March 28, 2024

Newton Clinic remodels to enhance patient experience

Image 1 of 2

The Newton Clinic completed its largest renovations to the Ross Medical Arts Building since its establishment in 1993.

Although many additions to the Newton Clinic, located at 300 N. Fourth Ave. E., have been completed over the past 20 years, the receptionist area has mostly remained unchanged. In 2001, an expansion was done to the waiting area adding space in the south side and west side of the receptionist area.

To better enhance the patient experience, Mark Thayer, Newton Clinic Administrator, said they engaged local architect Jack Topp to assist with modernizing and improving the patient check-in experience.

The planning started in May 2016 and was recently completed in March 2017.

The Newton Clinic now has the technological capability to provide check-in kiosks and automated telephone answering options.

“We believe the best service to our patients is with personalized attention, when patients call in or stop in, they will be greeted by a live person every time during clinic hours,” Thayer said.

Thayer said the one of the major goals and the focus of the remodel was to increase patient privacy. The Newton Clinic changed its structure from an “open system” to “privacy stalls.” There is now a wall separating both the patient and the receptionist from other patients and staff members.

“We completely rebuilt the entire ceiling with high-quality acoustic ceiling tiles. This has significantly reduced the noise throughout the check-in process and patient waiting areas,” Thayer said.

The clinic reworked the waiting area to move patients away from the nurse triage area, an effort to increase patient comfort level while in waiting room and installed air conditioning units in each of the waiting room restrooms.

The waiting room restrooms are situated directly above the boilers at Skiff Medical Center. Thus, prior to the remodel, the restrooms were subject to higher, extreme type temperatures especially in the summer months.

The clinic also installed six 39 inch televisions throughout the waiting area. This will allow patients to be entertained while they are waiting to see their health care provider. Additionally, the clinic installed seven separate “pod areas” for patients to occupy. This presents a much larger feel to the waiting area and gives patients multiple seating options.

The clinic also installed wall protection on the outer waiting room walls to eliminate wall damage done by waiting room chairs, high grade carpet tiles in the waiting room, high grade wood grain vinyl in the hallways and corridors throughout the clinic.

Thayer said he is proud they used local contractors for electrical, mechanical and flooring.

“We are very proud of the remodel and currently are evaluating additional interior decorating such as pictures and plants,” Thayer said. “Although the major receptionist area remodeling is complete, we have plans to rebuild the west nurses station and install new counter tops and sinks in many exam rooms.”

Contact Kayla Langmaid at
641-792-3121 ext. 6513 or
klangmaid@newtondailynews.com