[Ashley]

It was interesting to see pictures of different waiting rooms and observe what features of waiting rooms and environments in general elevate or lower anxiety. From this session, I learned that just walking down long empty hallways or even just an elevator ride can provoke anxiety, so it’s useful to have sensory focal points / distractions with some element of patient interaction / control on the walls of the hallways. The Little Bird Pediatric Dentistry office design was so innovative and interesting to learn about! I also learned about how important it is to provide natural lighting and mirrors to give a feeling of spaciousness. Seeing a board with toys on display instead of a typical “treasure chest” or box filled with toys was also quite novel to me. Overall, I learned lots of useful tips and ideas about designing a practice to be both accessible and calming for patients with special healthcare needs.