Deck the office for a seasonal treat, but keep it tasteful

Practice Management. By Mike Norbut, AMNews staff. Oct. 27, 2003.

It's that time of year again, when offices start bubbling with excitement over the upcoming festive season, starting with Halloween and running through New Year's Day.

But how much toil and trouble should go into decorating your office for the holidays?

From spider webs to Santa Claus, pilgrims to poinsettias, many physicians' offices get into the celebration. But there are safety and religious issues to keep in mind as you're stringing lights or carving pumpkins, health care consultants said. Depending on your specialty, there is a line that can be crossed.

Tastefulness is the key, consultants said. "It's reflective, just like a neighborhood," said Kay Stanley, an associate partner with the Coker Group, a consulting firm in Roswell, Ga. "Some do very little and keep it simple, others try to reflect the personality of the practice and the mix of cultures."

Religious inclusion, or at least making sure your decorations don't offend any beliefs, can be important, depending on your patient mix. Practices with both Christian and non-Christian physicians may be more sensitive to these issues and more apt to make their office decorations universal, consultants said. A Christmas tree, for example, may look elegant, but less religious symbols may be more appropriate.

While patients may not be offended by religious undertones, a practice also has to make sure it doesn't come across as being unprofessional. Decorations can vary widely between specialties. While pediatrics offices may decorate elaborately, a urology practice may be more subdued.