• Home
• Specialties
  • Emergency
  • Internal Med
  • Oncology
  • Surgery
  • Imaging
  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology
  • Dentistry
  • Behavior
• Staff
  • Carlsbad
  • Murrieta
  • Ontario
• Articles
  • Tips for Pets
  • What's New at CVS
• About
• Forms
  • Client Information
  • Prescription Refill
  • Job Application
  • Vet Behavior
• Contact
  • Clients
  • RDVMs
  • Employment

Reception and waiting area: Storefront windows grace the waiting area, and a large bronze sculpture separates the reception and discharge areas. Recessed fixtures provide even lighting. The front desk gives receptionists visual control of the entry, exit, discharge, waiting, retail, exam, and treatment areas.

There's no such thing as "my case" or "your case" at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad, Calif. Every doctor shares cases, information, and expertise to make sure that every patient and client receives top-notch care. So it stands to reason that when the five co-owners were designing their third facility together since 2003, they wanted a building that would reflect their no-barriers business approach.

 

"The fishbowl": Large windows provide visual contact between the treatment area and doctors' workstations to better integrate patient care. This airy, open room serves as the hub of the hospital.

With a little time and a lot of thought, the doctors converted an existing structure into the practice's third facility, using an open space designed to foster a shared sense of community. The Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition judges found favor with the facility, granting the practice a 2008 Merit Award. The judges praised the doctors' use of glass throughout, great floor plan, and attention to detail.

Putting Philosophy Into Practice:
Co-owner Dr. Tim Concannon says the practice's philosophy is to be integrated across the board. "We wanted a design that would put us all in the same room at the same time so we could share cases and communicate easily," he says. "Floor plan and flow is definitely part of it, but it's also the mindset that we work under."

 

Exterior: The aging painted aluminum mullion and glass entry was removed from the existing building and replaced with a new storefront, allowing more natural light into the waiting area. An outdoor patio area was also enclosed to create a larger, more striking reception area.

To achieve an integrated design to support the practice style, Dr. Concannon and his co-owners chose to include a feature they call "the fishbowl," a glass enclosure in the center of the practice housing the doctors' workstation within the treatment area.

CT scan: The CT room, which features full lead shielding, was strategically placed in a corner of the hospital near the radiation therapy and nuclear medicine areas to allow for smoother traffic flow and to minimize congestion.

"This is my favorite feature," says Dr. Concannon. "I love being able to see everything going on around me. Even now, as I sit here, I can see our oncologist examining a patient and signaling a surgeon and a radiologist to get their opinions on what to do. Our design now supports our collaborative approach to medicine. It essentially puts us all in the same room at the same time."

With the new facility came a smoother flow from surgery to recovery and from surgery to radiology. "Each time we've built we've kept a lot of our old ideas but scaled them up significantly," says Dr. Concannon. "Here, we brought surgery, recovery, and radiology closer to one another to save steps and work more efficiently." These changes not only make practice more efficient, they foster teamwork and allow for a better flow of information, he says.

Read more at Veterinary Hospital Design 360

- Veterinary Economics 

Please note: This site is intended as a general information site only. We cannot offer advice or provide diagnosis or treatment protocols on a pet we've never seen. Our patients are seen by referral only from your primary veterinarian. If you have questions, please call us.