Bellin Health Surgery & Specialty Center

Enhancing the Patient Experience

Faced with aging facilities and growing demand for services, Bellin Health sought to construct the Bellin Health Surgery & Specialty Center to enhance the patient experience and facilitate efficient collaboration among providers and care teams. Bellin worked with KI and furniture integrator Duet Resource Group to create a welcoming, efficient environment.

Jennifer Macdonald, Bellin Senior Vice President of Specialty Service Lines and executive sponsor of the project, emphasized the importance of the new center. 

“We had outgrown several of our aging facilities and needed a solution that provided room to grow, improved the patient experience, and allowed for greater operational efficiency,” she said.

Patient-Centered Design

Upon entering the facility, patients and guests are greeted by a beautiful lobby streaming with daylight. The lobby is designed to provide visitors with a comfortable place to sit that puts them at ease while awaiting treatments, services, or results.

Thoughtfully selected furniture, including Zoetry lounge and guest seating, Lyra club chairs, and MyPlace lounge seating, ensures comfort and inclusivity across the lobby and various waiting areas.

“The seating options were not just about functionality but about creating a welcoming and calming atmosphere for our patients and visitors,” Macdonald said. 

Zoetry seating, benches, and occasional tables offer a beautiful aesthetic with the line’s poetic cast aluminum legs and extrusions. In contrast, MyPlace lounge seating offers a more casual look with a mix of linear and curved configurations. Together, these two product lines balance sophistication and approachability, allowing families to sit together and individuals to have personal space. A mix of bariatric seating is woven throughout to ensure the space is inclusive for all patients.

The lobby also features Lyra club chairs with warm wood backs that complement the biophilic elements in the space such as fully grown trees. Athens cafe tables and Calida stools line an interior wall offering a place where people can work or enjoy refreshments from the cafe. 

Putting Patients at Ease

To maintain the welcoming, comforting ambiance set in the lobby, Bellin selected Katera guest and bariatric chairs with cushioned seats and supportive loop arms for patient exam rooms. The seating vignettes offer a comfortable place for patients to sit and engage with their providers.

Bellin also considered caregiver comfort in the furniture specification. Extended-stay rooms are outfitted with Affina sleepers and recliners, giving caregivers and patients alike ample comfort to sit or rest.

Every aspect of the Bellin journey supports healing and relaxation, putting patients and their loved ones at ease and helping them feel at home.

Connecting Care Teams

Prior to the new Surgery & Specialty Center, Bellin facilities consisted of small, specialized clinics, which limited collaboration among providers and restricted the opportunity for cross-specialty insights and innovation among medical staff. To overcome this challenge, Bellin adopted an all-encompassing philosophy aimed at bringing a diverse array of specialties together under one roof. 

For staff areas, Bellin specified height-adjustable tables powered by Trellis power system, with hang-on Bobbr storage and mesh-back Altus task chairs to promote ergonomics and organization. 

According to Macdonald, “The height-adjustable desks with integrated power are fantastic—they give our staff the flexibility to stand or sit throughout the day, improving their comfort and productivity.”  

The workstations also feature Universal height-adjustable screens constructed of PET felt, a sustainable material that also helps reduce noise. The screens, which are tackable, allow staff to personalize their workspace with pictures and notes, contributing to a positive work environment.

Enclosed with KI Wall architectural glass walls, Bellin's open team spaces foster collaboration among the medical staff while maintaining a sense of privacy. The open layout proved to be highly effective.

“Our providers love how easy it is to collaborate now,” Macdonald shared. “The glass walls keep the space feeling open and bright yet are still private enough for sensitive discussions."

Another aspect of collaboration at Bellin is ongoing education and training. Bellin incorporated engaging and adaptable training environments to give staff dedicated space to meet and learn. KI Wall's Evoke architectural walls delineate training and meeting rooms, allowing for seamless electrical integration to support lighting and scheduling tools.

Designed for adaptability, the rooms are outfitted with power-integrated Pirouette tables and comfortable Torsion Air chairs. The tables and chairs nest and are on casters, making it easy to store the furniture when not in use or quickly reconfigure the space to accommodate different needs or group sizes. 

A Dynamic Partnership 

The Bellin Health Surgery & Specialty Center exemplifies the impact of thoughtful, collaborative design. By partnering with KI and Duet Resource Group, Bellin Health crafted a healthcare environment that seamlessly blends flexibility, efficiency, and warmth. The center meets the immediate needs of both patients and staff while being equipped to address future demands—ensuring a space that supports growth and innovation for years to come.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Macdonald said. “Patients appreciate the comfort and ease of the space, and our staff loves the modern, functional design. KI truly helped us create a facility that supports our mission to provide top-quality care.”

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