Waiting rooms are becoming more posh these days:

In the hustle to attract patients, Metro Detroit medical centers are working to strip away the cold, impersonal feel that characterizes so many waiting areas, doctor's offices and exam rooms. It's one way hospitals are working to bring in more money from paying patients, who are as likely to pick a hospital for its reputation as for its location.

Uncomfortable seating, drawn-out waits and a dismal atmosphere are out; designer decor, luxury hotel-like service and museum-worthy art displays are in.

Comfort features are being added as the area's major health systems undergo multimillion-dollar expansions and renovations. Most upgrades are incorporated into work already under way. Many of the perks, such as artwork and fancy waiting areas, are paid for through donations, not hospital budgets.

(Terlep, "Hospital waiting room or living room?", The Detroit News, Aug.8)