UF&Shands is putting patients' needs first with the opening of its newest care center, UF&Shands at Springhill to consolidate specialty services in one Gainesville, Fla., location for improved access.
Designed by Flad Architects and constructed by SkanskaUSA, the $22 million, 111,600-square-foot specialty clinic is a one-stop shop that makes it easier for patients who need to see multiple specialists. It brings together parts of practices that had been in different locations around town, allowing for better continuity of care.
Patients are now able to access a variety of medical practices including the UF Department of Dermatology, the UF Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, the UF Department of Psychiatry, the UF Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, radiology services, and medical laboratories - all in one convenient location.
"The facility was designed for long-term flexibility by the use of standardized exam and treatment room sizes and designs which reduce medical errors, something commonly recognized in evidence-based design for patient safety. Wayfinding was critical in the space planning in an effort to improve staff efficiency and reduce patient confusion and anxiety," said Steven Jackson, Flad Architects.
Centralized kiosk registration and check-in is also being employed to empower patients, reduce waiting times, and improve patient throughput.
The four-story building also provides a healing environment for patients with floor-to-ceiling windows providing natural light and exterior views. Each department is painted in a different color to aid in wayfinding, and nature photographs are displayed throughout the building.
"This new facility is a major step in a series of planned initiatives to provide world-class healthcare to the citizens of Gainesville and the region. This specialty facility is not just about providing healthcare in beautiful, spacious surroundings ... although it does that ... it is about access to our University of Florida specialists in a convenient and highly responsive manner, " said David Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., UF senior vice president for health affairs and president, UF&Shands Health System.
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