Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

A physician’s exam room should be educational and inviting

Hayward Zwerling, MD
Physician
December 2, 2021
15 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Today’s health care system has become so standardized that if a person in a medical office were instantly and magically transported to a medical office in another city, the person would instantly recognize that they were still in a medical office. Our offices are now antiseptic, cold, and devoid of educational material and humanity, and this office decor can adversely impact a physician’s ability to provide care to their patients.

When I built my first private practice office, I decided to design it to reflect my personality while simultaneously providing passive educational opportunities and entertainment for my patients.

The walls of my waiting room and exam rooms have been covered with an ever-evolving display of newspaper articles, patient-appropriate medical journal articles, professional society patient educational publications, and personal writings, which I believe will help advance my patients’ health.

I have posted information about diabetes, diet, obesity, COVID, why it is important that patients tell their physicians when and why they are not taking their medicines, how to obtain their medicines at a lower cost, inexpensive medicines which might be able to be substituted for more expensive medicines, and other topics.

The educational materials on the walls of my office clearly resonate with patients. It is not uncommon for me to walk into an exam room and encounter a patient who is taking a photograph of one or more articles.

Along with the educational information displayed on the walls of my office, I also hang items that reflected my interests, hobbies, and personality – all done in an attempt to humanize the physician-patient interaction.

For a period of time, some of my waiting room walls were covered with my wife’s oil paintings, ensconced in atypical wood frames that I designed and built. The pictures and frames resulted in many conversations between me and my patients that were outside the realm of traditional medical care and served to humanize me as a person and thus strengthen my bond with my patients.

One of my exam rooms is covered with record albums that I had accumulated in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Almost every patient between the ages of 45 and 75 years old that enters that room for the first time will make a comment about how they too had one or more of those record albums. When it is a patient whom I am meeting for the first time, this non-medical, “first contact” helps to establish a less clinical, more empathic relationship between the patient and me and may facilitate the subsequent clinical conversation.

For a large fraction of my career in private practice, I also brought my pets into the office, my African gray parrot had a cage in the waiting room, and my two dogs wandered between the exam rooms and my personal office. When the animals were not present, my established patients made it very clear to me or my staff that they much preferred when the animals were present.

Occasionally a patient would bring their parents, friends, or children to their office visit so they could meet the animals. The resultant conversations between me and my patients about the animals further humanized the physician-patient bond in a way that is not likely to occur in a sterile work environment. As I knew some patients would prefer that I not have the dogs in my office, I prominently displayed a sign in the waiting room stating that we would unquestionably and immediately lock-up the dogs on request – but that would only occur about once a month, and we subsequently would lock-up the dogs when that patient came to their next office visit.

Some physicians will argue that it is unprofessional to decorate their office walls or have pets in my office. One hospital administrator told me that “patients prefer the traditional sterile, hospital-like environment.” My interactions with my patients have demonstrated that the assumption that patients prefer the traditional, sterile medical office is woefully antiquated and not shared by most of the patients I have met.

I believe that today’s institutional medical office decor promotes an artificial distinction and creates an unnecessary barrier between the patient and the physician, thus resulting in the standardization and depersonalization of health care. This depersonalization may adversely impact a physician’s ability to obtain an accurate history and perversely impact their ability to take care of their patient.

I am certain that the vast majority of my patients appreciate my atypical exam rooms and waiting rooms. I would encourage other physicians to experiment with the decor in their office.

Physicians need to take back control of the health care system from the health care institutions which have so warped the delivery of health care in the U.S. Decorating our offices with educational materials and items that reflect our personality can be done easily, inexpensively, helps promote health care education, improve physician-patient rapport, and is appreciated by the vast majority of patients.

Hayward Zwerling is an endocrinologist who blogs at I Have an Idea.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Grow, share, eat: We have the opportunity to subvert the dominant supply chain

December 2, 2021 Kevin 0
…
Next

There is no quick fix for kids' cold and flu symptoms but there are things you can do

December 2, 2021 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Grow, share, eat: We have the opportunity to subvert the dominant supply chain
Next Post >
There is no quick fix for kids' cold and flu symptoms but there are things you can do

More by Hayward Zwerling, MD

  • A retired physician’s battle with moral injury

    Hayward Zwerling, MD
  • The CHIPHIT complex and the future of health care: Can we create a low-cost, high-quality system?

    Hayward Zwerling, MD
  • It is time to make the unvaccinated pay their fair share

    Hayward Zwerling, MD

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Why health care replaced physician care

    Michael Weiss, MD
  • More physician responsibility for patient care

    Michael R. McGuire
  • Health care needs more physician CEOs

    Alexi Nazem, MD
  • Denying payment for emergency care: a physician defends insurers

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • The health care system will cause its own physician shortage

    Advait Suvarnakar and Aashka Suvarnakar

More in Physician

  • The alarming epidemic of physician burnout and how we can combat it

    Tomi Mitchell, MD
  • A retired physician’s battle with moral injury

    Hayward Zwerling, MD
  • Unveiling the secrets to effective resuscitation and overcoming obstacles

    Deepak Gupta, MD
  • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

    Jay K. Joshi, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Empathy and awareness: Unveiling the hidden dangers of food allergies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The alarming epidemic of physician burnout and how we can combat it

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Physician
    • A retired physician’s battle with moral injury

      Hayward Zwerling, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the secrets to effective resuscitation and overcoming obstacles

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Georgia’s new law promoting truth and transparency in health care credentials

      Carmen Kavali, MD | Policy
    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • FDA Panel Endorses mAb to Prevent RSV in Infants
  • Novel LAA Closure Device 'Promising'
  • Acute GvHD Risk After Allo-HCT Higher With Some Antibiotics vs Others
  • TTFields Therapy Yields OS Improvement in Second-Line NSCLC
  • Mental Health Provider Disclosed Personal Patient Info in Google Reviews

Meeting Coverage

  • Novel LAA Closure Device 'Promising'
  • TTFields Therapy Yields OS Improvement in Second-Line NSCLC
  • Upper Airway Stimulation Device for OSA Holds Up in Real-World Analysis
  • Morning Naps in Elderly People May Reflect Dementia Risk
  • Extra Follow-Up Confirms Benefit of Nivolumab in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Empathy and awareness: Unveiling the hidden dangers of food allergies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The alarming epidemic of physician burnout and how we can combat it

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Physician
    • A retired physician’s battle with moral injury

      Hayward Zwerling, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the secrets to effective resuscitation and overcoming obstacles

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Georgia’s new law promoting truth and transparency in health care credentials

      Carmen Kavali, MD | Policy
    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

A physician’s exam room should be educational and inviting
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...