Medcare challenges the rules of hospital interiors

Time was when one hospital looked pretty much like any other: No-frills functionality, lots of cold-looking stainless steel and a colour scheme that was overwhelmingly white. In today's competitive healthcare field, however, patients can pick and choose between hospitals and are increasingly opting for something a little more attractive.

Not surprisingly then, hospital décor and ambience are now given renewed attention by administrators, with designers and architects carefully planning everything from the shape of a building to its fixtures and fittings. This is particularly true of the UAE, where an increasing number of private facilities are going to great lengths to make hospital visits as pleasant as possible.

But this is more than just a matter of aesthetics, say the experts.

"Good interiors reinforce human dignity," says Arun Nalapat, Interior Designer for Medcare Hospital in Dubai. "Of course, nobody comes to a hospital as a matter of choice, but we firmly believe that attention to detail in the interiors of a facility will create a more positive environment and quicken the healing process."

The sights, sounds and smells we usually associate with hospitals, Nalapat adds, can reinforce people's sense that they are sick, or even keep them away altogether. "We wanted to take this reaction away by creating an environment where patients would feel at ease," he says. "For this we kept in mind lighter, softer colours and good lighting that would make the surroundings calmer, less threatening and more subdued."

Dr. Sadik Kodakat, the hospital's Executive Medical Director "When we thought of Medcare Hospital, our idea was to give people a home away from home," he says. "We wanted it to be classy and contemporary, in a way that would convey competence and professionalism without being gaudy or ornate."

Medcare, a 60-bed multi-specialty hospital, features corridors that are adorned with tasteful abstract art mounted on cream and beige walls. Soft music plays throughout the various departments. In addition, the hospital places great emphasis on friendly, personal care from its staff members.

"Since our launch in March, we have received positive feedback from many of our customers on the aesthetics of the building and the warmth of our team," says Dr. Kodakat. In fact, he adds, "Some of our patients have requested to stay on after their recovery period."