Electroencephalography Laboratory (EEG) Design Guide - Office of ...

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY LABORATORY (EEG) NOVEMBER 29, 2011
FUNCTIONAL AREAS AND RELATIONSHIPS
FA 1: Reception Area
Reception Area accommodates the initial processing and admission of all scheduled and unscheduled
outpatients. These areas include registration functions, waiting, and opportunities for patient education.
The reception control area shall be strategically located to give the receptionist clear observation of waiting
areas to facilitate control of outpatient traffic entering the suite and secure the department from unauthorized
access. On the day of the procedure, ambulatory patients will register at the reception area. Functional
considerations include location of workstation monitor screens to protect patient information, access to
lockable files, and accessibility compliant work stations.
The reception control area should be organized in a way that maintains patient confidentiality. Waiting for
patients and families should be organized so that separate patient circulation paths provide separate to prep
and exam rooms and are separate from service traffic. Outpatient processing areas should be separate from
inpatient circulation and holding areas when both outpatients and inpatients use the same exam rooms.
Waiting areas should be configured with small clusters of seating for privacy and for a less institutional
environment. Veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prefer seating where they do not
feel vulnerable from being approached from behind. Ensure that a specific complement of seats is located to
support this need. The use of table lamps and appropriate furnishings and finishes allow for intimate spaces
which encourage conversations and reduce stress levels in visitors.
Family waiting areas shall be located in close proximity to the exam spaces to facilitate post exam physician
visits with families to discuss results and treatment options. In some instances the need to accommodate
families with children may be required. This may include designating a children’s area in waiting areas with
appropriate furniture and content and should be addressed on a facility basis. The Consult Room should be
located adjacent to Waiting.
When possible, access to natural daylight, views of nature, and other positive distractions should be provided
to improve the human experience in these spaces. While it is common practice to include television viewing
capability in waiting spaces, studies have shown increased stress and blood pressure levels in persons in
waiting spaces exposed to television. This should be evaluated on a project by project basis.
For smaller size services, sharing functions associated with Reception and Waiting with other similar and
adjacent services should be considered on a per facility basis.
FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SECTION 3 - PAGE 21