Responding to a market shift that puts greater emphasis on primary care, outpatient care, and patient satisfaction, HealthPartners imagined RiverWay as a model for medical homes. Providing primary and specialty care, Lean and evidenced-based principles were used to create a clinic organized into neighborhoods, with exam rooms organized around a staff core, and each neighborhood featuring a dedicated specimen room, procedure room, and large, flexible exam room accommodating bariatric patients. Two doors on exam rooms allow patients to enter without walking through busy staff work areas and give staff access directly from the core. The design solution minimizes staff interruptions, improves confidentiality, and creates a calming and more comfortable patient-centered environment.

Large windows and interior glass doors allow natural light to flood patient waiting areas and penetrate staff work areas, creating a lighter and warmer care and work environment. Team conference/training rooms are complemented with quiet rooms for dictation and private telephone conversations. Care team members sit side-by-side in the core, facilitating strong partnerships between nurses and physicians.