Dr. Christin Steinbach thrills patients of all ages in Cologne, Germany, with her practice concept. In this interview, she talks about design and the successful mix of professionalism and coziness.
Dr. Steinbach, your practice is called âLieblings-Zahnarzt,â which means âFavorite dentistâ â how did you come up with the name? And what was the motivation or inspiration for the design theme of your practice?
Dr. Steinbach: The story behind the name is actually a very nice one. A young patient once said to me after her treatment: You are my favorite dentist â even though we had to drill. This showed me how important it is for patients to feel comfortable, as the atmosphere in the practice is pleasant and personal. Not everyone likes going to the dentist. We wanted to change that. With this in mind, we set up the practice in 2016. Everything from the design to the professional technology to the selection of the team members must serve the best possible patient experience. A survey confirmed that, in addition to professional equipment, hygiene and quality of treatment, patients particularly appreciate so called âsoftâ factors such as the interior design of the practice and the friendly atmosphere.
Lounge style â the waiting room on the upper floor.
Soft pastel tones - the waiting room on the first floor.Â
Comfortable seating invites to relax in the waiting room.
Which influences do design, practice concept and equipment have on your daily work? And how do patients react?
Already in the entrance area of our practice, which is spread over two floors, we wanted to do many things a bit differently. Behind the counter, our staff sits on high bar chairs. So, they greet patients at eye level. The same applies to the waiting zone. Instead of sitting across from each other in the typical waiting room atmosphere, our patients choose their individual comfort zone in a sitting area. The rooms are reminiscent of modern and comfortably furnished living rooms, with exceptional furniture and accessories as well as a warm lighting concept. The smell of coffee and tea specialties, which our patients can also choose to take away, wafts from the machine. Many patients really look forward to their visit. They like to come early or stay a while after the treatment, drink coffee, read or listen to music, using our Wi-Fi.
The treatment rooms continue the experience from the waiting area for the patient. Each room looks different and is surprising. Of course, the clean and professional equipment dominates. But the first thing patients see is a colorful wallpaper with flowers, a beautiful mosaic, and interesting objects on the wall. In front of this individually designed wall, there is seating for accompanying persons in each treatment room. The furniture is also different in each room. Many patients are delighted when they discover a new room they havenât been in before. Iâm often asked where we bought the wallpaper or a particular accessory. This creates a calm atmosphere for the treatment. We have noticed that comfort and efficiency can be combined.
As far as the technical equipment is concerned, I also had a clear idea of what I wanted. Our six Teneo treatment centers are good examples of the technology and clean, timeless design that I had envisioned. Everything is right at hand. The patient perceives one thing above all: He is sitting in a comfortable, ergonomically shaped chair. At the same time, patients experience a calm treatment atmosphere without disruptions.
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