Resident Lounge Wishlist

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My program has given me the okay to overhaul our resident lounge with new furniture, TV, etc. They have basically given me an unlimited budget. What are the must have's for a high-quality lounge? If you could have anything in your lounge, what would it be?

Free beer

Originally Posted by aProgDirector

Free beer

Kind of pedestrian, don't you think? Howzabout some sealskin leather recliners, crystal snifters, and some fine brandy? No need to go home post call...

Realistically, every high class lounge needs a Keurig and a good selection of fine coffees. Don't go cheap on the sweeteners: sugar and Splenda. For my Mormon friends, a fridge full of Diet Mountain Dew.

Don't forget the Muslim residents.
No alcohol or pork products for us.

In no particular order

Computers with access to your hospital EMR and PACS would be good.
Free printing
Fresh fruit
Reference Books for your specialty
Comfy chairs and sofas
Free coffee

Agree that good, free coffee is a must. Those K-cups ain't cheap at about 50cents per cup, but they work great and make no mess whatsoever. Plus folks can make other hot beverages with them. The high end machine is about $200, but it's money well spent in this context.

A decent stereo and/or iPad docking station would be nice too.

Originally Posted by aProgDirector

Free beer

Free wine would be nice too! Lots of comfy seating, a big screen TV, a wii, iPad/iPod docking stereo, full-size fridge, microwave, some sort of closets/lockers to store stuff in, a bed, table, chairs, computers with access to the EMR (and also real internet, since it sucks to be blocked out of fb haha).

A squat rack.

Originally Posted by J-Rad

Kind of pedestrian, don't you think? Howzabout some sealskin leather recliners, crystal snifters, and some fine brandy? No need to go home post call...

Realistically, every high class lounge needs a Keurig and a good selection of fine coffees. Don't go cheap on the sweeteners: sugar and Splenda. For my Mormon friends, a fridge full of Diet Mountain Dew.

He said "unlimited budget", you can do better than mere leather furniture. I'm thinking you do everything in panda fur and ivory, with platinum inlay. A couple of Ming vases for the alcoves. A Monet for the wall. A lifesize jade statue would be nice. And an infinity pool.

FWIW, I don't think true mormons drink caffeinated sodas either.

Originally Posted by Law2Doc

FWIW, I don't think true mormons drink caffeinated sodas either.

A few go that far, but believe me, for many of my Mormon friends DMD is the LDS coffee.

And just wondering, is the lounge big enough for a pool table?

The lounge is about 20x20 feet, so not too big. So far my list includes some fine leather sofas, new 47" LED on wall mount, some sort of gaming system with blu-ray capability, a nice area rug, end tables and lamps, and new microwave. The computers currently in the lounge are adequate. What am I missing? Should I go as far as painting the white hospital walls?

Unfortunately I am clueless when it comes to a quality coffee brewing machine. I'll look into the above suggestions.

Fridge.
Bulletin board or white board for announcements and stuff (sounds lame but actually is quite useful).
Scanner/printer.
DVD player?
bookshelf and books relevant to specialty

Personally, I think a quick coat of paint might be nice...institutional white gets old. It's easier to do it now than later.

Originally Posted by discoharrison

The lounge is about 20x20 feet, so not too big... What am I missing? .

plenty of room for a hot tub.

How about a Bose Wave System w/ipod dock. I have one and the sound would be great for a room that size with very little space needed for the unit itself, plus it can play CDs for anyone still using them.

Many leather-bound books and rich mahogany.

1) bowflex
2) stripper pole

Originally Posted by OneLeven

1) bowflex
2) stripper pole

Only applies to derm residency programs.

Warm cookies....saw this in one of the programs I interviewed at.

Originally Posted by OneLeven

1) bowflex
2) stripper pole

Only if strippers are included.

they are...dressed in nurse outfits...

Several computer stations (EMR access AND social networks, esp if your hospital has draconian browsing restrictions)
PACS station
Keurig coffee-maker. (but BYO K-cups)
A large, clean fridge
An empty power strip (to recharge devices)
A nice soundsystem with an ipod/iphone/ipad dock
A TV with a decent cable package
Comfy chairs
Soda machine
Ice machine

Optional: workout equipment (this might be going overboard, but I've seen it at a number of places)

There was 1 place that had this coffee machine with digital display and you chose latte, mocha, reg, decaf, etc (like 10 choices). It had a built in grinder and everything. It was amazing and would be in my dream lounge.

Originally Posted by discoharrison

My program has given me the okay to overhaul our resident lounge with new furniture, TV, etc. They have basically given me an unlimited budget. What are the must have's for a high-quality lounge? If you could have anything in your lounge, what would it be?

Screw a Keurig. Get a clover. What's $12K for a coffee pot between friends? Alternatively, spend $6500 on a LaMarzocco GS3 and hire a barista.

Originally Posted by Samoa

...

Optional: workout equipment (this might be going overboard, but I've seen it at a number of places)

the places that have workout equipment inevitably start ending up smelling like a gym locker room and are no longer appealing as a lounge. You need to keep these activities separated.

I would also argue against the fridge, unless it's clear whom will be cleaning it. They get really nasty, real quick, unless someone cleans them regularly.

Originally Posted by aProgDirector

I would also argue against the fridge, unless it's clear whom will be cleaning it. They get really nasty, real quick, unless someone cleans them regularly.

Agreed. There's a mini-fridge in our call room, and I'm honestly a little scared to open it.

Originally Posted by OneLeven

they are...dressed in nurse outfits...

But I have had such bad experiences with so many nurses during residency I may just end up punching them in the face !!

get the fridge, just make some rule like whoever is on call the first friday of the month has to clean the fridge by the end of the month. Get a decent microwave, not that low wattage crap that doesn't pop 1/3rd of a bag of popcorn. See if this unlimited budget allows to get breakfast-y stuff like fruit and bagels too maybe in an agreement with food services at the hospital. Depending on how many residents you have to accommodate, do something like a small locker system with about a square foot or two to store valuables and some wall hoooks/rack for coats. Maybe even a really hardy non-flowering plant or two? If you're given an unlimited budget, you really do need to get your decor on. If the floor is tile or something hard get a low pile rug. Get a couple of those things that let you recharge devices by sitting them on it, head over to your local brookstone and go wild.

Originally Posted by gutonc

Screw a Keurig. Get a clover. What's $12K for a coffee pot between friends? Alternatively, spend $6500 on a LaMarzocco GS3 and hire a barista.

Totally agree. I hate K-cups (how environmentally wasteful) or fully automated "espresso" makers. To me, these "coffees" taste like brown water. Throw in some Stumptown coffee beans too, along with the LaMarzocco.

The My K cup is reusable/refillable, just fill with whatever grounds you want.

the hospital i did my med school rotations had a ping-pong table in the lounge, along with a big screen TV, a couch, and a fridge,. The ping pong table was awesome and became a great way for all the residents and students to blow off steam. We got really good at ping pong and it was a great way to wake up and clear your head with just a short amount of time often in the middle of the night on call.

Originally Posted by FutureInternist

But I have had such bad experiences with so many nurses during residency I may just end up punching them in the face !!

They charge extra for that.

xbox 360!? throw in fifa 2012 and ncaa football game

I'm bringing in Mario Kart, and 4 controllers.

I'm sure there will be time on night float...

Multiple phones! Our lounge only has 1 phone which can be a pain when multiple people are trying to return pages.

Totally agree on a printer c free printing.
Whiteboard in case anyone wants to teach
comfy chairs that recline all the way back (ala cardiac chairs) for easy napping

If unlimited budget, then:
-always nice to have a couple of ipod/iphone chargers around for people to use
-LOTS of computers
-always nice to have a few boxes of granola bars in the cupboard
-agreed! re the fancy coffee maker

Originally Posted by long

A squat rack.

Only if they go below parallel.

A window, or even a fake window, something to make it seem like a real room and not a big closet. Maybe a full-spectrum light would help with this?
Otherwise, the coffee, fridge, microwave, printer and computer suggestions are all spot on.

And a box of condoms.

Lockers or some place to store things like stethoscopes, etc.
Coat rack
Mini-fridge cleaned out weekly, stocked with coke/pepsi products
Dual-monitor displays for your computers
Recliner
Good quality work chairs (with support)

Definitely an Xbox.

Originally Posted by discoharrison

My program has given me the okay to overhaul our resident lounge with new furniture, TV, etc. They have basically given me an unlimited budget. What are the must have's for a high-quality lounge? If you could have anything in your lounge, what would it be?

Coffee (including hot chocolate) machine that serves good quality free coffee and hot chocolate.

Completely dark rooms with comfortable beds and good sound proof.

Enough computers with internet access. A printer and photocopier with endless supply of paper.

Regular around the clock free snacks, jammed donut, pies etc.

Free soft drinks.