
and how much it will cost. For example packing and unpacking: Your time and effort may be worth
the cost of professionals to take care of this. Ask alot of questions: Is there a cost in
changing contracts for in-office clinical or office equipment? Can you get a price break if you
move some items yourself? What does moving insurance include and what does it cover?

7. HAVE A BACK UP PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES

The unimaginable does happen! Plan for the unexpected! For example: the phone system is not up in the new office, or your manager is sick on moving day. While you can't plan for every possible disaster, imagine a few unpleasant scenarios and have a back up plan so your move can be successful.

BUYING YOUR FIRST MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE

What Every Doctor Needs to Know...

For many doctors medical office space ownership offers the opportunity to own and control their own space. Doctors typically purchase their medical office space on the same basis that home owners buy homes-owning is the first preference to renting. Once the doctor begins, the medical office space is brand new, the floor plate is like a blank canvas and can be created to the exact specifications.

MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE FIT:
Over the years, unlike monthly disappearing rent, equity and appreciation builds until the doctor owns the property mortgage free and clear. There are also no hassles with parking,landlords and complicated signage that greets patients in a typical downtown office building or hospital.
This property for the doctor my be the biggest asset; so buying a medical office space may be the smartest move for the doctor for many reasons such as, the landlord doesn't change, the rent doesn't rise and it can be a very good idea for a doctor, who is sure they want to stay put in the same space for 5-10 years.
Medical office space ownership can be very alluring to doctors on many levels. If a doctor can purchase a medical office space with 75% financing and it comes in relatively close to what it costs a doctor to rent, then your in the ballpark. With today's current interest rate rates being at an all time history low, purchasing a medical office condo financed over 20 years isn't costing the doctors anymore than leasing, in fact its costing less.

FINANCING YOUR MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE:
The financing for medical office building developments and medical office condos in general is a little easier to get financing for the acquisition of a medical office condo. Most lenders are more willing to make loans for owner-occupied doctors, if the doctor has a good credit rating there are bankers eager to lend. Local lenders say medical professionals are high on the list of preferred customers. What the banks are looking for is the doctor's capacity to repay the debt obligation through business and personal cash flow.

TIPS FOR DOCTORS BUYING THEIR FIRST MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE:
1. Does the location work? Look at the medical office condo in which you want to move to. Look at the opportunity carefully and ask if the property could be sold in 30 years from now as a viable entity in and itself.
2. Is there enough parking? Doctors should have at least 6 spaces for every 1,000 square feet.
3. Have an exit strategy. Take an extra 25% of space if you are thinking you may want to expand in the future.
4. Purchase extra parking spaces if you can, it will add value to the medical office space.