The furniture and materials found in a healthcare setting are fundamental elements of good patient care and proper procedures. It’s important to consider the furniture in your care setting and how it impacts cleanliness, infection prevention, workflows and other aspects of patient care. The right solution will positively affect the patient’s experience, treatment and wellbeing while offering better outcomes and efficiencies for the healthcare team using it.
Furniture and materials in the healthcare setting can refer to anything used in direct contact with patients or around them in the hospital room, including beds, chairs, tables, dividers, linens, curtains, etc. Before you start your search, consider these key questions to find the right products for your care setting.
1. Does it meet cleaning and hygiene requirements?
The hospital environment is susceptible to bacteria and other germs, therefore, the materials you decide to use in the facility should be easy to clean and capable of the best possible infection prevention. Healthcare hygiene is of primary importance, as it can significantly impact patient treatment, healing, and recovery. Today, cleaning policies are in the spotlight and require that health care teams work to provide a clean solution that reduces the risk of certain infections in the hospital.
2. Does it fit into daily routines?
Flexibility and adaptability should be a part of any product you consider. A hospital room can be a flurry of activity; therefore, an ideal solution should accommodate staff needing to easily move and use equipment around the patient. Similarly, a patient should also feel free and safe to move around the room. Consider lightweight furniture that is easy to maneuver and requires minimal handling.
3. Does it accommodate an emergency setting?
Trauma and emergency departments can experience a broad range of crises and urgent situations, thus have different requirements for treating patients. To accommodate these changing circumstances, it is essential to utilize equipment that can be easily moved, secured to the wall or to folded and placed out of the way.
4. Does it contribute to the interior design?
Hospitals often rely on interior design and visuals to positively influence patient healing and wellbeing. Select furniture and materials that communicate a clean and beautiful aesthetic to match the level of care and attention that patients desire.
5. Does it have a calming, relaxing effect?
Your patients need to feel relaxed and at ease when going through treatment. Consider the physical nature of furniture in a space and how that will impact a patient’s perception of quality of care. Patients feel at ease when they are sure someone is watching out for them and their care, protection and privacy are guaranteed.
6. Is it financially feasible and sustainable?
If your department faces tighter budget restrictions and more financial scrutiny, it is critical to demonstrate the long-term economic benefits of a furniture solution. Long-term financial viability means that a solution must be adaptable, able to conform to changing care requirements over time. It should be durable, mobile and able to serve patients in various settings. If you are planning for expansion or changing room layouts, consider a solution that is versatile enough to fit the current need and the new, larger space you may have in the future.
7. Does it work in my department?
Your department and the patients you care for are not all the same, so your furniture shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. The best way to determine if a solution will work is to get your hands on it, try it in your care setting, and choose how it fits your typical processes. First, understand the flow of your team, the rooms they manage, the spaces and other equipment. Then, ensure your staff knows how to use the solution and understands its benefits.
When you begin to ask these questions and think critically about your own hospital or department, it becomes clear that patients are at the forefront of your decision-making, but that it impacts so many other aspects. At Silentia, we deeply understand this balance, especially when it pertains to privacy and infection prevention. We deliver products that protect your patients, protect your staff, streamline your team’s daily routines, keep your healthcare environment clean, and offer a better patient experience.
For over 30 years, we have developed solid surface hospital privacy screens and installed them in more than 50 countries worldwide. We give you the tools to give patients the level of care and safety that they expect. Contact us today for a consultation and get your free quote.
