Judges' Comments

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Project Data:

Completion Date:     8/1/2016

Square Footage:      5700

Building Use:           Cardiology Clinic

Location:                 San Francisco, California

Project Description:

Located in a mixed-use high-rise tower, the project involved relocating two existing office suites to create a single outpatient clinic for cardiovascular care. This clinic marked the beginning of a partnership between UCSF Medical Center and Golden Gate Cardiology. As such, much of the design team’s strategies work was focused on how to merge the two entities into a seamless practice. The design team gathered research from both existing clinics to develop an understanding of how this future hybrid clinic would operate: the existing Golden Gate Clinic and the UCSF ACC5 Heart & Vascular Center at the Parnassus Campus. Careful observation and interviews provided valuable insight into the current staff roles and patient experience for the new practice. Taking this research into account, the design team worked with the end users to develop a series of guiding principles for the future clinic, which included providing a familiar and inviting atmosphere, increased patient confidentiality, efficient staff flow, improved patient and staff communication; all resulting in improved patient care.
Client goals focused on staff and patients with regard to how the environment supports their needs and highest level of care. The primary goals were to create an environment that would assist in maintaining the clinic’s existing patients who would be coming from the former locations and to promote excellent staff communication, work flow and support of patients. The first impression became essential to ensure patient comfort and familiarity to help maintain the existing patient population during the transition to a new clinic location. To that end, emphasis was placed on creating a space that felt engaging and warm. Immediately upon entering clinic, the receptionist is visible, welcoming and ready to assist. The clinic promotes a sophisticated, rich and comforting atmosphere through the use of natural wood tones, subtle pattern and texture, thoughtful lighting and options for seating. The clarity of the floor plan assists with wayfinding and provides convenient access to all clinical spaces, limiting the amount of movement required by the patient and caregiver. Patient confidentiality is prioritized through the inclusion of private spaces for different types of conversations.
In order to support efficiency of workflow, the clinical staff workstations are all connected by a series of glass partitions and sliding doors. This encourages more interaction and communication among the staff members, and provides an off-stage area to hold private conversations away from patients. The medical assistant area acts as a command center, defining the threshold between the provider offices and the exam rooms. This supports the close working relationship between a physician and their assigned medical assistant, increasing awareness of each other’s actions and whereabouts.
The new clinic provides: 11 dedicated exam rooms, 2 additional clinical rooms that flex for use as exam rooms at peak times; 1 phlebotomy room for in-house blood draw services as needed; 1 device room for electrophysiology testing; 2 echo-vascular testing rooms an adjacent reading room; associated utility and storage rooms; work areas for 8 providers and 4 medical assistants; administrative staff offices; and a flexible staff lounge including both break room and conference room functions.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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