Why Clear Goals are Key to a Successful Practice Fitout

So you’ve decided to take the big leap, and head out on your own to start your own healthcare practice. But before you start looking at properties, consider business names, and pick colour schemes, you need to stop and think about your goals.

What are your key goals for your practice? What are your needs as a business owner, and just as importantly, the needs of your potential patients? These are just some of the many questions you should consider before you commence any further planning of your new practice.

Why Define Your Goals?

By defining your goals for your business, you’ll be clear about what you want in your practice fitout. This clarity helps your healthcare practice design and fitout team to create a clinic that truly reflects your vision and is fit for purpose.

For example, if it’s important that your consult rooms are directly accessible from your waiting area, your fitout design layout will need to incorporate this.

What Goals?

Generally speaking, most healthcare practice goals fall into two broad categories – workflow practicality and “look and feel”.

Workflow practicality is about designing your clinic so tasks can be completed effectively and efficiently. You would consider factors such as, how many patients will you see each day and what equipment you will use. What is the physical “journey” your patients will take? By considering these factors, you can ensure your practice fitout incorporates appropriate spaces to meet your goals.

“Look and feel” is about ensuring your design meets the key ideas you want to include in your practice fitout.

Common methods used to translate your defined goals for your clinic into a potential “look and feel” for your practice involve the creation of lists of related words and feelings, “mind maps”, discussing examples of other practices or looking through swatches of fabric. 

For example, if being environmentally friendly is one of your business goals, a fitout that makes the most of natural light or sustainable features may be a good idea. On the other hand, if families are a key target market for your new practice, a kids area in your waiting room is worth considering.

Meeting Your Goals

Creating your own healthcare practice is an exciting – yet sometimes daunting – journey.  The team at Elite has over 35 years’ experience in design and fitouts, and we guide you through every step of the process to create your dream practice.

The starting point for when we discuss your fitout is to understand the driver behind your project.  We then talk through your goals and can provide expert analysis of your objectives to help you begin to plan your new practice environment.

Learn More

If you’d like to see examples of practice fitouts that met their owners’ goals, check out our project gallery.

Or to discuss your goals for your planned practice, give the Elite team a call on 1300 765 344.