Modern Medicine

As I sit in the relative discomfort of my room right now, a room no bigger than a closet, and ponder over an ideal workplace for the future, two important aspects of a dream office emerge - it should have the simplicity, ambiance and serenity of an ancient monastery while having all the comforts and conveniences of an ultra-modern office. My dream consultation office is located at the center of a well-manicured garden and an impeccably maintained drive way which ushers the visitor into a contemporary consulting office. I envision a chic workplace, with minimal furniture to provide functionality – meant solely for the purpose of a waiting room. As people walk through a large transparent glass door, they walk across a wooden floor, that creaks ever so slightly. They are greeted warmly by a receptionist who sits behind a teak colored wooden ledge, covered on the top with a slab of spotless white marble. A square stone frame decorates the marble surface, adding a bit of grandeur to the space and opening up the room. As soon as pertinent information is provided to the receptionist, one is free to relax in one of the sleek white chairs located in the center of the waiting area. Four chairs face one side of shelving with four others having their backs against them. The built-in shelving houses several art pieces and illuminated with focused lighting to highlight the art pieces. The selection of art pieces, originating from different parts of the world provides an international flavor to the office. The strikingly unique pieces lend an air of sophistication and elegance to the environment. After a short wait, the patients are ushered into a hallway that has four private rooms for confidential consultation and examination. The clinical staff diligently gathers new information or update various pieces of relevant data on the patients such as pulse, weight and other family history details. The examination room has the state-of-the-art diagnostic instrumentation and the patients may either be seated or get into a reclining position to help detailed clinical examination. A small set of cabinets has various sets of brochures and materials to facilitate the patient getting pertinent information regarding their medical condition. A small sink and other facilities are provided to assist the medical professionals to operate and conform to the highest standards of clinical cleanliness. My office is the last door on the right and is intended to provide a personal touch to each patient for one-on-one consultations. The office has large windows that permit copious amounts of sunlight to enter the office throughout the day. There is a large smooth white desk in the center of the room in-between the walled and the window side of the room. An upright, black leather chair is located behind the desk. An elegant lamp which provides a focused beam of light is placed on the left side of the regal table and adjacent to it is an orchid in the corner and a flat screened computer monitor. On the walled side across from the panel of windows are a couple of framed pictures of colored landscapes. It is my hope and desire to move into this “dream” office of the future sometime in the next decade.