Hospital Design

For 34 years, the doctors at Gunbarrel Veterinary Clinic in Boulder, Colo., cared for pets out of an old farmhouse. The building consisted of two exam rooms, a cramped treatment area, and a noisy kennel that shared a wall with an exam room.

This facility offers a mix of holistic and Western medicine. A warm, calming, and artistic atmosphere. And enough space for the specialty medical team to care for pets and their owners.

I'm considering remodeling an exam room. What are the first steps I should take?

We tried for years to get you all to share your hospital makeover projects—the progress you made with a weekend of work and a bucket of paint. But to no avail.

Do you have an exam room that compromises your dignity? Do clients gawk and children giggle when they step into Room Three? You can remodel this terror of a room without creating chaos. Just ask the team at Great Neck Veterinary Clinic, Virginia Beach, Va., winner of the 2005 Veterinary Economics Ugly Exam Room Contest, sponsored by Veterinary Economics, BDA Architecture, Shor-Line Cabinet Co., and InPro Corp. Great Neck Veterinary Clinic realized it had a problem—and fixed it.

Pet Medical Center of San Antonio doesn't abide by many design rules, which suits this practice crew perfectly. A creative approach helped this doctor create a comfortable, convenient hospital for clients, patients, and staff members.

Our contest winner transformed an exam room. And you can do it, too.

Progress is slow, but Dr. W. Mark Cousins expresses optimism.

The key goals: A modern design that reflects the state-of-the-art specialty care the team provides. A good experience for visiting clients. And a facility that's comfortable for team members—and makes them proud.

Veterinarians fought such incredible obstacles in the wake of the hurricane.

A devastating fire forced this doctor to rebuild his historic New Orleans practice. He took the opportunity to make a bold statement about his team's special focus on feline care.

Are you making the most of your practice space? Find out by breaking down your earnings by square foot and comparing your numbers with these averages for each profit center.

Combining three pieces of land let the owners of Animal Clinic East achieve three design goals: to increase the number of exam rooms, develop a facility they could show off to clients, and build in comfortable workspaces for team members.

First decide which areas of your practice offer the greatest opportunities—then look at ways to make the changes you want without breaking the bank.

Thoughtfully planned plumbing systems help prevent messes and aggravation down the road. Follow these guidelines for clog- and hassle-free practice plumbing.

Whether you're building a new practice or remodeling an old one, being environmentally friendly may save you money.

Don't waste your energy trying to squeeze a 15,000-square-foot hospital onto a 3,000-square-foot lot. Instead, exercise flexible thinking, creative planning, and strategic cost controls to build your dream.

Use these resources to prepare for your building project.

This doctor spent nearly 15 years planning his addition and renovation. Along the way, he learned to expect pitfalls, use long-lasting materials, and dream big.

The careful design of this 3,010-square-foot hospital and the luxurious finishings belie the small footprint and reasonable price tag.

Lack of respect for the facility can signal deficits in pride and care that hurt more than just the building if left unchecked.

Clearly separating practice functions set the tone for VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital--and created a unique design feature. Then the design team added a superbly crafted 7,850 square-foot floor plan and thoughtfully chosen materials, securing the 2005 Veterinary Economics Hospital of the Year award.

North Central Veterinary Center, a collaboration between a university veterinary school and private practitioners, proves there's strength in numbers--and frees local veterinarians from late-night emergencies

Dividing medical and ancillary services into two separate-but-connected buildings allows the team at Intermountain Pet Hospital and Pet Lodge to focus on the tasks at hand and project a more professional image.

My team finally convinced me that it's time to repaint. I like white, but am I just boring?

Gates Hafen Cochrane Architects of Boulder, Colo., supplied this brief listing of common finish materials used in veterinary care facilities, along with some "helpful hints." For more information, contact Gates Hafen Cochrane Architects at (800) 332-4413.

Chapel Associates Architects Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., supplied this checklist of suggested materials for planning a veterinary hospital. For more information, contact Chapel Associates Architects Inc. at (501) 225-5900.

Materials guide for veterinarians

Chapel Associates Architects Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., supplied this list of material and finish manufacturers and suppliers. For more information, call Chapel Associates Architects Inc. at (800) 225-5900.

After 34 years in an outdated building, this doctor decided to match the facility to the level of medicine he practiced. The result: Business doubled.