Outpatient Lab

One of the most distinctive features of the CFI was its specially constructed outpatient lab, where doctor-patient interactions could be studied in a live clinical setting. The lab took up an entire corridor of Mayo Clinic next to the SPARC design studio. A dedicated space used by 32 physicians in nine specialties, the lab consisted of a number of exam rooms and consultation spaces that allowed the CFI to test modifications in exam room design, patient education techniques, and new technology. Video cameras were installed in the rooms, so that CFI staff could discreetly observe doctor-patient interactions. The CFI found that patients were eager to consent to the observations and enthusiastic about participating in the work of the lab.

The outpatient lab allowed the CFI to test care delivery innovations on a sustained basis. Indeed, a number of physicians saw all of their patients in the lab’s corridor. The outpatient lab was one of the first initiatives of the original SPARC program, and over the years it had tested dozens of new techniques for patient care, from improved room lighting to educational brochures.