Your office affects your patients, your staff � and especially your own sense of well-being. Make sure it's all it can be

By Roger Currey

"The receptionist was well placed and the waiting room was neat and tidy. The examination rooms were clean and orderly. The physician's own office though was a mess. Desk overflowing, files stacked up on the floor, a drug cabinet so cluttered and disorganized it was a major challenge to find anything. The staff took their breaks and often ate in a cluttered, grungy file room at the back. The only ventilation came from a noisy ceiling fan. It came as no surprise that staff turnover was a problem."

� Findings of a feng shui consultant in West Vancouver

Not everyone is going to go out and hire a feng shui consultant in the hopes of finding a solution to a practice problem, as did the Vancouver practice mentioned above. In many practices it doesn't take an expert to tell that the office space needs updating. Still, over time, these things get away from us. What was once a smooth functioning, pleasant place to work slides almost imperceptibly into a less desirable hodgepodge

of cluttered desktops, overflowing file cabinets, shabby furniture and spotted carpeting. Setting these things right doesn't have to cost a lot of money and the dividends in workplace satisfaction for you and your staff can be considerable. Working in a clean well-lit place feels a whole lot better. Could your workspace use some sprucing up?

Take a walk around your office as though you'd never set foot in the place before. Put yourself in a patient's place. It could be a revelation. Here are some things to look for.

Outside Is the building well maintained? In the case of a practice in a converted house, are the lawn and sidewalk free of litter? In practices in office buildings are the walls and floors clean? Is the lighting good? Is the practice accessible to wheelchairs? Are practice hours and emergency telephone numbers clearly posted on the door?

Reception/waiting areas Is the room well lit and ventilated? Is there sufficient seating? Is the furniture worn and a little sad-looking? Does it feel clean?

Examination rooms Do they give an impression of cleanliness and efficiency? Is there a place for everything and everything in its place? Does every doctor have at least one exam room assigned to his or her exclusive use? Are supplies close at hand? Is there a washbasin nearby? Is there a place to easily dispose of needles and syringes?

Pharmaceuticals Are drugs kept under lock and key? Does someone review products for expiry dates? Is there a system in place to track when injectables were first opened?

Records Are prescription pads stored in a way that patients can't get at them? Are medical records stored efficiently and securely? Can records be easily located and filed away after use?

Safety Are alarm touch pads located in places where they can be easily accessed by staff coming and going? Do all staff members know what to do if the alarms are set off in error? Are the names and phone numbers of persons to be contacted in the event that the alarm goes off outside practice hours updated and on file with the security company? Is there an adequate number of fire extinguishers? Are they checked annually by a supply company to ensure that they're charged and fully operational? Is there a fully stocked emergency kit that's readily accessible? Does it include a flashlight in addition to first aid supplies? Are fire evacuating directions clearly posted?

Your office Many physicians' offices act as a kind of catchall for everything that doesn't have a home. A well-organized, pleasant, comfortable place to work is essential given the long hours you put in. Anything you can do to create a place you enjoy being in can do as much to revitalize your commitment to your patients' health as a two-week vacation. If there's something that would make your practice a happier place to be � get it without delay. You deserve it.