Caratozzolo said, "We put a lot of time and energy into understanding color. The themes are green to connote healing, blue to connote communication and yellow to connote energy."

Adjusting and massage therapy areas have green color schemes, he said. In his office, where patients get consultation and his report of findings, the walls are blue and yellow.

"When they look at me, the wall behind is blue to pick up on the communications vibe."

Group areas, which can be used for lectures, and rehab areas have energetic yellow themes, he said.

David said that basic decorative elements are crucial to the patient's lasting impression of your office:

"Living colors can inspire great confidence, but they cannot be trendy," he said. "There also should be 'life' in the office, like moving water and living plants. And use artwork instead."

When Proper Design Pays Off: The Returns

"When a patient comes to an environment that says 'great service,' and then they get great service in a setting where they feel confident, that's a patient you'll keep," Caratozzolo said.

"And I love coming to work and being here all day."

---

Warning Signs That You May Need An Office Re-Design

Evaluate your office by looking around and noting everything that is not a reflection of you, your practice or the profession you represent. Look for inefficiencies and Keep one thought uppermost: Does the facility decor reflect the quality of care that you provide? Focus on these areas:

1. Capacity Blockages. Are patients waiting more than 10 minutes to see the doctor?
   


2. Excess Staffing. Are you using more than one chiropractic assistant per 125 patients per week?
   


3. Excessive Reports of Findings. Do they last more than 20 minutes? Are your tools at your fingertips, or are you bouncing all over the room/office to get what you need?
   


4. Cross-Traffic Patterns. Are your most-utilized rooms in the front of the office, and the least-used in the back?
   


5. Visibility You Don't Want. Can patients see into nonpatient areas, like billing rooms? What is the overall level of clutter in the office?
   


6. Front Desk. Is your front-desk area designed to minimize loitering? Is there a dedicated check-in and check-out area so one CA can process two patients simultaneously?
   


7. Color, Furniture and Walls. Is there a consistent theme, or is it a potpourri? Are you using posters instead of artwork?
   


8. Patient Flow. Can a patient easily find their way through your clinic without a staff member escorting them?
   


9. Poor Communication. Can your staff find you and contact you quickly and, when necessary, privately, via a computer network or line-of-sight communications?
   


10. Records Access. Are critical records digitally available in treatment and consultations rooms, or must they be hand-carried?
    


11. Product and Informational Displays. Are all displays well-organized and properly positioned so they are in view of patients as they flow through your office?

Additional Things to Consider:

• When did you last dust your plastic plants?
• Is your carpeting stained?
• Are the walls dirty and scuffed?