The prospect of surgical intervention can be overwhelming for patients. While a great deal of attention is given to the comfort and flow of patients through these spaces, the provider and their tools are rarely on the periphery of the overall design. At Synergy Architecture Studio, we believe successful outcomes within an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) are best achieved by providing efficient, well-choreographed spaces for patients and providers alike.
When working with Synergy, specialized design details begin in the lobby. Here, we consistently implement seating ‘vignettes’ so patients and waiting family members can wait in modern comfort with ample access to staff and information.
Reception desks are also designed for efficient workflow and staff safety. After check-in, patient travel through the suite can be simply described as a linear path, or “one-way”, towards (ideally) individualized pre-op rooms. At Synergy we’ve seen time and time again that individual rooms elevate surgical efficiencies as they provide a private space for patient contemplation and provider preparatory work, building mutual confidence and expediting the overall process.
Bays of these private surgical spaces are intentionally oriented around a nurse station dedicated to pre-op activities, further limiting the travel distance between patient and provider, while giving both ideal visual access to one another.
From pre-op, this one-way patient journey continues into the operating room to undergo their procedure. Here, provider movements and experience become the focus. When working with Synergy, operating rooms are regularly designed to exceed the planning strategies developed by the Facility Guidelines Institute in close collaboration with the providers who will be working at the ASC. While operating room layouts can be highly specific to each individual specialty, overall operating rooms must be developed to be both immediately functional and adaptable for future functionality as the use of robotics, imaging, and minimally invasive techniques during surgery continue to develop across a broad range of procedures.
Our strategy is to orient multiple operating rooms around a central corridor to ensure a safe, sterile and efficient flow of instruments, information, equipment, anesthesiologists, surgeons and nurses. These efficiencies are continuously tested and developed during planning to minimize physical distance between providers, equipment, supplies, and the operating table both reducing provider fatigue and the procedural timeline.
After surgery, the patient’s one-way journey moves to post-op where, similarly to pre-op, the patient is provided with a comfortable and functional space to begin their recovery. We generally incorporate a dedicated patient exit to provide a more direct, private, and dignified path as the patient prepares to continue their recovery at home.
When design strategy aligns with clinical excellence, everyone benefits. That’s why at Synergy, our architects design spaces that prioritize efficiency at every touchpoint alongside our users. By reducing physical distances, optimizing workflow, and anticipating future technological advances, our ASCs deliver various measurable benefits including reduced staff fatigue, improved patient turnover, lower operating costs and, most importantly, better surgical outcomes. Our strategy ensures patients receive exceptional care in a comforting environment, and that providers are able to perform in spaces that wholly support their ongoing success.