May 2023 FeaturedNews

Introducing the new EasyScreenDesign™

As a leader in patient privacy, Silentia continues to innovate patient privacy and strives to make it easy for healthcare teams to achieve safer and more dignified care for their patients. EasyScreenDesign is Silentia’s proprietary design configurator that makes it easy to create and customize your own privacy screen.

EasyScreenDesign is one of our most important tools for supporting those seeking better privacy alternatives. It gives you the power to design a patient privacy solution suited to your specific privacy, hygiene, and design preferences or requirements.

Healthcare teams face many challenges around providing safety for patients while keeping up with changes in the care environments. That’s why we created EasyScreenDesign with the user in mind. Whether you work directly with patients as a nurse or department manager or are part of a design or architecture team developing new patient areas, our intuitive platform makes it easy for anyone, with or without technical expertise, to explore the entire Silentia screen system and customizations.

We are excited to introduce an updated version of EasyScreenDesign—EasyScreenDesign 3.0!

With a handful of new features, including an improved layout, navigation, design options, and capabilities, EasyScreenDesign 3.0 makes it easier than ever to create your design and do more with it. Below we explore some of the key changes and new features!

A new, cleaner layout

An updated layout, a new comprehensive menu, and new features make EasyScreenDesign more intuitive and easier than ever to explore products and design your screen. Follow the guide above to find features in their new locations.

- Yellow: Product menu
- Purple: Favorite, fold/unfold, and measurements buttons
- Blue: Fullscreen toggle button
- Green: Share and contact buttons

Access to BIMobject/3D design files

BIM/3D design files are important assets used in architecture and construction to ensure the accuracy of and facilitate seamless integration of our products into project models. With just a click, users are directed to our extensive library of Revit files found on BIMobject.

Information at your fingertips

The new EasyScreenDesign makes it easy to understand all the design options. Use the ⓘ symbol to see complete product descriptions, detailed images, sizes, recommendations, and more.

A mobile-friendly experience

With a growing number of EasyScreenDesign users coming from mobile devices, the updated version features the same design capabilities as the desktop version on a phone or tablet.

EasyScreenDesign makes privacy…well, easy!

Need some inspiration? Visit our EasyScreenDesign page for a curated collection of premade screen and combination designs that are sure to spark your creativity and help you get started. Simply click on the images to view that design in the configurator.

Love your design? Submit it directly to us for a free quote and one of our team members will connect with you. Start designing now!

#design#news#technology

April 2023 Featured

Students embark on design project with Silentia

Emma Gunnarsson and Lisa Wihlborg, two students in their final year at Falkenberg Gymnasium School, were tasked with doing a final project as part of their study in technology with a focus on design and product development. For their project, they asked Silentia if they could collaborate to develop their own illustrations for a Silentia folding screen.

Leo Göranson, Product Design Engineer at Silentia, mentored the two students, taught them about the design processes, and guided them through the production of their own folding screen.

“We liked the idea and supported them in the process. As a company, we are in a position to show young students what exciting opportunities there are for future jobs,” says Göranson.

Original illustrations for privacy screen

Developing their unique design

Emma and Lisa wanted to develop a unique design for a folding screen aimed at children, who can have something nice to look at and be entertained by exploring the imagery. They initially produced sketches aimed at different age groups, with jungle, sea, forest, and animal themes. “But they didn’t work”, says Emma. “So, Leo recommended that we make three sketches from the best designs, and then work on designs that could suit children of all ages.”

Leo gave Emma and Lisa a crash course in Illustrator, which allowed them to digitize the designs. Once the final design was complete, it was printed on a full-size folding screen.

“It was really cool and great fun to see the finished result,” Lisa and Emma recall.

Learning from the process

When asked what they each learned from the project, both students reflected positively on the experience.

Lisa said, “It was very instructive to have a mentor like Leo. It gave structure to the process.”

Emma, while noting that it took time to learn Illustrator and would have been advantageous to know the program in advance, said, “We are grateful that we could use our creativity in a very concrete way and create a physical product. It has also been very interesting to experience what it means to be in a company and develop new products.”

Test, test, and test again

Lisa and Emma agree that the most rewarding part of the project was experiencing the whole process of studying the target group, testing, adapting, and testing again.

Their project submission was approved by the school, and the mobile folding screen featuring their design is now on display in the school’s technology room. It serves as an inspiration for anyone starting their technology studies and a reminder that design can be a challenging and rewarding process.

At Silentia, we take pride in our ability to consistently innovate and improve patient privacy through design. Similarly, we take pride in connecting to our local communities around the world. To learn more about this project, our design process, and embracing our identity as a global company with a local approach, connect with our team!

#design

February 2023 Featured

Our commitment to service

“You can count on us.”
“We’ve got your back.”
“Call us if you need anything.”

How many times have we heard these words from family and friends in times of need or if we have problems or troubles?

When you invest in the Silentia Screen System, no matter how many screens you purchase, you join our family! You can count on our ongoing service and customer support from the initial purchase throughout the life of your screens.

Introduction and learning

From fact-finding to product comparisons to purchase, we are there to understand your needs, answer your questions, and make recommendations. We work with you directly or with your advisory team to ensure that you get the right solution.

One of the ways we better understand your needs is to facilitate a demonstration or install a mockup solution. This can be a crucial step in the decision-making process as it enables your team to see the screen system in action and assess its suitability for their needs. It also serves as an important opportunity for us to meet you and explore your space in-person.

Service and support

Our commitment to service and support starts from the day you receive your screens.

Silentia provides detailed instructions for installation to ensure a smooth and easy installation process. Our team is available to provide guidance, answer any questions, or address concerns that may arise. We have experience collaborating with nursing, facility managers, construction teams, and third-party contractors to ensure correct and efficient installations.

A crucial part of working with hospital partners is providing onboarding training and demonstrations to hospital staff to ensure they understand how to use the screens effectively. Our team will demonstrate how to install, use, and clean our screens, and even instruct on performing minor repairs if requested.

We want our customers to get the most out of our screens, so we’ve created an extensive library of instructional videos. Check them out our Installation page or YouTube channel!

Commitment to ongoing care

Silentia privacy screens have a proven lifetime of more than 10 years. Due to the sustainability of our system based on long product lifetimes, we ensure you have a point of contact over the life of your purchase. Just knowing that you will have someone to reach out to at any time should give you and your staff peace of mind.

In most cases, if anything breaks or is not performing up to expectations, we can look at the problem and resolve it with an easy fix. Our screens feature a modular design that allows for easy repairability of the separate components.

We also monitor progress to see if the screens chosen are proving their worth in your changing world. How does the solution work in your daily routine? How do the screens fit into the traffic pattern of the department? Does the size and placement of the screens still address your needs?

These are questions you can discuss with our representatives at any time or during a partnership review. This allows us to make sure they are working properly, determine if they need maintenance, or perform general observations on use.

Our commitment to providing ongoing care and consultation ensures that we will be there for you every step of the way. Reach out to us anytime by phone or email. Just remember you’re not alone once you purchase you’ve joined the Silentia family.

Contact our service team to request information or learn more about our commitment to service.

This article was written by Michele Tupitza, Office Administrator, at Silentia Inc.

#service

January 2023 Featured

5 questions to help align patient privacy and infection control

Patient privacy—in the room and at the bedside—is an important element of care. Separation from the sights and sounds of the hospital environment can create a safer and more private environment for patients in treatment or recovery.

With all its benefits, however, patient privacy tends to fall short when it comes to infection prevention and control standards. The typical cleaning, sanitation, or disinfection processes designed to reduce infection risk in the hospital room tend to address equipment and most high-touch surfaces around the patient but often neglect the patient privacy surfaces.

According to a WHO global report on infection prevention and control, “out of every 100 patients in acute-care hospitals, seven patients in high-income countries and 15 patients in low- and middle-income countries will acquire at least one health care-associated infection (HAI) during their hospital stay.” When this rate of infection is coupled with the CDC’s reported costs of treating patients with HAIs, the need to address contamination risks around the patient becomes urgent.

Better alignment of patient privacy solutions with infection prevention guidelines will improve patient safety, satisfaction, and outcomes, as well as staff safety, efficiency, and ability to adapt to changing care requirements.

Let’s explore five essential questions that hospital teams should consider to achieve better alignment between patient privacy solutions and infection prevention initiatives.

Question 1: How is your department using patient privacy?

Most hospitals in the US employ the use of cloth curtains, disposable curtains, or fabric screens for patient privacy. They are commonly found in any private or multi-patient room; however, they may also be used for privacy in waiting areas, hallways, lactation rooms, or staff break rooms.

Consider who enters your department—patients, guests, nurses, facility staff—and how they are interacting with your privacy solution. Consider each step of the patient’s experience, from when they first check-in to when they are discharged, and where they may need privacy. Also, consider staff workflows as they move throughout your department, perform their tasks, and interact with patients.

Thinking critically about these things will help you better understand how your existing privacy solution is used, who touches it, and new opportunities to create a more private patient experience. It may also uncover areas where cleanliness and infection control need to be prioritized.

Question 2: What is your process for cleaning and replacing your privacy solution?

It is essential to have a straightforward process for cleaning your patient privacy solution to ensure that it is adequately sanitized. A privacy solution should be considered a high-touch surface because patients and staff are frequently handling it, therefore, it’s important to apply the same rules and protocols that are established for other clean surfaces elsewhere in the room.

There are several options for cleaning high-touch surfaces, including soap and water, sanitary wipes, bleach, and ultraviolet light. Unfortunately, cloth and disposable curtains usually cannot be cleaned by these methods and, therefore, often get neglected. In fact, a recent white paper developed by a curtain manufacturer states that cloth curtains should be laundered every six months, while disposable curtains should be replaced every three months.

Solid privacy screens offer an effective alternative to cloth privacy curtains. Silentia privacy screens, for example, are designed with specific touchpoints and surfaces that can be cleaned with any disinfectant typically used in the healthcare setting. This enables healthcare teams to clean them as frequently as any other high-touch surfaces, keeping the entire patient area clean.

When it comes to a patient privacy solution, it is important to choose a method that can be effectively and efficiently cleaned that is also safe for patients, staff, and the environment.

Question 3: How is your privacy solution impacting your budget?

When incorporating an infection control-friendly patient privacy solution, it is important to understand the long-term impact on your budget. Consider the total cost of ownership associated with using your current solution: laundering costs, disposal/incineration costs, new/replacement materials costs, labor costs, costs to displace a patient during room cleaning, and costs associated with adverse effects on patient recovery.

Hard surface privacy screens virtually eliminate these costs because they don’t need to be removed and laundered, they can be cleaned in the room with materials that are already being used to clean other surfaces. Silentia privacy screens are proven to last longer than 10 years and typically provide a return on the initial purchase investment in as little as two years.

In addition to reduced cleaning, operating and materials costs, Silentia screens reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and any associated costs that can significantly impact a budget. By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that your patient privacy solution aligns with your infection prevention initiatives while maximizing your budget’s efficiency.

Question 4: How is your privacy solution impacting quality of care?

The patient privacy solution you choose significantly impacts the quality of patient care. As discussed previously, a clean and hygienic solution can reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. This is important because it helps ensure that patients receive care in a safe and comfortable environment, a main contributor to quality of care.

Another factor of quality of care is the consideration of how the patient perceives the care area. It should convey cleanliness, safety, comfort, aesthetics, and attention to detail to create a positive feeling toward the level of care being received.

Consider, too, your staff’s ability to deliver quality care in an efficient manner. A privacy solution should be functional, stable, durable, and easy to use to give staff the ability to deliver treatment quickly and effectively.

Improving infection prevention at a Texas hospital

A mother and baby unit in Houston, Texas, replaced hanging curtains with Silentia privacy screens to create a better environment for patients and their families.

Privacy screens offer a long-term privacy solution that is easy to keep clean and reduces contamination risks, improving the patient experience as well as operational efficiency.

By replacing privacy curtains with wall-mounted folding privacy screens, the department sees several benefits, including reduced staff presence in the room, reduced cloth surfaces around the patient that could harbor infectious bacteria, and a more aesthetically pleasing environment.

The functional design of the screens offers additional space-saving and safety benefits as they are attached to a previously unused portion of the wall and have a minimal no footprint.

Question 5: What is your long-term solution for patient privacy and infection control?

Historically, patient privacy products have not offered a long-term solution, designed to be discarded and replaced hundreds of times over. As hospitals move toward more sustainable solutions, the products they use must follow suite.

A long-term or future-proof solution is one product or system that adapts to ongoing and changing needs while consistently serving its purpose.

Qualities of a future-proof privacy solution:

Easily adapts to changing infection prevention and control requirements
Withstands daily use and maintains its quality over time
Offers easy repairs or replacement parts
Can be relocated and reconfigured as a department renovates or moves
Offers long-term sustainability and resource efficiency

By thinking more critically about how aligning patient privacy and infection control can impact patient care, you can improve patient outcomes, better support your staff, improve safety, and reduce costs.

Silentia is committed to being a partner in patient privacy and infection prevention. To learn more about the Silentia screen system explore our virtual design tool, EasyScreenDesign, or contact us today for a free demonstration.

This article was written by Kayla Graves, Regional Sales Manager, Southern TX, at Silentia, Inc.

#infectioncontrol

December 2022 Featured

StoryPanels and ArtPanels contribute to whole patient care

Silentia StoryPanels with nurse and older child patient

Good design and beautiful aesthetics play an important role in hospitals and patient care areas. Aesthetics can be a source of perceived pleasure to mitigate stress during a hospital stay. Nearly 10 years ago, Silentia partnered with designers and nurses to determine how printed, colorful images printed on privacy screens would improve patients’ well-being at the bedside.

Artwork is a common way hospitals create a calming and healing environment for patients and visitors while improving the immune system of patients. Art can reduce stress, elevate mood, and lower blood pressure. Exposure to art has been shown to expedite the healing process and has resulted in more positive survey experiences being reported. When children are exposed to art, it can stimulate their imagination and distract them from the stress of a condition.

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern medicine, recognized the importance of art in medicine from her work in the mid-1800s.

A recent study about visual art in hospitals recalled Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing, where she wrote, “The effect of beautiful objects, of variety of objects and specially the brilliance of colour, is hardly appreciated…the way in which we are affected by form, by colour and light…they do have an actual physical effect. Variety of form and brilliance of colour in the objects presented to patients are actual means of recovery.”

Digital artist, Yuri Shwedoff recently wrote about the positive effect of abstract art on mental health. “According to research, art improves our immune systems and has been shown to reduce stress, elevate mood, and lower blood pressure. Furthermore, research shows that patients who are exposed to art during a hospital stay experience better overall and heal faster.” He goes on to discuss the ability of art to “cultivate a healing environment” that supports patient recovery across the spectrum of physical, mental, and emotional stresses they may be experiencing.

Today it is a well-known fact that art is clinically proven to stimulate healing. Our physical and mental health are affected by art. Abstract art with various colors, and shapes can positively impact our mental health and stimulate our brains. It can even provide us with a sense of calm and relaxation.

Considering this, Silentia partnered with two artists to create natural motifs that would help stimulate patient healing. The result was two series of patented privacy screen designs that were created in 2015, called StoryPanels and ArtPanels.

NICU department stroypanels planets design privacy screens

StoryPanels – Design that stimulates imagination

With StoryPanels, Silentia developed a print technology and a standardized system that would offer health-promoting spaces for children and create a less clinical look. Colorful planets became the artist’s theme and inspiration for StoryPanels.

Stefanie Schöffmann, the artist who created StoryPanels, commented, “The colors, shapes and funny figures all have a purpose in order to give a positive psychological effect, a calm feeling and to stimulate the imagination.” Each of the planets is a zoomed-in image of something found in everyday life—spaghetti, a sponge, a feather, a leaf—giving new meaning to the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

StoryPanels can serve several functions in a pediatric hospital setting. It can be an important tool for nurses and caregivers to help children feel more at ease while they are waiting, as well as inspire and entertain children’s creative imaginations. It can be a welcome distraction while creating a playful atmosphere for patients and their families.

Three versions of StoryPanels were created for children at different age ranges: planets, planets with sketch illustrations for younger children (ages 1-5 years), and planets with sketch illustrations for older children (ages 6 and up). StoryPanels come alive due to the light that shines through the Silentia translucent daylight panels that serve as the backing for the images. Daylight in a patient room has also been shown to demonstrate improved health, shortened hospital stays, and reduced pain.

View StoryPanels design options and examples.

StoryPanels improve UCSF surgery center waiting room

StoryPanels have been placed in one prominent UCSF California Bay Area outpatient surgery center. The playful folding screens act as a privacy divider between the waiting room and the surgery intake check-in desk and patient recovery bays.

A major selling point was its colorful attributes that matched the aesthetic in the surgery waiting room. They chose the younger children’s design, which was well suited for their age population. The screens were the preferred choice based on how they offered a colorful, quiet area that supports a positive atmosphere.

ArtPanels – The peace of nature

ArtPanels were designed by the landscape artist Magnus Reisne, a native of Sweden. The designs were originally made of vibrant water-based oil paint to unlock the magic of nature. The paintings communicate peace, tranquility, and positivity for patients of all ages. ArtPanels are also backed by Silentia Daylight screens for their brilliance and translucency that make the colors come to life.

Magnus offers insight into the different images and colors, saying, “The green soothing colors should inspire people to relax and just be in the moment. To slow down, get well, and let things take their time.” He adds, “Nature provides tranquility in a complex world. Research shows that art with views of nature and animal life has a positive effect on hospital patients’ recovery.”

The narrow, tall folding panels presented a unique challenge for the artist needing to paint the images starting at the bottom of the panel and moving upwards. Intrinsically offering a pathway for the viewer’s eyes to move up through the painting.

ArtPanels features six different scenes, each depicting a beautiful blend of colors, nature, and cows that represent a feeling from the patient experience.

Returning
Waiting
Grazing
Observing
Plowing
Harvesting

View ArtPanels design options and examples.

Art is an important aspect of the patient’s healing process. Pioneers in healthcare and today’s modern medicine recognize the importance of incorporating artwork into hospitals for its healing benefits on patients. Art has been shown to improve a person’s mental health and well-being. In children, art has stimulated their imagination and been a distraction from their discomfort in an unfamiliar setting.

We have made art a key focus in our screen designs by collaborating with professional artists to develop researched-based solutions that stimulate healing. As a result, StoryPanels and ArtPanels have been used in hundreds of pediatric hospitals across the world, bringing joy and stimulating wellness in children, visitors, and staff.

Art and design will continue to be important areas of focus for healthcare and Silentia going forward. To find out more, connect with our team, or explore the options on our virtual screen builder, EasyScreenDesign.

This article was written by Jennifer Montoya, Regional Sales Manager, Northern CA, at Silentia, Inc.

#artpanels#design#storypanels

August 2022 Featured

The modern revolution of patient privacy product design

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 25 patients is likely to acquire an infection during their hospital stay. While cloth curtains have for a long time been used to maintain patient privacy in hospitals, there are serious considerations about the health risks they pose. Studies show that 92% of privacy curtains are contaminated within a week of being hung. Washing and replacing them regularly can help stop the spread of infection but is a very costly and wasteful process.

Hard surface privacy screens are a more economical solution to this urgent issue. This is why Silentia has leaned heavily into its strong foundation in product design and innovation to garner recognition as the leading alternative to privacy curtains.

A legacy of excellence in design

Since 1990, Silentia has upheld a legacy of excellence in patient privacy and hygiene solutions backed by product design, development, and innovation. We strive to design patient-oriented privacy solutions that improve hygiene, efficiency, versatility, and sustainability in the health care environment. This is achieved through a collaborative process that takes key stakeholders’ input and follows strict quality, safety, and design guidelines.

Motivated by our customers

Our customers are the driving force for product innovation. Silentia privacy screens have gone through several iterations over the years and this process of perfecting the products has been a response to changing needs of our customers.

An important part of our business is our account team who are out in the field consulting with health care teams. These individuals spend time with hospital staff who use our products daily and can offer unique perspectives or insights. They are also trained to recognize opportunities for improving our solutions based on their deep knowledge of our products. They are constantly evaluating how screens are used, how they fit into cleaning routines, how they impact patients and evidence of wear and tear.

This approach to product ideation ensures that customers are part of the process and that we deliver products that are both useful and practical. It also eases the burden on health care teams to solve the issue themselves and creates efficiency in the design process by eliminating steps from ideation to design.

Concepting and development

We consider all possible options for solving an issue and implement the best solution—the one that is most efficient and convenient for the customer. To achieve this, the Silentia screen system is comprised of patented screen and component designs.

With all products designed according to these guidelines, we can ensure that the system abides by the universal modular design. This means that as needs and regulations change over time, our system can be modified to adapt to new layouts or locations within a hospital. This ability to be reused and reconfigured ensures a long useful lifetime of the screens.

To support the modular requirements of the system, every Silentia screen has important features that enhance hygiene, versatility, and ease of use:

EasyClean™
EasyReturn™
EasyClick™

Resource efficiency

In our pursuit of using limited resource and creating minimal waste, we build the entire Silentia system with just a few different materials. These materials are then constructed in various ways to create each product, with different lengths and heights. This consistency makes production more cost and time efficient.

For further efficiency, all of the technologies needed for prototyping and manufacturing are located in-house. This allows us to create new products on demand, test them, and improve them to ensure viability for our customers, more efficiently and with better results. We use digital modeling (CAD) and prototyping with a 3D printer to help with product development before moving on to the manufacturing process. For testing and producing screens printed with images—StoryPanels, PhotoPanels, ArtPanels, and custom prints—we have our own in-house large format printer.

Collaboration is just as important to the development process as technology. On a local scale, our open-door policies and open floor plan encourages communication between specialists in each critical area—designers, engineers, account managers, and health experts. Additionally, there is constant communication between teams around the world, which allows us to learn from challenges and successes on a global scale. This collaborative approach eliminates a traditional top-down structure and aids in the development of truly practical solutions.

Implementing the solution

Implementation of our screens is the most important step in product design and development and goes well beyond installation. We work closely with each customer stakeholder group during the implementation process to provide support and ensure the efficacy and longevity of the screens.

Architect/Designer: Mockups, floorplan, design assets, Revit/BIMObject resources.
EVS/Maintenance: Installation approval and small repair instruction.
Infection prevention and control: Cleaning recommendations and protocol development.
Nurse manager/Director: Training and cleaning instruction.

Before the installation of our screens, customers can use our proprietary EasyScreenDesign platform to create a virtual rendering of any of our screen options in a handful of hospital environments.

Within the tool users have the ability to share concepts with a team or submit them for a quote or further consultation. This ensures that customers have a visual understanding of how our screens may fit in their space to make solution-finding more efficient.

Silentia privacy screens are designed with patient and staff safety in mind through every aspect of the design process, making them more effective than any other privacy solution. When it comes to improving your level of patient care, you should never have to sacrifice efficiency, versatility, or cleanliness.

Learn more about our products, our design process, and how we can help you impact positive change in your department. Contact us today to book a free virtual or in-person consultation.

#design#products#sustainability

July 2022 Featured

4 qualities that redefine the privacy supplier partnership

Hospitals have a responsibility to their patients to provide the best care in the safest way possible. At the same time, there is increased demand by stakeholders to find solutions that lower costs. With a tighter focus on providing high-quality health care at lower cost, hospitals must find supply partners who support their goals, align with their values, and can act as an extension of their organization to prioritize their needs and patients.

Almost a decade ago, a Gallup article discussed the importance of the relationships between suppliers and hospitals, emphasizing how critical partners are to the financial and operational success of a hospital. At the time, medical supplies accounted for an average of 30 percent of hospitals’ total operating budgets.

Then, a more recent study showed that 74% of Chief Procurement Officers acknowledge the importance of working closely with existing partners to obtain more value. Which is only possible with a partner who shares your interests and understands the benefit of delivering more value.

Today these truths continue to prove evident. As healthcare costs are ever-increasing and budgets feel more scrutinized and strained the importance of good, trusted partnerships is even more critical to the health of the system.

To ensure that a partner will be the right fit and that these objectives will be met, a good supplier will exhibit key criteria including integrity, problem-solving capabilities, good communication, and ease of doing business. Without these qualities, a long-lasting partnership will not be able to thrive, and long-term cost savings will not be realized.

At Silentia, we have worked diligently for more than three decades to build a culture that prioritizes these guidelines for how we work with our customers around the world, as well as for our own team.

Integrity

Honesty and trust should be the foundation of any relationship. At Silentia, we guarantee transparency about how we work with you, how we operate, and how our products are made. This is the best avenue for determining the best solution for you, even if it is less profitable for us.

We also commit to working with you continually after the installation to make sure that our products are easily implemented into daily routines and continue to meet the requirements. This long-term commitment is at the heart of our “with you all the way” philosophy, that once you understand the value our products bring to patient privacy and infection control you have a partner for life.

Problem-solving

When working with hospital partners, before our Silentia team presents any product or solution, our goal is to understand your needs for improved privacy and infection prevention. From there, the relationship progresses into a mutual understanding of the vision for long-term success. With products built for the future of health care, we place the utmost importance on continually innovating and identifying areas of potential growth and improvement for our customers.

silentia_case_story_community_memorial_hospital_usa_1

One of our many successes took place in the NICU at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, CA. We were brought in to collaborate early in the process, which allowed us to contribute ideas being developed by the design team. This also meant making connections and opening dialogue with their infection control, nurse leadership, and architecture teams to come up with the best solution for all stakeholders involved.

Good communication

A good partnership doesn’t exist without open dialogue, clearly articulated expectations, and shared outcomes. We understand the importance of keeping you up-to-date and in-the-loop, from pertinent product and ordering information to education around privacy and infection control.

We understand the value of in-person interaction and personal contact when you need it. For many regions around the US, we have local representatives committed to serving your facility. Additionally, as part of our commitment to being “with you all the way”, we perform periodic partnership evaluations, training, quality assurance, and service and maintenance.

Ease of doing business

What sets us apart from many other suppliers is how simple we make the process for our customers. There’s an ease to working with a small business and local representation that allows both hospital and supplier to interact and conduct business more seamlessly. The efficiencies we gain from in-house design and manufacturing, a reliable supply chain, and internal operations management are passed on to our customers throughout the life of the partnership.

When it comes to patient care, you shouldn’t have to choose between financial stability and quality of care.

At Silentia, we understand the complex nature of procurement and supply resource management. With over 30 years of experience working alongside finance, administrative, and nursing teams, we have the insight and know-how to deliver the products you need to protect your patients, reduce costs, and make your life a little easier.

Connect with us and we’ll show you how the future of clean patient privacy prioritizes safety for your patients and the long-term health of your facility.

This article was written by Richard Hillard, Regional Sales Manager, Southern CA, at Silentia, Inc.

#partner#supply chain#WYATW

June 2022 Featured

Evaluating the total cost of ownership of privacy screens versus curtains

At Silentia, we often encounter the assumption that hospital privacy curtains are the cheaper, easier solution compared to our privacy screens. The truth is when considering the long-term benefits, costs, and resource savings—the total cost of ownership—privacy curtains come at a much higher cost to hospitals.

For more than 30 years, Silentia has been working with hospitals around the world to replace curtains and develop new hospital spaces that never need them to begin with. In that time, we have worked alongside health care teams to better understand the true costs of our privacy screens as well as those associated with cloth and disposable privacy curtains.

What is the Total Cost of Ownership?

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a term used to describe the overall costs, both direct and indirect, of a product over its complete life cycle. It is much more than a comparison of product purchase prices.

Typically, TCO is calculated as the sum of many different types of costs. For the purposes of comparison, we are focusing on five costs where notable differences occur:

Purchase cost
Cleaning cost
Disposal cost
Maintenance cost
Quality deficiency cost

TCO Comparison: Privacy Screens vs. Privacy Curtains

To accurately evaluate the TCO for each privacy solution, consideration must be made for the full life cycle of the products—purchase, usage, cleaning, maintenance, and disposal—as well as the ongoing costs as a result of that solution—replacement materials, storage, and patient infections from contaminated materials. In simpler terms, it’s a way to evaluate the quality and ability of a product over its complete lifetime compared to all the costs that go into making it function as a solution.

By comparing each of these cost areas, we can demonstrate that hard surface privacy screens are less costly overall compared to privacy curtains, and that privacy screens provide resource savings as well as waste reduction at nearly every step.

We are using contributed research and experience from our work with the infection control team at Rigshospitalet, Denmark, and the EVS team at Odense University Hospital, Denmark. In each facility, we compared a 2-patient room with either one privacy curtain or one privacy screen.

Purchase costs

Hospital curtains come at a low initial cost for the individual products, but an ongoing and frequently recurring one. On the other hand, privacy screens have a higher initial cost but a product lifetime of at least 10 years, which eventually results in a return of that value.

Privacy curtains:

⋅ Lower initial purchase cost
⋅ Curtains
⋅ Tracks
⋅ Hardware
⋅ Installation
⋅ Restock/reorder costs

Privacy screens:

⋅ Higher initial purchase cost
⋅ Screen with trolley or clamps
⋅ Installation
⋅ No additional cost after an initial purchase
⋅ Guaranteed technical product lifetime of at least 10 years

Cleaning & disposal costs

Privacy curtains can be contaminated and harbor bacteria, then transfer it when it comes in contact with the nursing staff or patients’ hands or clothing. New patients can get infected without proper sanitation or replacement when they inherit old patients’ curtains.

The fact that disposable privacy curtains are replaced and not reused or washed does not mean they need no cleaning. Since thoroughly cleaning soiled disposable curtains is impossible, replacement is essential to avoid cross-contamination. If an outbreak or a severe infection occurs, healthcare guidelines recommend using fresh curtains for each patient. In this case, disposable curtains are not cost-effective.

Privacy curtains are difficult to handle, and removing and rehanging them usually requires a number of steps. Reusable curtains are often taken to another location for washing and cleaning and then brought back. Also, disposable curtains only last for six months and require removal for incineration or safe disposal. These processes waste time and incur a cost, as well as interrupt the patient care workflow.

Privacy screens, however, are simple to handle and cleaning them is easy and fast. Hospital cleaners can use any disinfectants to clean them at the floor level and in place. Hence, privacy screens save cleaning and replacement costs and give a good return on investment.

Silentia privacy screens help control infection by preventing the occurrence of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs). The surfaces are hard and easily cleanable, and their exclusive design makes them suitable for the clinical environment. Hence privacy screens are a better alternative to hospital curtains.

Privacy curtains

⋅ Costs for removal/relocation of patient from the room
⋅ Costs for transporting cloth curtains to/from offsite laundry
⋅ Costs for transporting disposable curtains to incinerator/garbage
⋅ Costs for laundry machines, chemicals, and water for cloth curtains
⋅ Costs for labor for takedown, removal, transportation, and laundering
⋅ Estimated clean time: 1 hour (plus more for transportation/processing)

Privacy screens

⋅ Wiped with typical disinfectant wipes already being used to clean other surfaces
⋅ Cleaned in the room
⋅ Patient does not need to be removed
⋅ Designed to be reused/repurposed, never disposed
⋅ Estimated clean time: 180 seconds (folding screen); 90 seconds (bed end screen)

HAIs & the cost of contamination

The CDC reported in 2015 that U.S hospitals spend an estimated $28.4 to $45 billion per year on treating HAIs. With proper medical and cleaning practices, healthcare facilities can reduce the cost of treating HAIs by 20%.

Maintenance & quality deficiency costs

Curtains are designed to be used temporarily, then discarded. By design, they are not built to withstand the stress or strain that may occur while in use, nor are they meant to serve as a long-term solution for privacy.

Privacy screens, however, continuously offer quality protection over their lifetime. Silentia screens are made from high-pressure laminate and lightweight aluminum that stands up to constant cleaning, bumping, and other wear and tear they may be subject to during use. They are built to last a long time and are less likely to require replacement or repair. Should repair be necessary, the design allows for any damaged or affected panel or part to be individually replaced. Due to its lower maintenance costs, the privacy screen will serve a better return on investment.

Privacy curtains

⋅ Costs for storage of additional inventory
⋅ Costs for replacement parts
⋅ Costs for full product replacement due to tears, stains, or other damage

Privacy screens

⋅ No storage for additional inventory necessary
⋅ Two-year warranty for broken or damaged parts
⋅ Silentia partnership reviews and frequent product check-ups

Silentia screens are better for your budget

By comparing the total cost of ownership of Silentia privacy screens with the high operational costs of washing and replacing curtains, plus the potential costs of HAIs, it’s clear that screens are a less costly solution.

Depending upon how frequently you clean and change your curtains, a return on privacy screen spend can happen within 3 years:

⋅ Quarterly curtain cleaning/changing = Costs of privacy screens covered within 3 years
⋅ Monthly curtain cleaning/changing = Costs of privacy screens covered within 2 years
⋅ Weekly curtain cleaning/changing = Costs of privacy screens covered within 1 year

Silentia privacy screens contribute to infection prevention, promote more frequent cleaning, are durable, and are easy to handle, saving hospitals valuable costs and time. Let us calculate your return with Silentia privacy screens and see how quickly you can see a return.

#return on investment#sustainability#total cost of ownership

May 2022 Featured

The healing power of design in neonatal care

Hospitals are designed to provide high quality care, but the power of design to enhance a patient’s overall recovery is sometimes overlooked.

In 1984 Robert Ulrich wrote a study, entitled “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery,” that significantly affected how hospitals are designed. He introduced the concept of “healing architecture.” Healing architecture refers to architecture and design elements within a health care facility that positively impacts the patient experience and healing.

The principles of healing architecture led to advancements in hospital design that initially focused on the acute care and ICU settings, including physical and psychological recovery. Then, in the mid-1990s, a greater focus and understanding of developmental care for neonates led to a similar shift in NICU design, focusing on parent involvement as care partners and relaxing family accommodations.

Today, NICU design trends are addressing a number of different characteristics that impact healing, from the visual aspects of design to the comfort and safety they provide patients, their families and health care staff.

Visual Stimulation

In his research, Ulrich compared two sets of patients—those with “tree views” and those with “wall views.” His study showed that patients with “tree views” had shorter hospital stays, took fewer pain medications and had lower surgical complications.

The study showed that visual contact with nature not only speeds patient healing but also helps family members and hospital staff deal with the stress of providing care, which enables them to better serve recovering patients or loved ones.

But what if your current hospital design or geographic location makes having a beautiful garden view impractical? Imagery inspired by nature can stimulate and create peace of mind.

Photo: Silentia custom PhotoPanels privacy screen in a family centered NICU room at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington Delaware.

In 2019, Silentia worked with Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington, Delaware, to install privacy screens that offered a view to their new family-centered NICU. Healing architecture was an important consideration for NICU Director of Nursing, Christopher Beaty, who said, “The design has met our needs for aesthetics as well as infection control. I think we use all of these factors on this product. Even the beautiful color design for the screens to match the interior décor and provide a calm and reassuring atmosphere, met our needs.”

Similarly, Silentia worked with the NICU at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, where the Nursing Professional Development Generalist, Darlene Mensinger, uses Silentia PhotoPanel screens to provide patient privacy that stimulates healing.

“The field of daisies is my favorite. It can be dark and gloomy outside, but you can feel like you are sitting in a field of daisies,” says Mensinger.

Comfort at critical times

Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden wanted to change their protocol for caring for infants in their NICU. The existing design in the NICU didn’t allow for mothers coupling with their babies. Mothers recovered in a different ward separated from their infants. Existing rooms were not large enough to accommodate infants, mothers, and the equipment they both need for recovery.

The architect worked with the NICU care team to design a space to accommodate mothers coupling with their infants. Not only did the space meet their needs, but the hospital reported a 10-day shorter length of stay, lower morbidity rates, less ventilator assistance and improved long term mental and physical health.

A versatile privacy solution can create family-centered care rooms. Solid surface screens are a perfect companion for bedside pumping, skin to skin/kangaroo care, or a private retreat where family members can rest. They can be easily expanded or collapsed and rolled in and out, as needed to offer the desired level of privacy and separation.

Photo: Silentia custom PhotoPanels privacy screen in the NICU at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Safe and sound

Safety is an important consideration in modern NICU design. Designing with surfaces that are sleek and clean offer more than just an impression of cleanliness. When elements of the patient room, equipment, and other surfaces are easy to keep clean, there is a great improvement in infection control and prevention efforts.

Similarly, a focus on durability and stability in design contributes to patient and staff safety. Anything in the patient room should be designed to enhance, not inhibit, any procedures or scenarios that could take place. From easy maneuverability in an emergency to accommodating other pieces of equipment or monitors, design should complement the workflow of the NICU.

Measurable impact in neonatal care

Hospital design is often thought of as subjective and superficial, however, we know that design has a measurable and desirable impact on clinical outcomes and cost in the NICU environment. These evidenced-based designs have saved lives, reduced pain and improved clinical outcomes.

Silentia privacy screens serve a clinical purpose—privacy and improved hygiene—and also incorporate important design elements that improve the patient experience, therefore improving physical and psychological healing.

Learn more about our design influences and how we have helped improve design in neonatal and NICU departments for more than 30 years. Connect with us for more information or to receive a virtual demo.

This article was written by Carole Vogel, Regional Sales Manager, PA, NJ & DE at Silentia, Inc.

#design#NICU

April 2022 Featured

4 examples showcasing the benefits of privacy screens

Perioperative department with Silentia screens_2

Hospitals are made up of multiple departments designed to provide specialized services depending on patients’ needs. While the teams, procedures, and requirements may vary from one department to the next, the need for optimal patient privacy is an essential component of patient care in any department.

The topic of patient privacy covers a range of aspects of the patient care experience, including creating a personal space, providing a stress-free environment, preventing sensitive information from being overheard, and protecting patients from anything that may jeopardize their health. Privacy screens are very practical for addressing these needs to improve the patient experience and keep everyone in the care environment safe.

Emergency department with Silentia screens_2

The ultimate privacy solution

Hard surface privacy screens are dividers that form protective barriers between patients and the hospital environment. They deliver ultimate privacy for medical examinations and treatment with added hygiene and safety benefits compared to any other privacy alternatives.

Solid surface privacy screens can be crucial contributors to cleanliness and efficiency in any hospital environment. The main benefits of privacy screens include:

Easy to clean: Privacy screens can be wiped clean with a disinfecting solution on a cloth, items readily available in most facilities. The ease of cleaning encourages more frequent cleaning, leading to a more hygienic environment.
Material resource efficiency: Without the need for water or harsh chemicals to clean privacy screens, there is a reduction in wasted water, chemicals, and other materials.
Labor resource efficiency: Privacy screens that can be cleaned in the room mean you do not need an EVS or facilities team to remove them after use and take them offsite to be cleaned. This eliminates laundering and transportation resources for the privacy solution.
Long technical lifetime: With solid structures made from durable materials, the technical lifetime of privacy screens far outlasts that of any other privacy solution. The result is minimal ongoing costs over time after an initial investment.
Design/Aesthetic: Privacy screens can contribute to the visual and physical design of a hospital facility by creating a comfortable, enhanced environment.

For four of the common hospital departments—critical care, emergency department, neonatal intensive care, and perioperative—these benefits of privacy screens can positively impact patient care.

Critical Care

Critical care units, also known as intensive care units (ICUs), are the area in a hospital for patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Patients who suffer from severe burns, heart failure, stroke, respiratory failure, sepsis, and other illnesses and injuries, are taken to the critical care unit.

Teams of specially trained and experienced healthcare providers provide round-the-clock care where attention to the status of the patient is critical. These departments are outfitted with specialized technology, machines, and equipment, like feeding tubes, catheters, tracheostomy tubes, ventilators, and IV tubes to constantly monitor vital signs.

In ICUs, privacy screens provide an easy-to-use and easy-to-clean privacy option. Since patients in this department are in critical condition and unable to move around freely, privacy screens can be cleaned in the room with minimal disturbance. When patients do need to be moved or transferred to a new bed, privacy screens allow full operation of ceiling lifts without sacrificing privacy. Screens also allow caregivers to communicate and interact with patients or view life-supporting monitors while respecting their privacy.

Emergency Department

Emergency departments provide specialized medical and surgical care to patients who arrive in hospitals seeking immediate attention. The emergency department personnel also respond to emergencies within the hospital, including when a patient has a cardiac arrest.

Emergency areas are designed with adequate spaces that allow rapid response and mobility of the healthcare professionals attending to emergencies, as well as access to necessary equipment and monitors. Some circumstances also require emergency departments to adapt to fluctuating inpatient populations.

Emergency department holding bay with Silentia screens_1

Privacy screens can enhance emergency departments by providing a reliable solution that is easy to maneuver and versatile enough to accommodate whatever personnel or equipment an emergency requires. They are resistant to being pulled down, torn, or stained with substances, making them a safe alternative to any cloth solution. They can be easily attached to the wall or a mobile trolley, expanded or compacted, and rolled around for quick accessibility.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Neonatal intensive care units, sometimes known as intensive care nurseries, are the areas in a hospital where newborn babies requiring intensive medical treatment reside. Trained healthcare professionals, including neonatologists, pediatric residents, respiratory therapists, and dieticians, provide care to infants who have challenges transitioning to outside womb changes. NICU nurses and doctors are trained in a variety of medicines and procedures for ensuring struggling babies are nurtured to full health.

Teams in the NICU rely on incubators, heart monitors, and other special apparatus that help maintain suitable environmental conditions for the infants. In many cases, they also rely on close contact from mothers and families for skin-to-skin and emotional support.

Privacy screens are essential components for accommodating these crucial elements of NICU care. They provide necessary protective barriers around infants needing special care. When it is time for mothers to hold and nurse their babies in private, solid screens help reduce disruption from surrounding noise, allowing babies to enjoy quality sleep, while giving nurses a clear line of sight to view monitors.

Privacy screens are easy to clean and maintain quickly in place without needing to be removed, minimally disrupting patients and families. They can also serve the very practical function of a solid surface for a nurse or physician to knock on, eliminating the risk of barging in on a breastfeeding mother or a family in a vulnerable state.

Perioperative/OR Department

Perioperative departments handle patients preparing for, receiving, or recovering from surgery. The perioperative staff works diligently to prepare patients physically and mentally for surgical operations. 

A perioperative department typically is divided into three areas:

Preoperative: Patients are tested and prepared for surgery, with a focus on minimizing stress and anxiety.
Intraoperative: Patients are monitored, anesthetized, and prepared for an operation, with a focus on cleanliness and infection prevention.
Postoperative: Patients recover and receive post-anesthesia care after surgery, with a focus on reducing stress and encouraging healing.

In any area of a perioperative department, privacy screens provide a protective barrier that separates patients from the surrounding environment, reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), anxiety, and breaches of information. Easy-to-clean design characteristics contribute to a cleaner environment and reduce room turnover time and workflow disruptions. They also allow nursing teams to see monitors without disturbing resting patients.

Additionally, patients and visiting families can benefit from the visual design features of privacy screens. Screens can be outfitted with large photo displays of familiar places or settings, creating peace of mind for the patients and a more inviting care environment.

Privacy for every department

Patient privacy screens create a more comfortable and accommodating space in any hospital department, improving patient safety and care. They offer a cleaner privacy solution that aids infection control while protecting vulnerable or anxious patients.

What is your current hospital department privacy solution? Let us explore your options for creating a better patient care environment with privacy screens. Contact us for more information.

#critical care#emergency#hygiene#NICU#perioperative#privacyscreens

March 2022 Featured

A growing worldwide effort to replace hospital curtains

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are an ever-present risk in hospitals and can be caused by contaminated surfaces around the patient room, including privacy curtains. Globally, there is a growing effort by hospitals to combat HAIs by eliminating cloth curtains and replace them with solid-surface solutions.

In the US, when it comes to high-touch surfaces and cleaning protocols, cloth curtains often get overlooked. This comes at a cost, both financially and in loss of life, as it puts patients and staff at unnecessary risk. Fortunately, hospitals in the US can learn from the examples being set in Europe and elsewhere around the world, where more modern healthcare systems are implementing alternatives to curtains to adapt and protect their patients.

Infection rates reveal plenty of room for improvement

The US hospital system is one of the largest in the world and continues to grow, and hospital data and infection rates reveal obvious room for improvement. According to data from the American Hospital Association, there are 6,090 hospitals in the US, which see a total of 36,241,815 admissions per year. The CDC’s Winnable Battles Report, shows that 1 in 25 U.S. hospital patients were diagnosed with at least one hospital-related infection, and that between 2019 and 2020, there were significant increases in VRE (35%), CLABSI (24%), MRSA (15%). As a result, the direct cost to US hospitals from HAI transmissions ranges up to $45 billion.

Privacy curtains are a pathogen breading ground

The National Institute of Health released a report discussing curtains as a potentially important site of bacterial contamination in hospitals. They conducted a three-week study of patient privacy curtains where swabs were taken on the curtains’ leading-edge twice weekly. Twelve of 13 curtains (92%) of the curtains showed contamination within one week. Forty-one of 43 (95%) curtains were contaminated at least once. Of the 43 contaminated curtains, 21% were positive for MRSA, 42% were infected with VRE.

Additionally, the American Journal of Infection Control reported a study that found that 37% of hospitals facilities launder privacy curtains only when they are visibly soiled. These contaminated surfaces undermine the efforts to control HAIs.

The growing worldwide trend

Recognizing the danger that cloth privacy barriers present, many hospitals around the world are replacing their old-style fabric curtains and cloth screens with solid-surface privacy folding screens. They are doing so to help prevent the spread of microorganisms, as they are less susceptible to harboring bacteria and easier to clean if they become contaminated and during room turnover.

As of 2022, hospitals and clinics in 40 countries use Silentia privacy screens as a curtain alternative, which includes 70% of the 50 best hospitals in the world. It’s worth noting, not every country has developed strict bans on privacy curtains, and the guidelines range from recommendations to fully adopted regulations.

Denmark

Denmark has emerged as Europe’s leader in the shift away from hospital curtains. The Danish health authorities, who refer to curtains as “reservoirs of infection,” have developed documentation as a standard for hospitals that outlines the hygiene issues with curtains, including possible contamination by people who have been colonized or infected with microorganisms, including MRSA, VRE, c. difficile, Acinetobacter, norovirus, and mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a result, textile curtains in patient rooms are no longer recommended and Danish regulations now encourage all new or renovated hospitals to use hard surface patient privacy screens.

In 2012, Odense University Hospital performed a trial that tested Silentia folding privacy screens against textile curtains. The evaluation consisted of a range of performance categories, including hygiene, functionality, stability and durability. Feedback showed that the screens were an overall improvement to care and the health care team decided to implement them as a permanent solution.

In 2014, Glostrup Hospital, now called Rigshospitalet Glostrup, installed more than 100 hygienic Silentia folding screens in 11 wards. Then, in 2015, as part of an effort to combat hospital infections, Nykøbing F. Sygehus became the shining example of full adoption as the first hospital in Denmark to replace all its curtains with Silentia folding screens in every department.

Sweden

In Sweden, hospitals are universally recommended against using curtains. New hospital construction or renovation projects no longer recommend curtains as a solution for patient privacy. In 2015, once pointed out that fabric patient curtains were not suitable for maintaining hospital hygiene, the management at Kalmar County Hospital decided to equip the hospital with Silentia folding screens.

Switzerland

Switzerland has adopted recommendations for replacing curtains depending upon needs, requirements, and other factors at each individual hospital. After a three-year evaluation of the folding screens, the Riviera-Chablais Hospital on the Swiss Rivera was the first Swiss hospital to replace patient curtains with Silentia folding screens.

Scotland

Golden Jubilee National Hospital, in Scotland, found that the traditional pull-around curtains were costly to remove, launder, and install clean curtains. In addition, there were three different size curtains, and management was looking for an alternative that was easy to clean and cost-effective. After Silentia gave a presentation to nursing staff, infection protection, and housekeeping, Golden Jubilee purchased 157 Silentia screens consisting of seven or nine-panel screens.

England

When England’s new North Walsham Hospital installed Silentia screens, the staff found that the screens were easier to clean than curtains. In addition, the screens are more robust and give the patient more privacy and dignity. Making the patients feel more secure than the curtains.

A hopeful future for US hospitals

Many US hospitals have experienced the benefits of solid-surface screens that are easy to clean and disinfect, saving money, time and resources. For over six years, Silentia has helped hundreds of hospitals go curtain-free, from individual patient rooms to entire departments.

Silentia screens can be cleaned with materials and chemicals already used in hospitals, without being removed from the room and sent to the laundry. They don’t require a team or third-party service to remove, install, and transport to an off-site laundry service, as is required with patient privacy curtains, resulting in lower time and cost for room turnover. While the initial cost may be more than that of curtains, there is little additional expense over the life of the screens.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a severe problem in healthcare facilities and studies show that the bacteria that cause these infections are often harbored in the patient privacy curtains. The use of Silentia screens can significantly reduce the incidence of HAIs, evidenced by the growing adoption we see across Europe and elsewhere around the world. It’s only a matter of time and the ability to raise awareness that a practical, modern solution for a safer environment for patients and staff exists.

Want to learn more? Contact Silentia to book a free virtual or in-person demonstration and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

#infectioncontrol

February 2022 Featured

A design approach to patient privacy

In the late 1970s, the renowned designer Dieter Rams developed his iconic “10 Principles of Good Design”, an ideology for thoughtful, responsible and intelligent product design. He etched in stone a new paradigm that influences the form and function of products we use today, from electronics to furniture. His theory not only relates to personal items found in the home but can also be applied to creating better hospital and healthcare environments.

Good design and high-quality materials used in the healthcare environment can have a positive impact that improves the entire patient care experience, from treatment and delivery of care to recovery. Furthermore, the products and materials used by healthcare staff can serve practical, functional purposes while creating a safe, secure and comfortable space, leading to better outcomes.

A simple mission

Our rich history and experience date back to 1989 when one of our family members, working as a nurse in Sweden, saw the disadvantages of using hospital curtains for patient privacy. It was apparent even then that curtains are a habitat for pathogens and can be a source of Hospital Associated Infections (HAIs) among patients.

Focused on finding a more reliable and hygienic solution to cloth privacy curtains, we designed and built the Silentia Screen System in 1990. Since our first innovation, we have been guided by our mission to offer patient privacy while still focusing on infection prevention and control.

Product innovation

Silentia products are mainly influenced by our Swedish heritage, which combines clean aesthetics, simplicity, and functionality. Our unique style and ability to develop new products when the need arises is what has made us the leading alternative to privacy curtains for more than three decades. The Silentia Screen System is a flexible, reliable, and easy to use solution due to our EasyCare suite of functions built into each product.

Unlike cloth hospital curtains that take time to clean and dry, our screens have smooth and solid surfaces that are easy to clean instantly with normal disinfectants found in healthcare settings. EasyClean™ functionality means you can clean our screens without moving them to an offsite location.

The EasyReturn function of our products enables you to fold our screens back seamlessly. Our items are lightweight and fitted with signature patented hinges that have inbuilt memory for easy and fast positioning. To regulate the spread of infections within the healthcare setting, we have included a one touchpoint handle on our screens that minimizes contact.

The EasyClick feature built into our products is representative of our system thinking approach to design with sustainability in mind. Products can be used in several ways because they are designed to be compatible with different accessories or ways of mounting. This ability to adapt to future situations, such as unit or hospital reorganization, leads to longer product lifetimes.

Creative stimulation

Silentia screens come in a variety of solid color options to introduce bright, fresh hues into the patient setting. We took this idea a step further to create art and imagery that can be printed on our screens. We worked with scientists and artists to research the effect of images on patients in treatment and recovery. We found studies that show how art can help patients recovering from illness by reducing their pain and stress. With these findings, we developed a few series tailored to specific types of patients.

StoryPanels™ feature artwork for children, such as planets and characters. We use them on our screens to make kids forget about their hospital situations and trigger their imagination and fantasy. Designed by Stefanie Schöffmann, artist and CEO of look! Design, StoryPanels contain colors, shapes, and funny characters that have been proven to calm kids and give them a positive psychological experience.

ArtPanels™ contain images of nature and animal life, from grazing cows to farmers plowing their fields. Studies have shown that images of nature reduce stress among recovering patients by giving them something positive to focus on. Magnus Reisne, a Swedish landscape artist and creator of ArtPanels™, uses the green colors in his designs to soothe patients and drive them to tranquility. His images are meant to encourage patients to relax, stay strong, and renew their hope of conquering their current situations.

PhotoPanels™ are panels with photographic images we use on our screens to stimulate positive thoughts among patients. Images and colors influence people positively by lowering their blood pressure, stimulating helpful thoughts, plus relieving pain, stress, and anxiety. They are good for vulnerable patients and are ideal for senior care, pediatric care, and dementia care. They create memories of recognizable places and minimize the feeling of being closed in among patients.

Industry leaders

The best hospital privacy solution should not only provide patient privacy but enhance the patient experience. Silentia privacy screens are built to be long-lasting and durable, flexible enough to fit in any healthcare design, and allow patients to rest and heal comfortably. Our clean design integrates into everything we do to create better products for cleanliness, infection control, operational efficiency, and long-term financial savings.

#creativity#design#innovation#products#sustainability

December 2021 Featured

7 questions to ask when selecting healthcare furniture and materials

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.

#cleanliness#design#furniture#infectioncontrol#materials#sustainability