At RLF, our medical planners play a vital role in designing healthcare facilities that balance efficiency, safety, and a welcoming environment for patients, staff, and visitors. Our approach goes beyond space allocation—it's about creating strategic, adaptable environments where care can be delivered seamlessly today and into the future.
One such example is the Branch Medical Clinic at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where our team leveraged the site’s unique constraints to deliver a world-class design. The facility’s layout takes full advantage of the site’s varying elevations, enabling logistics access directly beneath the clinic while keeping it separate from patient flow. Patients enter the building on the second level—at ground level—while advanced clinical spaces occupy the upper floors. A centralized communication hub brings natural light to both ends of the facility, enhancing the experience for all users.
This project was also the first in the Department of Defense system to be built to the medical home model standard, fostering a collaborative environment for caregivers. By allowing direct, coordinated access to patients, this patient-centric approach improves quality and patient outcomes.
What Is Medical Planning?
Medical planning is a thoughtful and specialized process that ensures healthcare facilities are designed to serve patients and staff effectively. It begins with understanding the unique needs of each department and extends to enhancing workflows, improving safety, and integrating operational goals into every design decision.
In projects like the Annapolis clinic, our team incorporates tools such as workflow mapping and simulation studies to explore various layout scenarios. By making adjustments early in the design process, we can fine-tune layouts before construction begins, ensuring every inch of space supports functionality and care delivery.
What Makes a Great Medical Planner?
Our team consists of experts in space planning, functional planning, and equipment planning:
- Space Planners focus on layouts that prioritize patient comfort and room functionality.
- Functional Planners optimize workflows to ensure seamless movement of people and resources.
- Equipment Planners manage the selection, placement, and integration of medical devices, ensuring infrastructure compatibility.
Effective medical planners are also skilled communicators who collaborate with stakeholders—from healthcare providers to facility managers—to balance complex requirements and user preferences. Projects like the Annapolis clinic demonstrate the importance of listening to diverse perspectives, from care providers to logistical teams, to deliver spaces that meet real-world needs.
The Medical Planning Process
Our approach is methodical, collaborative, and designed for long-term impact:
Assessing Facility Needs - Our process begins with site visits and data collection, as seen at the Annapolis clinic. Planners addressed unique site constraints, such as elevation differences, and incorporated these into the final design. We also analyze healthcare utilization trends, demographic data, and regulatory standards to ensure compliance and scalability.
Designing Functional Spaces – Planners developed both high-level layouts and room-specific plans. For the Annapolis clinic, this included separating logistics access from patient areas and designing a centralized communication hut to enhance natural light and collaboration. Equipment planners work closely with stakeholders to identify needs and ensure infrastructure compatibility.
A Collaborative Approach - Collaboration drives success. Using virtual prototypes and simulation tools, we engage stakeholders to visualize and refine designs. In the case of the Annapolis clinic, this included aligning with the medical home model standard, which fosters better caregiver collaboration and patient outcomes. We remain involved through construction and beyond, conducting post-occupancy evaluations to gather insights for future projects.
Medical planning transforms healthcare facilities by:
- Enhancing patient care and the overall care experience.
- Streamlining operations to save time and reduce unnecessary movements.
- Maximizing safety for both patients and staff.
- Building flexibility into spaces to accommodate future innovations.
At RLF, projects like the Branch Medical Clinic at Annapolis showcase how thoughtful medical planning not only meets current demands but also sets a new standard for innovative, patient-centric care.
To learn more about the Branch Medical Clinic at Annapolis project, click here: https://bit.ly/4hXxZ8E