2024 Hvidovre, Denmark

Semifix privacy screens redefine hygienic patient care at Friheden Dermatology Clinic

Silentia semifix screens at Friheden dermatology clinic

The Friheden Dermatology Clinic in Hvidovre, Denmark, has approximately 100 patients visit the clinic daily, which means maintaining high hygiene standards is crucial. Medical specialists at the clinic, Morten Bogh and Ada Uldahl provide insight into their clinic and the process for converting to patient privacy with Silentia’s Semifix screens.

Friheden Dermatology Clinic had fabric curtains in the treatment rooms between patients, however, due to the risk of infection after COVID-19, a more hygienic solution was required. Morten Bogh, a medical specialist at the clinic, first discovered Silentia’s folding screens at a hospital and proceeded to purchase a screen for the clinic. Subsequently, upon seeing the hygiene benefits, the clinic decided to replace all fabric curtains with Silentia privacy screens.

“We chose the Semifix system, which can be installed in various ways. We now have a hygienic and easy-to-clean solution. The new screens are positioned to match our existing room layout, giving it a more modern and professional look,” says Morten Bogh.

Curtains were being used for privacy in patient areas of the clinic.

Cubicle curtain at Friheden Dermatology Clinic 1

A closeup of the curtain and track system that was in place.

Cubicle curtain at Friheden Dermatology Clinic 2

A semi-permanent, opaque privacy barrier was being used between patients.

Friheden Dermatology Clinic old screens 1

Many clinics may not have the time or space for a major renovation requiring closure. Silentia is ready to assist with the quick removal of existing privacy and installation of our screens.

Friheden Dermatology Clinic old screens 2

Positive feedback on the new interior design

Ada Uldahl, another medical specialist at the clinic, expresses her satisfaction with the new interior design solution. “I have nothing but praise for Silentia for the great solution and a good experience,” she says. “I’m looking forward to getting the last details in place, such as a lamp, holders for hand sanitizers, wet wipes, gloves, and other extra equipment. This will help ensure that we can easily sanitize and wipe down surfaces during the day at the clinic.”

“It is an extra advantage that the screens are flexible and easy to move, and it is nice to know that we can change the setup if we want to rearrange something later on,” she adds. Uldahl is particularly pleased that the staff no longer have to wash and handle cubicle curtains.

The new solution with Semifix screens, there are hygienic privacy screens between patients. The simple, transparent Semifix screens allow daylight to enter the entire room, making it bright and friendly for patients.

Semifix screens can be moved and folded to accomodate changing needs for the patient area.

A fully closed semifix screen can sit nearly flush to the wall.

Textile privacy curtains are replaced by wall-mounted folding screens.

Easy to clean on-the-spot

Every day, up to 100 patients pass through Friheden Dermatology Clinic. The specialist clinic treats patients who are referred by their general practitioner, and it comprises two medical specialist doctors, two nurses, and two secretaries. The new screens with hard, smooth surfaces improve efficiency by contributing to simpler and easier cleaning routines and the ability to clean the screens on the spot in the treatment rooms between patients during the day.

Semifix offers full flexibility

Semifix screens have a stable wheelbase that can rotate 90 degrees and panels that can be easily folded or disconnected and removed with the patented EasyClick connection. Three-way joints make it easy to combine the screens in many ways.

Semifix screens are equipped with wheel sets that can rotate for full stability.

The three-way connector on semifix screens allows for the additional connection of semifix or folding screens.

Top-view of the three-way connector with folding screen attached.

Silentia’s PPE holder attaches to the semifix screens and can hold hand sanitizer, gloves, and other hygiene necessities.

Silentia screens are equipped with a single touch-point handle for easy maneuverability and to limit handling.

Want to learn more about this project or have questions about your own clinic or department? Connect with us to understand your options for clean, flexible patient privacy!

Visit EasyScreenDesign to explore our complete system and design your own privacy screen solution.

2023 NorthBay Health Medical Center, USA

Maximizing privacy and space at NorthBay Health NICU

Two Silentia folding screens at NorthBay Fairfield NICU

Silentia privacy screens revolutionize patient privacy with a patented screen system made with durable, easy-to-clean materials. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NorthBay Health Medical Center implemented the Silentia screen system in 2015 to transform patient care and continues to see the benefits today.

Clean privacy matters

Providing an adequate physical privacy barrier for patients is important for patient dignity and keeping sensitive information secure, while promoting infection prevention. Infection prevention and control is perhaps the most important and often overlooked aspect of patient privacy in that it deals with the health and wellness of patients, healthcare workers, and visitors.

Silentia privacy screens are uniquely designed to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that can be serious, even life-threatening, and can prolong hospital stays and increase healthcare costs. By utilizing hard surface privacy screens, healthcare facilities can reduce Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) and keep their patients healthy, thereby making a significant difference in the fight against infection.

NorthBay Health NICU

NorthBay Health Medical Center is a 154-bed acute care hospital located in Fairfield, California. Combined with its 50-bed sister NorthBay Health VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, NorthBay experiences roughly 50,000 patient days, annually. NorthBay’s Level III NICU, in Fairfield, provides critical care for babies born prematurely or with specific medical conditions that require special care. The department consists of a large open room with individual incubator bays.

We spoke with Heather Troutt, Director of Women’s and Children’s Services, to understand the challenges she and her NICU team face and their journey to implement Silentia screens in the department.

Small space, big challenges

The primary challenge in the NICU was providing adequate privacy and care for patients, especially during kangaroo care and breastfeeding, while working in a relatively small space.

“We are big on decluttering the space. We are a small NICU, so space is a commodity,” said Troutt.

Incubator and Silentia screen in NorthBay Fairfield NICU

The department was originally outfitted with textile screens mounted on rolling bases, but they were difficult to clean. They tried vinyl screens, but the screens could not be curved around a chair or incubator for more complete privacy; in addition, their base was too big and caused a tripping hazard, and they also were difficult to clean.

With the experience and knowledge of privacy options that were not working, the team determined they needed a solution that was easy to clean, easy to move, did not block monitors, could fit around the counters and equipment, and saved space.

Silentia folding screen wrapped in NorthBay Health NICU

Discovering Silentia screens

Silentia screens were first introduced as a possible solution to NorthBay by an internal team of nurses and other staff, called the SMART committee, responsible for finding and evaluating new products.

In 2014, the SMART team, which included Jana Parkinson, a NICU nurse, identified the need for improved privacy and infection control for their patients. Within a year, NorthBay became one of the United States’ earliest adopters of Silentia screens.

Wall-mounted folding screen at NorthBay Fairfield NICU

In 2015, the decision was made to install a set of mounted and mobile Silentia screens throughout the NICU and Labor and Delivery (L&D) units. Large, 15-panel wall rail-mounted screens were installed between each incubator bay, and a set of mobile folding screens was used for areas with no rail system.

The design of Silentia screens—hard surfaces, easy mobility, a low profile, and minimal footprint—inherently addressed the challenges of maximizing privacy and ease without impeding workflows.
Further supporting existing workflows, the wall rail-mounted screens were designed with custom extensions and clamps that mounted the screens beyond countertops used by nursing staff.

Photo 1/3: Closed folding privacy screen showing upper and lower clamp mounts.

Closed Silentia folding screen with upper and lower clamps

Photo 2/3: Upper extension and clamp mount.

Upper extension clamp mount on Silentia folding screen

Photo 3/3: Lower extension and clamp mount.

Lower extension clamp mount on Silentia folding screen

Hands-on service

A collaborative approach between Silentia and the NICU team allowed for easy implementation and training to properly integrate the device into the workflow. Silentia staff provided a walkthrough of operating and cleaning the screens to maintain their performance and longevity.

According to Troutt, good customer service played a big role in decision-making. “Working with the same service rep after years speaks volumes. She knows our story, our team, our products, and their use.”

As the nurses became comfortable with using the screens, their flexibility and versatility meant they were able to change the space around until the flow was determined. Seeing how easy the screens were to clean meant the nurses could add cleaning and sanitizing to their workflows instead of requiring the help of Environmental Services (EVS).

“I’m surprised at how well they have held up,” said Troutt. Silentia privacy screens have a proven lifetime of more than 10 years, and the screens installed at the NorthBay NICU are soon approaching a decade of service in the field with only minor service and repairs.

Flexibility and versatility

At Silentia, we understand the demands of modern healthcare, which is why the Silentia screen system is flexible and versatile to address a broad range of challenges.

The Silentia screen system offers healthcare teams improved cleanliness and efficiency when treating and caring for patients. It supports better infection control, reduces long-term resource waste, and contributes to better patient outcomes.

In our experience, the privacy, hygiene, and workflow challenges that the NorthBay NICU faces exist in hospitals across the country. Almost a decade ago, Northbay implemented Silentia privacy screens, an investment in better patient care, a better work environment, and long-term clean patient privacy that can be realized in any healthcare environment.

2023 Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden

Art in healthcare matters!

Stockholm South General Hospital has designed a neonatal ward with art as an important part of the design. Silentia’s folding screens are an integral part of the project, which was done in close collaboration with Swedish artist, Elisabeth Henriksson. For two years, Henriksson developed the art for the privacy screens and talked with the staff to understand the feel and atmosphere of the neonatal ward.

Art supports everything we do

“It is important for us that art can function in a hygienic setting as well,” says Marina Adler-Runow, head of the neonatal unit. “Therefore, the solution with art printed on Silentia’s hygienic folding screens is really perfect. The beautiful colors bring warmth and calm to the rooms and, as we told the artist, we work with providing a safe and comforting environment. We meet parents, who are afraid and worried about their children. They are often here for several weeks, so it is important that the imagery help create a calm and safe atmosphere. In this way, the art will complement the staff and everything we do,” says Marina Adler-Runow.

Nature’s plants as a symbol of nurturing

Artist Elisabeth Henriksson was commissioned to create the artistic design for the neonatal ward. She developed the imagery based on a discussion with the staff about the emotional state in the ward. “My idea was to show that medicinal plants and herbs are symbols of caring and nurturing. I drew plants, painted round shapes, and then processed the drawings digitally.”

Transparent Daylight folding screens provide privacy while allowing the daylight to flow into the room.

High-quality art to match the quality of care

Elisabeth Henriksson is very pleased with the result and the quality of the art printed on Silentia’s transparent Daylight folding screens, which provide privacy while still allowing the daylight to flow into the room. “The printed colors turned out on the screens exactly as I wanted them to, and the transparency of the screens captures the light beautifully. I have worked on illustrating feelings in the drawings, to make them ‘alive’ and unique. As if nature becomes an image of us humans.”

Look up!

As an extra, surprising detail, the artist has placed colored light boxes in the ceiling so that parents can sit in comfortable chairs and look up at the ceiling where the light has the same colors as the screens.

The importance of art in healthcare environments

Project manager, Susanne Andersson Kopp, at the cultural administration in Region Stockholm, leads these projects with organizations, staff, artists, architects, and construction management throughout the process. “The whole art project has been absolutely fantastic. Together we have created a calm environment both architecturally, artistically, and in terms of materials and the collaboration with Silentia has also worked well.”

“Art clearly has an impact on our physical and mental health, and helps to break the institutionalization of healthcare,” says Susanne Andersson Kopp.

The art project is a collaboration between the neonatal department, the cultural administration, and Region Stockholm. Whenever the Stockholm Region has new building projects, the rule is that up to two percent of the costs must be used for artistic design. This is called “the percentage rule.” Region Stockholm has one of the country’s largest collections of public art.

Stockholm South General Hospital, Södersjukhuset, is an acute care hospital in an urban setting, and one of the largest hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden.

Read more on how arts improve health and well-being:
CultureForHealth Report »

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review
WHO (2019)

2023 Aleris Hospital, Ringsted, Denmark

The perfect solution for bringing light and better oversight to the recovery room

“Our new recovery area with folding screens from Silentia works well for both patients and staff. It is easy to clean the screens with wet wipes, between patients, to ensure high hygiene,” says Monica Everdam, nurse and head of the recovery ward at Aleris Hospital, in Ringsted, Denmark.

Folding screens are a great solution – even in small spaces

The staff had the recovery room project improvements in mind for quite a long time because updating the layout was important for daily workflows and functionality. “One of the challenges was creating separation between the eight beds in the recovery room. It was only when one of our nurses met Silentia at an exhibition that we found the perfect solution with Silentia’s folding screens,” says Monica Everdam.

The screens are 4’9″ in height and 5’9″ long, which makes them tall enough for patients to sit up in the bed without being disturbed by people passing by and still gives the staff clear visibility of all patients in the recovery room. “The screens are easy to fold in when not in use and don’t take up space in the room, which makes the screens useful also in small rooms.”

Images of nature and vibrant colors

The walls in the recovery room are white, so our team suggested the idea of having images on the screens. The staff chose various images of water and beautiful scenes of nature as a theme.

The screens are designed with white panels on one side and image panels on the other side. The white screens are slightly translucent and allow the daylight to shine through the room, which makes the environment more pleasant and still provides complete privacy. The ward also chose a mobile bed end screen as a supplement for extra privacy at a patient’s bed end when needed.

Adjacent to the new recovery department, Aleris Ringsted has also set up a department for mammography screening and a gynecology consultation room equipped with a Silentia screen system.

A seamless process

“Jonas from Silentia has been good at following up, and it has been a pleasure to do business with him. An additional advantage is that the overall solution is so flexible that we can easily move the screens around into other areas when necessary,” adds Monica Everdam.

Aleris Ringsted has three high-tech operating rooms, 45 consultation rooms, and direct access to X-rays, MRI scans, and ultrasound scans.

With seven private hospitals nationwide, Aleris Hospitals is the largest supplier of private healthcare in Denmark and part of the Aleris Group, which is one of Scandinavia’s leading private healthcare companies. Aleris provides healthcare and diagnostic services in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Aleris has approximately 4,500 employees across more than 100 locations.

2023 Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital, USA

Pediatric ED elevates patient experience and staff wellbeing

The teams at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department understand the importance of delivering good patient care and a quality environment for staff to thrive. Addressing these challenges has always been a priority but became even more significant in 2022 when they, like many other hospitals around the country, were experiencing surges in patient cases while avoiding staff burnout.

Creating spaces to handle surge

By mid-year, the pediatric ED teams were doing their best to handle surges as they came and to support each other during them. To handle the overflow of patients, the waiting room was portioned off into small cubbies to allow for more patients while maintaining some privacy between them. Then, while they had not originally intended to use these cubbies as treatment areas, the frequent influx of patients necessitated it.

As a temporary solution, nurses were using vinyl dividers to keep patients separate but quickly realized that they caused issues in the pediatric setting as they were unsteady, unsightly, and, most importantly, could not be adequately cleaned. This brought to the forefront a new and pressing challenge: find an infection-control-friendly solution for creating private patient areas during surges.

Marvella Cephas, Nursing Director of the Pediatric ED and Interim Director of the Pediatric ICU, who is not only responsible for the two departments but is one of the biggest advocates for improving how they operate, began searching for a solution. She discovered Silentia screens at a local Emergency Nursing Association chapter meeting where she met our Silentia representative and learned about the capabilities of our vast screen system.

Realizing a vision for pediatric-oriented care

In speaking with our team, Cephas expressed her vision for offering a higher quality patient experience by, first, improving aesthetics to create a pediatric-friendly environment, and second, providing the privacy, comfort, and safety that patients expect from a hospital experience. We worked with Cephas and her team to design options that would completely replace the temporary screens with a long-term solution that would enhance the look of the treatment areas while reducing potential risks from contaminated surfaces.

The resulting solution was a series of cubbies created by 6-panel wall-mounted folding privacy screens. Each screen featured our brilliant and lighthearted “Children at Play” imagery. The design allowed for the screens to be folded in and out to accommodate patients and their family members sitting in chairs between them while providing privacy from adjacent patients.

Positive feedback across the board

The feedback on the change was overwhelmingly positive. Cephas told us, “Staff love them,” and have seen the benefits of improved efficiency and a higher quality patient experience. She shared that kids enjoy the colorful creativity of the space.

As added validation, on a recent visit from The Joint Commission, Cephas and her team were praised for switching to Silentia privacy screens over the previous solution.

“These screens are giving us the ability to make makeshift treatment areas during the surge…and I love the fact that they are pretty.”

“Zen Den” addresses staff wellbeing

The story doesn’t end there. Given the circumstances surrounding healthcare over the last couple of years, resilience and rejuvenation were a major focus of Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and its administrators. So, while developing the patient overflow solution, Cephas worked with us to create a “Zen Den”, a self-care space for her staff.

The “Zen Den” features Silentia’s iconic beach scene PhotoPanels that set the mood for rest and relaxation.

Positive messages adorn the walls to help uplift and encourage nurses during their rest.

Provided within the space are a variety of wellness offerings, including massages, aroma therapy, and a sound machine, that allows staff to temporarily escape their duties and focus on stress reduction.

As the pediatric care teams at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital have discovered, the Silentia screen system is designed to address any challenge hospitals and healthcare teams are facing. It’s designed to be versatile and flexible to adapt to any need and is always the safest, cleanest, most reliable privacy solution available.

Want to learn more about these projects? Want to share your ideas for improving your patient and staff experience with our team? Connect with us today!

2020 Herlev Hospital, Denmark

Transparent solution allows contact while maintaining distancing

“During exercise stress tests the tall 1.85 m screen protects against breath and droplets,” says Susanne Larsen, asthma and allergy nurse at the clinic, seen here preparing ClearPanels for use.

ClearPanels™ are mobile screens that provide for conversation and the possibility for staff and patients to be close to each other.

The Asthma and Allergy Clinic at the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Herlev Hospital in Denmark needed to shield nurses and patients in situations where they are in close contact, to prevent the spread of infection. Consultant physician at the clinic, Kirsten Skamstrup Hansen asked staff to contribute ideas for a solution that would allow for safety and eye contact with patients.

A practical and hygienic solution

The need for a transparent, mobile screen allowing staff and patients to be in close contact and still maintain a distance was suggested. They contacted Silentia to inquire about a solution. Silentia has previously developed transparent screens, ClearPanels, and was able to deliver in a short time.

“The transparent screens work really well. They fit in easily with our daily work, and they help us maintain good communication with patients.”
Susanne Larsen, Asthma and allergy nurse.

When using ClearPanels staff will not have to use visors. Both staff and patients remain protected while maintaining contact and distancing. Please note: The short side ClearPanels seen in the photo to the left is a special solution made for Herlev Hospital. It is not a standard Silentia ClearPanels screen.

Maintaining eye contact with patients

Due to the risk of Coronavirus infection, the staff are required to wear visors or masks if distance cannot be maintained. This can make it difficult to maintain eye contact and engage in communication with children and adolescents at the clinic. Now, when staff uses the transparent folding screens, they don’t have to use the visors.

ClearPanels are used during examinations and in other situations where staff need to be close to patients.

“During an exercise stress test, the patient runs on a treadmill. In this situation, the tall screen protects against breath and droplets while allowing staff to instruct the patient,” says Susanne Larsen, asthma and allergy nurse at the clinic.

A follow-up review of the solution shows that the staff appreciate the new solution. The screens are used daily with all patients and work entirely as intended.

Application areas

Accident and emergency department
Intensive care/post-anaesthesia recovery
Examination room
Blood tests
Reception
Physiotherapy
Elderly care

Transparent screens for different healthcare settings such as monitoring with distance in emergency room and intensive care units.

Facts on ClearPanels

Transparent polycarbonate screen
Easy to clean. Resistant to the disinfectants normally used in healthcare
Easy to move. User-friendly, stable lightweight design
Easy to use. Takes a minimal amount of floor space
Manufactured with recyclable materials

2020 Riviera-Chablais Hospital, Switzerland

First hospital in Switzerland to remove all curtains

In the recovery room, 145 cm-high screens provide privacy for the patients while health workers still have a full overview of patients and equipment.

The new Riviera-Chablais Hospital on the Swiss Riviera is the first hospital in Switzerland to have removed all curtains.

“It’s a well-known fact that hospital curtains are a major source of infection. A rise in bacterial resistance and healthcare-associated hospital infections present a public health challenge and are a critical priority in a hospital environment,” says Sylvain Bertschy, equipment procurement manager at the Riviera-Chablais Hospital in the city of Rennaz.

Following an initiative to systematically remove all curtains at the hospital, the Procurement and Supplies Department was given the task of finding a suitable solution on the market

Sylvain Bertschy, equipment procurement manager at the Riviera-Chablais Hospital.

A real challenge to find an alternative to curtains

“About four or five years ago, nobody questioned if hospital curtains were a good idea. They were part of the basic furnishings in a patient’s room or in a consulting room. Our department faced a real challenge,” explains Sylvain Bertschy.

“Our research took us to Silentia, a supplier we already knew as they’d installed the screens in the day clinic at our Vevey Samaritain site.”

To demonstrate the concept and evaluate the performance at a site on the scale of the hospital at Rennaz, technical experts and health workers tested the product in a simulated hospital room. The hospital screen project ran for a total of three years.

In A&E, 165 cm-high screens protect the patients’ privacy without shutting them away.

The new site represents innovation and change

Everyone from the cantons through to the project teams wanted the new Riviera- Chablais Hospital to represent innovation and change. Discontinuing the use of hospital curtains is part of this process of innovation. The plan was also to furnish the building’s windows with disposable curtains. However, the significant cost of the curtains and their associated high carbon footprint led to a decision to have blinds and opaque glazing instead.

The rooms are very bright. The Daylight screen allows patients furthest from the windows to enjoy the natural daylight.

Ergonomics, durability and simplicity

The departments moved into their new premises at the end of 2019 and feedback will be provided in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, tests conducted by health workers and feedback provided at the Vevey site have highlighted the ergonomics, durability and simplicity of the Silentia folding screens.

The decision to remove the curtains has a positive effect

Silentia has also proved to be excellent value for money in the context of the public procurement procedure.

“The decision to remove all the hospital curtains has been positive not only in terms of convenience for the patients and health workers, but also their safety, as the screens will help to improve hygiene at the site” states Sylvain Bertschy.

The Riviera-Chablais Hospital has installed nearly 300 Silentia folding screens. The Silentia system’s simplicity, flexibility and ergonomics addresses the needs of a very wide range of departments, such as recovery rooms, A&E or twin rooms.

We have installed nearly 300 screens

“We work in a spirit of partnership with our suppliers. Silentia has proved to be a genuinely proactive source of ideas. Together, we have installed nearly 300 screens in a very wide range of departments, such as paediatrics, A&E, recovery rooms, the dialysis centre or patients’ rooms. Throughout the project, we have welcome Silentia’s professionalism, experience, advice and listening skills,” says Sylvain Bertschy.

Key figures

360 beds (inpatient and outpatient)
10 operating theatres
6 delivery rooms
2 heliports
4 storeys

2017 Cantonal Hospital in Uri, Switzerland

Before there were curtains, now there are screens

“I am happy, because I realize now how satisfied we are. In the last four years I have not had a single problem reported with the Silentia folding privacy screens. In a survey for our new hospital, everyone told us: ‘ More screens please ’.”

Silvia Rosery, Head of Nursing, Therapy, and Patient Procedures at the Cantonal Hospital in Uri, had some doubts initially, because many other alternatives (other screens, roll-up shades etc.) had already been looked at, but all had failed. The rooms are quite small, and the distance between the bed and bedside table is limited. After a trial period, however, the benefits of the folding privacy screens convinced her.

“I knew right away that this was a fantastic solution. It has since been integrated and well established. Nobody wants to see the old curtain solution any more. There are not many solutions, but this is a real innovation on the market with a completely new approach,” says Silvia Rosery.

A screen takes up less space than a curtain in the room.

Always looks neat – and hygiene is excellent

“The effect on the room is striking. The room always looks neat, hygiene is excellent and it’s so easy to operate,” says Silvia Rosery of the choice to use Silentia folding privacy screens to divide the 28 twin rooms at the Cantonal Hospital in Uri. Today the Silentia folding screen systems are standard for the room division of patients.

The most important requirements of room division were primarily to provide privacy, and the solution should be flexible and visually appealing. The highly movable, sometimes flapping material of a curtain offers no screening in a positive sense. In contrast, the stable panels of a folding privacy screen do offer this protection, although they are not rigid but portable, which also creates more space.

The screens can be operated with very little effort

“I had concerns initially regarding the function and potential noise of the wheels, based on my experience with other medical products. But no – they are completely quiet. They are made to last and work well. The quality of the wheels has convinced us. There was a trial period for handling and the staff were quickly impressed. The technique was established after putting up and taking down the screens just 3 or 4 times. You can operate the folding screen with very little effort – that simplifies our procedures,” says Silvia Rosery.

“I am sure that the screens are used more often than the curtains ever were. Sometimes the folding screen is pulled out only half way, when visitors arrive, for example. They divide the room so much better. Visitors also appreciate having some privacy. This aspect cannot be underestimated.”

Silentia screens can be adapted to every conceivable area of care: in this case with a special spacer to create clearance between the unit rail and the folding screen as they provide more space for hoses and cables.

Benefits of the screens according to Silvia Rosery:

They are very practical, straightforward and fit perfectly into our workflow.
They can be draped around the bed and the axis can be shifted.
They provide a better overview of the entire room.
You can see the heads of your colleagues above the screen, you no longer have to call through the curtain.
With the screens you do not feel imprisoned, you feel shielded.
A screen takes up less space than a curtain in the room.
Patients and nursing staff feel more comfortable with the screens than the curtains.

“The screens are very practical and straightforward. They fit perfectly into our workflow. They are an integrated and well established solution.”
Silvia Rosery, Head of Nursing in the Cantonal Hospital in Uri

Uri Cantonal Hospital is an emergency hospital with an additional department for long-term patients. It provides extended primary health care for approx. 35,000 inhabitants.

Patients did not enjoy the atmosphere with curtains

“I have not heard any problems with the room dividing in the last four years. Before I had a complaint about the curtains at least every week, for example, they were: ‘not washed’, ‘not returned’, ‘dirty’ etc. Now I am aware that that has all changed.” About the various problems with the curtains, she says:

The curtain was either too close to the bed, too far away, too low or too high.
The material quickly got dirty and stained.
Although patients and nursing staff were protected, they felt restricted.
For patients, it also felt a bit spooky and even a bit threatening as they could only make out ominous movements and shadows behind the curtain.

The installation went smoothly

The fixing itself was a challenge as the twin rooms are quite small, and the distance between the bed and bedside table is limited. You could not mount the screens directly on the wall, but Silentia solved this problem with a spacer between the wall and screen.

“The installation went quickly and smoothly. We coordinated with the Technical Service and Bed Availability departments. The folding screens could be installed even with patients present.”

2016 Männedorf Hospital, Switzerland

The design, the multitude of options and the hygiene aspect were what clinched it

In the new accident and emergency unit at Männedorf Hospital – boasting the very latest in medical and building services engineering – all curtains have been replaced by Silentia screens, both on health grounds and due to their superior quality.

At Männedorf Hospital, Silentia folding screens ensure good hygiene and help patients feel at home. The personal touch they provide is important – particularly for younger patients.

“We are very pleased that we opted for this system. The open design, the many options it affords and the hygiene aspect were what clinched it. We were also able to try out the system beforehand here on site,” says Peter Burkard, Head of Accident and Emergency Treatment at Männedorf Hospital on the shores of Lake Zürich.

The unit has two screens with Babar the Elephant, tailor-made by Silentia. It helps create a childfriendly ambiance.

Optimum utilisation of space

Lean management has been introduced throughout the hospital to ensure efficient design of all processes, the latter being defined very much in terms of patient needs and quality of care. To implement this concept, the entire treatment wing was rebuilt from scratch. The accident and emergency unit was opened in July 2015.

“Our aim was optimum utilisation of space. For rooms with two beds and for the fast-track area, we were looking for a particularly flexible hygienic solution that would be easy to clean. We took this decision together with the intensive care unit, the site management and our hygiene expert.

The fast-track area has folding screens in a combination of white and Daylight. Laminated children’s drawings are attached to them, much to the appreciation of the younger patients.

High expectations met

Silentia screens have met everyone’s high expectations. The accident and emergency unit has had the Silentia screens in place for a year, and the experience has been uniformly good. For Peter Burkhard, they have four major benefits:

Optimum hygiene

Cleaning of the screens is quick and easy. This benefit in terms of hygiene is in fact of particular significance for Männedorf Hospital, as the screens can be disinfected as and when needed at any time.

Flexibility

Flexibility is an obvious benefit, as the screens can also be positioned across corners. This is particularly welcome when greater capacity is needed. If a patient has to wait in the corridor on a trolley they are afforded some privacy. In addition, two small areas can be quickly turned into one big one, or vice-versa, at any time.

More space when time is of the essence

If the screen is not in use, it is folded up and takes up little space. Another important feature is that the screens can be very quickly pushed to one side in an emergency, if more room is needed around the beds.

Patient privacy

The folding screens are also used for rooms with single beds, allowing the door to stay open so that the patient can be monitored, at the same time as ensuring the patient gets the privacy they need. Staff can also see the medical equipment and hear if the patient needs help.

Important too is the fact that the folding screens are translucent, as there is no daylight at all in some areas.

Excellent advice from Silentia/Med-Innova

“We received excellent expert advice and service from the planning and design phase through to installation. Med-Innova has, with their many years of experience, helped us find the best possible solution for our needs, keeping us on the right track in terms of technical feasibility, copyright and practicalities,” says Peter Burkard.

Babar illustrations keeps children calm

The material and creative potential also played a decisive role. For the treatment of children, the unit thus has two screens with illustrations of Babar the Elephant, tailor-made by Silentia. Although this is not a specialised paediatric clinic, it is a priority for the unit that children should feel at home.

“The bed end screens with the Babar motifs help us very quickly create a child-friendly ambiance in all areas, making it easier to engage in conversation with the child so as to take their mind off any pain and anxiety they are feeling and keep them calm.”

Silentia has printed images and motifs on the screens. The two different motifs of Babar the Elephant were the choice of two female doctors. Ms Hagnauer of Con color Farbkonzept assisted with the copyright and ensuring the correct resolution.

2015

From curtains to hygienic screens, the trend is clear from hospital to hospital

Many hospitals and clinics are replacing all patient curtains with hygienic folding screens to prevent the spread of microorganisms.

To prevent the spread of infections it is important that all equipment, materials and fittings have smooth, flat surfaces that are easy to clean and disinfect. Curtain screens between patients have shown to be a source of harboring antibiotic-resistant bacteria, in comparison to hygienic folding screens that could inhibit the growth and spread of micro- organisms thanks to its smooth surfaces that easily could be wiped down. This gives the product a key advantage in the fight against hospital infections.

Screens eliminate big risk factor

In 2015, Nykøbing F. Sygehus was the first hospital in Denmark to replace patient curtains with folding screens in every department as a strategic part of efforts to combat hospital infections.

“We raised the level of hygiene by introducing folding screens. We have eliminated a large risk factor throughout the hospital. We had seen a succession of hospital acquired infections, and we know that patient curtains are a key source of infection. It’s impractical to change the curtains after each patient, so we chose to get rid of them,” says hygiene nurse Naja Troelsen, who played a key role  in the changeover, with full backing of the hospital management.

Kalmar County Hospital in Sweden.

Best solution – hygienically and financially

At Kalmar County Hospital in Sweden the management decided to equip the hospital with hygienic Silentia folding screens in a single sweep, as this was the most hygienic and cost-effective solution. The decision was taken after it was pointed out that fabric curtains are not suitable for maintaining hospital hygiene and another solution was recommended.

“It’s unusual to decide to replace all the existing curtains at once, but if we want good, effective care, we have to raise the level and choose a complete solution. The partnership with Silentia worked out very well. I think everyone is very happy with Silentia’s folding screens as they are easier and more flexible than the curtains we had before,” says Eva Ståhle, hospital strategist at Kalmar County Hospital.

Easier to break infection path

In 2014, Glostrup Hospital installed more than 100 new folding screens in 11 wards, and almost all wards and departments now have hygienic screens. The change to hygienic patient screens was promoted by bacterial studies on fabric and plastic curtains.

“Instead of waiting for the departments to purchase the screens, I chose to do it as one hospital-wide project. The switch has given a huge boost to hygiene. The new folding screens are included in our hygiene routines and it is easier for us to break the infection path and prevent infections because the surfaces are so much easier to clean,” says Anita Heidelbach, who manages 50 hospital staff.

Glostrup Hospital in Denmark.

Hygiene is a strategic choice

Investment in hygienic patient screening has to be weighed against the many disadvantages and high costs of frequently washing and replacing patient curtains. Folding screens are the most effective long-term solution, financially and hygienically.

Curtain washing and hand hygiene do not halt bacteria

Research shows that curtains between patients are quickly contaminated with infectious bacteria. In 2011, researchers from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine studied the spread of bacterial contamination on curtains*. They tested 43 curtains twice a week for three weeks. The curtains were shared between 30 different medical and surgical wards. The results showed that 26% of the curtains had antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and 44% had Enterococcus bacteria, some of which were resistant to antibiotics.

Although curtains are washed regularly it barely helps. The researchers tested 13 new curtains in a hospital, and within a week 12 had bacterial contamination. Improved hand hygiene does not solve the problem; more hygienic screening is required, according to the researchers.

Strategic infection control

Put hygiene on the agenda at management level.
Create an overall plan/budget for introducing folding screens.
Always get professional advice and a visual demonstration.
Set requirements for folding screen quality, security and flexibility.

Silentia patient screens: designed for top hygiene

The smooth, hard surfaces are easy to clean.
The materials can withstand disinfectants.
The hinges are designed to prevent collection of dirt and bacteria.
The screen can be folded in/out with only one point of contact.
Wheels can easily be removed and washed in water or disinfection  equipment.

2014 North Walsham Hospital, England

Improving infection control and patient dignity

Silentia screens are robust and give increased privacy and patient dignity.

Acclaim for Silentia screens installed at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust’s new hospital.

Installing Silentia screens at recently opened North Walsham Hospital has won plaudits from patients, their visitors and clinical staff alike. “The screens are easier to clean than curtains and there are no delays in patient admissions,” Beth Kimber, head of infection prevention and control at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, told Inside Hospitals.

Increased privacy and patient dignity

Highlighting other key benefits, Belinda Williamson, modern matron at North Walsham Hospital, added: “Silentia are more robust and give increased privacy and patient dignity. “In the old hospital, we had different height curtain rails and different lengths of curtains. The curtains were heavy too. A porter had to assist staff when we needed to take the curtains down and replace them. Plus we had to send them away to the laundry for cleaning. We also had to have a spare pair on the ward in case we had an infection, and as they were quite large they were bulky for storage. The curtains were also not in line with the beds, due to infection control requirements for increased space bed spacing.” Belinda added: “We had considered using disposable curtains, but they were costly and we would have had to change the tracking. They were also expensive if we had to replace them after an outbreak.

“Patients said the curtains we had did not fit and did not make them feel secure. They also felt that people could hear through them when they were with visitors or clinical staff. The curtains moved all the time if there was a breeze.

“They all like the Silentia screens,” said Belinda. “There are four four bedded wards here and eight side rooms. All the ward beds have the screens. “They are good, really easy to move. There’s a lock on the brake. You can take the castors off to clean them. Clinical staff say patients feel the screens are better for or their privacy and are easier to clean.” Infection prevention and control nurse Jackie Thomas first saw the screens at an exhibition staged as part of a Showcase Hospital event and described them to Beth Kimber.

The presentation and testing convinced us

“We’re always on the look out for new ways to improve infection prevention and control, and had the ideal opportunity to have them here as we were building new,” said Beth “We arranged a presentation by Silentia’s Tim Clarke who brought some screens. We invited clinical staff to have a look and to give us their views.They liked them, but weren’t really sure until they saw them fixed to the wall when they were installed.” Belinda explained: “I was just a bit concerned about whether the screens might tip over, but as they’re fixed to the wall at one end there are no issues. Staff have soon got used to them and like them. The wards look open and uncluttered. It’s a lot neater.

“The use of the screens is part of the training. Tim trained Mandy Mills, the ward manager, in the correct use of the screens – it’s very straightforward. Mandy cascades the training down to staff.”

Beth Kimber, left, Head of Infection Prevention and Control, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust; and Belinda Williamson, right, Modern Matron, North Walsham Hospital.

Discrete when not in use

When not required, the screens discretely fold back to give the wards a spacious, uncluttered look. This is aided by the white coloured screen specified for North Walsham.

However, for those who like a splash of colour a range of options is available, as are different screen sizes and styles. Now, whenever they are required at North Walsham, the Silentia screens as simply moved into position and the castor brake locked. Two screens can be used to completely close off a bed if required. Each four-bedded ward also has a mobile screen which can be positioned to make the screened-off area larger.

One enthusiast was patient Myra Bannon (pictured above), who said: “They’re no problem at all. I’ve had lots of visitors – family and friends. It’s easy to close off the bed – the screens make it nice and private. You can have a conversation in confidence.”

Beth Kimber explained: “The trust purchased the screens as part of the new build. The delivery all went fine, and Tim was always on hand if we needed him. In time there will be a cost benefit as we will not need to replace them. “The screens give patients confidence that they’re not going to blow open, as curtains might, if they are receiving any personal care. Certainly when visitors or staff see a patient it’s more private and they can hold conversations in confidence. “Between patients the screens are cleaned by hotel services, and at anytime if they are marked or splashed. If there is an outbreak the screens are wiped down with a chlorine releasing agent. The detachable castors can be thoroughly cleaned too.”

Beth added: “Other staff see this as a flagship building and they appreciate the benefits of the screens. There’s one more hospital that’s waiting approval, we’ll be putting Silentia screens in there, and I think they’ll be featured in other hospitals in any new refurbishments in the future. The whole infection prevention and control team recommends them now – particularly for the ease of cleaning.”

Tim Clarke, a director of Silentia UK, explained: “The screens can be used in line with the regulations on hospital beds and spacing. There are two heights, a choice of colours and different styles of screen.” The typical questions I’m asked are: ‘Can they be cleaned? Will they go around the bed? Do they stop sound travel? Are they easy to use and can they be used for what they were designed for?’

The answer is ‘yes’ to every question. “A number of hospitals and clinics across the UK are already appreciating the benefits the screens offer – just like the patients and staff at North Walsham.”

2014 Soerlandet Hospital Kristiansand, Norway

Silentia screens in emergency room

Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand.

“We are very pleased with Silentia’s folding screens, which we can clean when needed during the day. This is the ideal hygiene solution – and very uncomplicated. Previously we used curtains as screening, but they smelled and were difficult to keep clean. That is why we changed to Silentia’s screen system a year ago,” says leading lecturer nurse, Martin Hauge, at Kristiansand Hospital.

Folding screens are better for screening off patients than curtains

The emergency room at Kristiansand Hospital in Norway receives between 50 and 80 patients every day with everything from heart attacks and traffic injuries to minor diseases. A highly hygienic and efficient way to screen off patients is therefore needed.

“This is also a good solution for our patients. The screens seem to absorb more sound and are better for screening off patients than curtains. Tom Nordlie helped us get a very good solution for both screens and installation,” says Martin Hauge.

“Since the ward needed a very tall screen, I recommended white screens with a Daylight top section to let through more daylight. The curtains blocked the light, and now the room has become brighter and more open,” says Tom Nordlie from Avalon Medical, who is Silentias distributor in Norway.

2014

Seven key questions to ask when choosing patient privacy

A screen system has to be flexible. This combination of floor-mounted folding screen and mobile end screen is simple and effective, and can be extended or moved as required.

When you choose patient privacy there are several requirements that need to be met to ensure the ideal solution in enhancing a pleasant and hygienic environment. In order to choose the best solution, there are a number of key questions that need to be asked.

The best solution when choosing patient privacy is one that will become an unnoticed part of the daily routine; this is a clear sign that the product is working exactly the way it should. If the solution is awkward, does not work, or as is often the case: it cannot give the privacy a patient needs because it simply takes too long to find a screen – then it is obviously not the ideal solution.

But how do you find the best solution? Should you choose privacy screens or curtains? Which is the best solution for hygienic purposes and flexibility? Here are seven questions and answers about practicality, hygiene, and design for you to consider when choosing patient privacy.

A screen solution should naturally protect the patient’s privacy. This solution, with a 185-cm-high wall-mounted folding screen and a mobile end screen provides ideal screening. Silentia screens are available in a range of heights, lengths and combinations.

1. What cleaning and hygiene requirements should screens meet?

Surfaces in a hospital environment should not provide a breeding ground for bacteria. Equipment must be easy to clean to reduce the risk of infection. Screens for patient privacy is one of ten critical risk areas for infection in the closest area of the patient in the healthcare sector. Hygiene is always a major consideration when choosing the right product.

”Silentia’s Screen System makes it easy to meet the hygiene requirements thanks to its recessed hinges and wipe-clean surfaces. The wheels can be removed and washed separately. Our concept EasyReturn™ (see point 3) also reduces contact, since a screen can be folded out and in easily by pushing on the handle with just one hand. The screens withstand all types of disinfectants. However, a microfiber cloth moistened with water can be sufficient in some cases. An ATP test before and after wiping down a screen shows that a microfiber cloth moistened with a little water removes organic material; we call this EasyClean™. Even so, each care provider must decide which disinfection methods are best suited for them.”

2. How will the screens fit with daily routines and tasks?

Patient privacy should not get in the way of equipment that is permanently attached to the walls, ceiling, or mobile equipment on the floor. The chosen solution must be flexible and allow patients, staff, and porters to be able to move around easily without interrupting the daily tasks.

”Silentia’s Screen System is designed to take up as little space as possible without obstructing ceiling hoists and other equipment. The screens can be mounted on a wall, wall rail, or on a floor pole that eliminates the need to drill holes in the walls. A wide choice of mobile screens and bed end screens ensures flexibility. Ergonomically, the screens are lightweight, quick and easy to handle.”

3. Will the privacy screen get in the way during an emergency?

In accident and emergency departments, situations can quickly arise that require more space around the patient for staff and equipment. This makes it extremely important that the chosen privacy screens can be folded out of the way quickly – there is no time to waste on a screen that is difficult to fold.

”Silentia screens are designed to fold very simply – you place one hand on the handle and push to fold them out of the way – so they are practical in everyday use and very quick to fold in an emergency. The patented folding system ensures that screens automatically fold back into place, whether they are short or long. We call this EasyReturn™.”

4. Will the screens contribute to the overall interior look?

The furniture, lighting, colors and equipment in hospitals should be chosen to enhance the atmosphere and make work easier for staff. This means that products should not only be practical, but also make a positive impact on the surroundings. For example, if the room does not get a lot of daylight, the screens should not obstruct the light from the windows.

”Silentia screens combine practicality with good looks. Screens are available in various different colors and patterns that enhance both the mood and practicality of a room. Silentia’s Daylight screens let the daylight through while giving complete privacy at the same time.”

5. Do the screens help patients relax and feel at ease?

In the hospital, patients are often in uncomfortable and vulnerable positions. A privacy screen system must therefore help staff to protect patients’ privacy, making it easy to screen off beds from intrusion of others.

”Silentia screens are available in a range of heights, lengths, and combinations to provide the best possible privacy. The various color options contribute to the overall harmony, making patients feel more relaxed, regardless of their age.”

6. How do i avoid making an expensive decision that cannot be changed?

The world is constantly changing and there is always a risk that unforeseen circumstances could affect your chosen privacy screen solution. Therefore, it is important that the screen system is both mobile and adaptable. It needs to be able to move if the department moves or more space is required for additional equipment around the beds.

”Silentia’s Screen System is so flexible that the modules can always be moved, adapted or extended thanks to the EasyClick™ feature. The modules have a long technical lifetime, so a Silentia solution is both flexible and future-proof.”

7. Can we see how a solution works before making a decision?

The screens may look good in pictures – but will the solution work well in practice? Are the screens large enough and do they leave enough space for the equipment in the department? You should always ask for a demonstration so that your staff can see the various options and if the screens work well in practice.

”Silentia always offers a demonstration in the department itself, with full-size screens and advice on how to come up with the best solution based on 25 years experience as the leading alternative for optimal privacy & hygiene solutions.”

A screen system that simplifies your daily routine

Our goal is to make the daily routine easier for those working in hospitals or healthcare environments. This goal and our dedication to excellence is reflected in every detail of Silentia’s Screen System. Silentia’s patented system is manufactured and developed in Sweden and we continuously strive to develop our products in consultation with our customers. Silentia has an extensive experience and has been developing its business and products for 25 years, with 100,000 privacy screens installed around the world.

When patients inherit curtains they also inherit bacteria

Curtain screens between patients can harbour infectious bacteria. Hygienic patient screening is vital in the fight against hospital infections, so Silentia’s hygienic folding screens are becoming increasingly popular in hospitals because they can easily be cleaned and disinfected in place.

2013 Køge Hospital, Denmark

When patients inherit curtains they also inherit bacteria

Hospital hygiene is in the spotlight, especially bed hygiene. But what about patient screens? Studies show that the curtains between patients carry large numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Providing hygienic patient screens is therefore a vital step in the battle against hospital infections.

It is estimated that one in 10 Danes who are admitted into hospitals is affected by a hospital infection. In most cases these infections are caused by bacteria such as staphylococcus and Escherichia coli.

Although new patients are given clean bed linen and clean beds, the curtain screens are not taken down and washed. But these curtains often hide many infectious bacteria. So when new patients inherit previous patients’ curtains, they are also at risk of inheriting their bacteria.

Hygienic alternatives to curtains

There is clearly a need for more hygienic patient screens, and Silentia folding screens are therefore finding their way into more and more hospitals around the world. Their smooth, durable surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected in situ and can be included in the daily cleaning routine, along with beds, walls and floors.

A growing number of Danish hospitals are investing in Silentia’s folding screens because they are hygienic and often more practical and versatile in daily use. One example is in the anaesthesiology department at Køge Hospital, where Silentia screens have recently been installed as the ideal solution for the recovery ward.

Ward nurse Tina Buggeskov clearly prefers the folding screens to curtains, because of their simplicity and hygiene.

“The screen solution we got from Silentia is very flexible and I think it works really well. The screens are easy to clean, so they provide a more hygienic solution than curtains,” says Tina Buggeskov, who also has good experience with Silentia screens from her previous job at Næstved Hospital.

Silentia folding screens on the recovery ward at Køge Hospital. Fixed screens are combined here with folding screens that have been folded.

Curtains a neglected source of infection

Research in the U.S. has shown that curtains used to provide screening between patients quickly become contaminated with infectious bacteria. In 2011, researchers from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine conducted a study of the spread of bacterial contamination on curtains. They tested 43 curtains twice a week for three weeks. The curtains were spread between 30 different medical and surgical wards. The results showed that 26 per cent of the curtains contained antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and 44 per cent contained Enterococcus bacteria, some of which were resistant to antibiotics.

Patient screens are handled many times each day by staff, patients and relatives, but many people are unaware that they are a source of infection. Every time that staff attend to a patient and pull the curtains in and out they get bacteria on their hands and risk transferring these bacteria to other patients. Even when the curtains are washed regularly it does not help a great deal. The researchers also tested 13 completely new curtains at a hospital, and within a week 12 of the curtains were infected with bacteria. Improved hand hygiene does not solve the problem; more hygienic screening is what is needed, according to the researchers.

Sources

www.fiercehealthcare.com
www.netdoktor.dk

Silentia screens – designed with health in mind

The smooth, hard laminate surface is quick and easy to clean.
Materials are resistant to disinfectants and chlorine-based detergents.
Stains and marks are more obvious on the smooth surfaces than on curtains and can quickly be washed off in situ.
Wheels can easily be removed and washed in a dishwasher.
Hinges have been specially developed to prevent gathering dirt or bacteria.

2012 Odense University Hospital, Denmark

Folding screens replace curtain screens

Odense University Hospital (OUH) has been testing and comparing new folding screens from Silentia ApS against old curtain screens as privacy screening for patients. The results clearly showed the benefits of the folding screens.

Should we stick with good old curtain screens to provide patient privacy or should we invest in the new folding screens from Silentia?

This was the question that ward nurse Pia Dybdal and the staff and ward managers at Odense University Hospital (OUH) had to ask themselves after a trial of 18 new, white folding screens from Silentia measuring 1.55 m high and 3.75 m long. The trial began in May in connection with the extension of the intensive care and recovery department.

“The decision was clearly in favour of the folding screens. It’s no secret that I was very sceptical and unsure about the introduction of the folding screens. Firstly I was in doubt about the practicality of the screens, whether they would be flexible enough,
and secondly it would be an expensive decision that could not be reversed.

“But on the whole I can definitely recommend the use of folding screens – they are the screening solution of the future. They have major hygiene advantages, they are attractive and they give rooms a very light and welcoming appearance, and both the patients and the staff have been very pleased with them, despite the initial scepticism,” says Pia Dybdal.

Pia is so satisfied with the new screens that an order for folding screens has also been placed for the next project, starting in late August, when Silentia will supply patient screens for an extension to a surgical ward at OUH.

Silentia folding screen mounted on a pole that is screwed to the floor. Seen here in front of a window with space behind to provide access for staff.

Improved hygiene

The outcome naturally also pleases the CEO of Silentia SpA, Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard:

“It’s great to hear that the trial has had such positive results, and I really look forward to working with the hospital in the near future.”

Silentia is a Swedish-based company with headquarters in Falkenberg, where 25–30 employees produce the full range of screens, available in many different combinations of sizes, mounting options, colours, etc. The Danish arm of the company was founded one and a half years ago by 48-year-old Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard.

The main advantage of the folding screens over curtains is hygiene. Research in the U.S. (*see backside) has revealed the presence of contamination containing pathogenic bacteria in 119 out of 180 curtain screens that were examined. Folding screens are easy and straightforward to clean. Other benefits are that rooms with folding screens are brighter, the screens do not get in the way of hoist equipment and that folding screens provide the best possible screening for patients and a good working environment for staff.

Silentia folding screen screwed directly to a wall, seen here folded.

Exceptional flexibility

The screens offer great flexibility, so screen- ing can be tailored to suit equipment, patients and staff.

The ambition behind the development of the Silentia screen system is to create products that are easy to use, easy to install, easy to clean, can easily be combined with each other and are aesthetically appealing to patients and staff.

The product range is extensive and comprises a system of folding screens, end screens and fixed screens that can be mounted on trolleys for maximum mobility, fixed to the wall or floor using a pole, or attached to existing wall rails.

*The research study was led by Dr. Marin L. Schweizer at the University of Iowa Hospital and was completed in late 2011. The researchers carried out tests on 43 curtains twice a week for three weeks, and found bacteria in 119 out of 180 samples. The researchers also installed 13 new curtains at the hospital, and within one week 12 out of 13 of them showed contamination.

2012 Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark

Folding screens win ground

Staff at Hvidovre Hospital Day Surgery Unit are very pleased with the introduction of Silentia’s screen system.

Folding screens are gaining growing popularity in Danish hospitals as a replacement for curtains for screening off patients.

At Odense University Hospital, folding screens were installed during the extension of the intensive care and recovery ward, and similar screens were recently installed in the day surgery unit at Hvidovre Hospital, where patients are brought immediately after surgery.

“We’ve been using them for around three weeks and we think they’re great,” comments ward nurse Susi Thorup after a survey among her colleagues.

“This is a really good solution, the staff are very pleased with them and so are the patients. The main reason is that the screens are very hygienic and easy to manage. The only complaint is that we unfortunately ordered a couple that were too short,” says Susi Thorup.

The screens at both hospitals were supplied and installed by Silentia ApS. At Hvidovre Hospital they now have 14 screen sets installed between patients’ beds, consisting of a Silentia fixed screen, pole and folding screen, as well as five end screens in widths of 1.5 and 2.0 metres to provide screening at the ends of beds.

“We began installing them in September after a thorough decision-making process and evaluation of solutions previously supplied to Hvidovre Hospital. This meant we could tailor a solution to suit the ward and its applications, and I got the impression that Silentia was chosen for its hygiene, good design and flexibility, as well as the fact that the screens have a much ‘friendlier’ look that is brighter and more welcoming than curtains,” says Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard, CEO of Silentia ApS.

The main advantage of the folding screens over curtains is hygiene. Research in the U.S. has revealed the presence of contamination containing pathogenic bacteria in 119 out of 180 curtain screens that were examined. Folding screens are easy and straightforward to clean.

Other benefits are that rooms with folding screens are brighter, the screens do not obstruct hoist equipment and that folding screens provide the best possible screening for patients and a good working environment for staff.

Silentia folding screen, a combination of fixed screen, folding screen and mobile end screen.

Exceptional flexibility

The screens offer great flexibility, so screen- ing can be tailored to suit equipment, patients and staff.

Silentia can provide advice, delivery, installation and staff instruction

You can request a newly updated brochure with more photos showing Silentia’s fixed screens in combination with folding screens by emailing:
info@silentia.se or download it from: www.silentia.eu

Product news: From 2013, end screens and screen trolleys are equipped with handles to make them even easier to handle and move around wards.

A four-minute video at www.silentia.eu provides a clear overview of the complete Silentia system and its many applications.

Silentia is a Swedish-based company with headquarters in Falkenberg, where 25–30 employees produce the full range of screens, available in many different combinations of sizes, mounting options, colours, etc. The Danish arm of the company was founded two years ago by 48-year-old Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard.

2012 Golden Jubilee National Hospital Scotland

Hassle-free screens boost infection prevention and control and dignity

Why install screens at a largely single-bedded room hospital? At Scotland’s impressive Golden Jubilee National Hospital, managed by the National Waiting Times Centre Board, large doors of the single patient rooms are invariably left open to allow nursing staff to
easily check on the occupants.

Pull-around curtains were previously used to screen off the door for privacy while doctors or nursing staff were in attendance or visitors were present. Yet the curtains presented their own problems, as senior manager infection prevention and control Robert Gray told Hospital Bulletin: “We were looking for an alternative to curtains, something easy to clean and that would reduce laundry costs.

“With curtains you’ve got the hassle of removing them and the cost of cleaning. Before, we had three different sizes of curtains per ward and spares.” Enter Silentia screens – a highly flexible alternative which gives privacy and dignity, with an easy to clean and highly manoeuvrable solution. They are ideal for quickly creating a separate room within a room. However, with curtains being shown to harbour infection and needing to be regularly laundered or replaced, if disposable, the particular benefits recognised by the Golden Jubilee are that the Silentia screens have a hard, cleanable surface that is easily wiped down – just like any other item of furniture. A boon to improving increased patient privacy and dignity, the screens also reduce sound travel by around 20 %. In hospitals with multi-bed wards this allows private conversations to be held a few feet away from the neighbouring bed.

“We arranged a presentation by Silentia, who brought some sample screens,” said Robert. “They did a presentation to nursing staff, infection prevention and control estates and housekeeping.” The 157 Silentia screens chosen by the Golden Jubilee are either seven or nine panels wide.

Robert explained: “The screens were supplied eight or nine months ago and are gradually being phased in across the hospital as rooms become available. We chose white coloured screens as they are neutral and you can easily see if there is any staining. They’re robust, fold-up easily and can be cleaned in situ.

“We got the whole of the supply towards the end of the last financial year. Fixing was done by estates using a template, so it was straightforward. They’re fixed to the wall and secure. They pull out to form a wall so it feels more private for the patient. The screens can run at an angle if required.”

Housekeeping staff clean the screens as part of their daily routine.

Cleaning is easy

“Nearly all the rooms are single patient rooms. In some rooms we have day patients, with two patients per room with a screen between them.” The screens are compatible with all major cleaning solutions used on the ward, while the patented hinges are designed not to trap dirt and be easy to clean. The castors are removable, enabling them to be washed separately.

“If the screens are stained in any way – with blood or body fluids – they are cleaned by the nursing staff,” said Robert. “Housekeeping staff clean the screens as part of their daily routine cleaning as part of the fixtures and fittings. There is a high level of cleaning of these screens. You wouldn’t be able to do this with curtains.

“I am aware that the screens can be fully disassembled and the wheels removed for cleaning, if necessary”. On the hospital’s Ward 2 East orthopaedics, staff nurse Anne McKinley said: “The screens are great for patient privacy. The doors are very wide and it’s easy for passers-by to see into the room. With the screens you can easily wipe them down. If there’s been an infection we use a chlorine-based detergent/disinfectant.

Flora Robertson, a patient from Castle Douglas.

Minimize delays when preparing a room

“Patients are amazed at the level of cleanliness. We’re almost spoilt to be working here, added Anne.“ Some patients like to watch TV late at night. The screens help to keep the noise down. The cleaning teams at Golden Jubilee National Hospital report to infection prevention and control. Housekeeper Mary Filshie explained: “I’ve been at the hospital for ten years and only work on this ward. If the curtains were dirty or had stains we had to get a porter to take them down, replace them with another curtain, and take the soiled one to the laundry for cleaning. So it could delay the use of the room and take the porter away from their duties. Now we have the screens we don’t have to get in touch with the porters.

“We clean each patient room once a day and also give them a check clean. The screens are cleaned with a damp cloth – a single cloth for each screen – with detergent or disinfectant when necessary. The screens are easy to handle. You just take the brake off, pull the screen right out, and clean from top to bottom of each panel.”

Patented hinges have a Built-in Memory which enables easy handling and prevention of cross infection due to having only one contact spot: its ergonomically designed handle.

Increased privacy and patient dignity

The hospital, situated to the west of Glasgow in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, is a national resource for Scotland. Flora Robertson, a patient from Castle Douglas, said:
“I have been in hospitals before where there are just curtains. In a room like this the screens immediately give you privacy, without you being shut in. It seems very easy to use.”

Tim Clarke, director Silentia UK,explained: “We introduced the screens three years ago at the annual conferences of both IPS, the Infection Prevention Society, and AHCP, the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals, and at subsequent regional branch meetings and study days. These led to individual enquiries from healthcare professionals who recognised the need for environmental and infection control friendly screens, with the added benefit of increasing patient privacy and dignity.

“Infection prevention and control leads appreciate the benefits of hard surface screens which are compatible with recommended detergents and disinfectants and can be cleaned on site or in the ward, as opposed to curtains which, in a time-consuming process, have to be removed and replaced to achieve the same level of cleanliness. From a patient’s perspective Silentia screens provide a level of privacy which includes the reduction of sound travel between patients and their visitors, staff and ambient noise – for example the patient and doctor can discuss their condition discreetly.”

Tim said: “For the facilities and housekeeping teams, Silentia screens remove the hassle of hanging curtains, removal of curtains, laundry of curtains and the loss of curtains, and of course the cost of laundering. Being constantly available and quick to clean the screens have also helped to reduce bed blocking. Any issues of infection prevention and control can be dealt with in situ, in the ward or indeed in the single patient room – without any concerns over replacement.”

Over 2,000 screens

So how have the screens been accepted since their introduction three years ago? “We’ve found that more and more infection prevention and control and facilities teams are now aware of Silentia screens and we are now receiving daily enquiries from all over the UK,” said Tim.

“The questions I’m asked are: Can they be cleaned? Will they go around the bed? Do they stop sound travel? Are they easy to use and can they be used for what they are designed for? The answer is ‘yes’ to every question. These screens are popular with clinical and facilities staff, and patients too. In Scotland we have 157 screens here at Golden Jubilee, and screens at Girvan Community Hospital and schools, with other orders in the pipeline. We have supplied over 2,000 screens. In England and Wales these have been for flagship hospitals, community hospitals and clinics, GP surgeries and special schools.”

Tim added: “Silentia screens are available in a range of heights, lengths and colours, including wall fixing and mobile versions. There is a some suspension movement in the wheel to allow for areas with uneven floors. With Silentia you can quickly separate a room within a room without altering walls. “The screens can be cleaned in situ and easily removed and the wheels detached for general cleaning and decontamination. Silentia is continually developing new products and features.”

2011

Silentia Screen System – three principles

Three principles sum it up

Silentia is a Swedish company with more than 20 years of experience in privacy screening for patients. The screens have been developed on three key principles: EasyClean™ – ease of cleaning, EasyReturn™ – ease of use, and EasyClick™ – easy to install.

Every product has smooth surfaces that are easily accessible for cleaning, and is made from materials that can withstand the disinfectants that are used in healthcare. The wheels that are fitted to folding screens can also be removed easily and washed in a dishwasher.

Silentia folding screens have specially designed hinges that make it exceptionally easy to fold the screens against a wall. Sprung wheel mountings and high-quality double wheels with brakes also help to make the screens very easy to handle.

Silentia’s product range provides a system in which every component is designed to work together, making it easy to combine different products. Regardless of whether a screen is fixed to a wall mounting, is freestanding on a floor pole or mounted on a trolley, it is simple and convenient to use. Screens are attached and removed using a simple fastening method, EasyClick™. This also makes it easy to switch them from one type of mounting to another. A screen that is attached to the wall can easily be transferred to a trolley or mounted on the same floor pole as a fixed screen.

Silentia folding screen mounted on a trolley – EasyReturn makes it easy to fold.

2011

Silentia Screen System, easy-to-clean patient screening for maximum hygiene

Silentia folding screens can easily be cleaned using traditional detergents. The wheels on a Silentia folding screen can also be washed in a dishwasher.

Improved hygiene

Many areas of the health sector are experiencing problems with the transfer of infections between patients, via staff and via furniture and equipment. To combat this problem, steps are being taken to improve staff hand hygiene and improve the cleanliness of surfaces and items that patients and staff regularly touch. One important aspect is to ensure that furnishings and objects that patients come in contact with are easy to clean and disinfect.

Silentia folding screens, for maximum hygiene and versatile practicality.

Hygiene with Silentia folding screens

Silentia has been producing and developing hospital screens in Sweden for the past 20 years. Our goal has always been that screens should be easy to use, easy to clean and aesthetically attractive to patients and staff. Our screens have smooth surfaces and provide easy access for cleaning. Folding screens can be cleaned without problem using the traditional detergents or disinfectants that are used in the hospital sector. Accessories such as mounting brackets, clamps for attaching screens to wall rails, floor poles and screen trolleys can also be cleaned in the same way. The wheels fitted to folding screens can easily be removed and washed in a dishwasher if required.

2011

New wheels for folding mobile screens

Trolley, and trolley fitted with folding screen.

Silentia’s folding screens now have redesigned wheels that are smaller, have no legs to trip over, and have a cover that makes the wheel unit easy to clean.

Folding screen on trolley

Silentia’s folding screens have been on the market since 1989 and have been continuously developed to the point where they now offer a complete system for use in hospitals and clinics around the world. Silentia’s folding screens are available in two standard heights and in many different lengths and colours. Normally the folding screen is mounted on a wall, but Silentia has also developed a trolley that enables screens to be used freestanding wherever desired. When mounted on a trolley they are easy to move wherever a screen is required. The trolleys are made with a spine section in the same colour as the screens, and can be used to create screens up to 3.25 m in length.

When the trolley is moved, the screen is held closed by an elastic tie.

New wheel unit

The wheel unit on the trolley was completely redesigned and remodelled in autumn 2010, when an ingenious, patented solution for repositioning the weights made it possible to reduce the size of the wheel unit. This is important, as equipment that stands on the floor has to take up a minimum of space. The redesigned wheel unit also made it possible to eliminate legs that can easily cause a trip hazard. A cover over the wheel unit creates a streamlined design that is easy to keep clean.

Two alternative models of mobile end screen. The width of the extended screen is 1.5 m or 2.0 m.

Mobile end screen

End screens are mobile screens that provide effective screening for the ends of beds, doorways or changing areas.

Originally only available in one size, with a height of 1.55 m and width of 1.5 m, end screens can now be supplied in three new sizes, with a height of 1.55 or 1.85 m and a width of 1.5 or 2.0 m. The wider 2.0 m screen has lockable support wheels.

The end screens also have a new wheel unit. This is similar to the wheel unit for folding screens and has larger, smoother-running wheels and is easier to keep clean.

2011

Clean and practical screens for patients and nurses

The new fixed Silentia screen is designed for easy combination with folding screens

Screens from Silentia improve the hygiene environment and patient comfort, and are cheaper to use than curtains in hospitals and clinics.

Hygiene requirements in hospitals have stiffened considerably in recent years. In response, Swedish company Silentia AB has ramped up its efforts to develop highly flexible, easy-to-clean and effective solutions based on convenient folding screens that are designed to replace traditional curtain screens. The desire for better hygiene is one of the main reasons for developing products that screen patients and nurses, but the screens also improve the working environment for nurses, since they are easy to clean, easy to handle and very versatile.

One big advantage is that screens allow plenty of light to enter the ward, even if several screens are placed across windows. Screens also allow ceiling hoists to be installed on wards.

In Denmark, the screens are sold through Silentia ApS, founded by CEO Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard on 1 November 2010, when he took over as sole distributor of Silentia folding screens in the Danish market.

Screens in intensive care and emergency wards

Hospitals typically begin by installing the first screens in intensive care or emergency wards. These often get the best and most hygienic equipment first, since their patients are more vulnerable and susceptible to bacteria and viruses that can be spread to and from the rest of the hospital. Screens are also typically purchased for new hospital departments, explains Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard.

“Replacing all the curtains in a hospital department with screens is a considerable investment, so it takes longer to introduce screens into departments than in a new hospital build, where the right solution is chosen from the start,” he says.

“There are some hospitals in Sweden that have replaced all their curtains with Silentia screens all at once. This is done to combat the spread of bacteria, and the curtains are replaced as a preventive measure,” says Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard.

“Hygiene is a key reason for hospitals to invest in screens, and it is often the nurses and hygiene specialists who recommend screens and veto the use of curtains. Some hospitals have introduced a policy not to use curtains, while others may not know that screens exist as an alternative,” he says.

The screens are sold to many hospitals in Denmark, and in Norway, Sweden and a long list of countries all around the world. Silentia’s biggest challenge today is to spread information about its products to hospitals, and this is one area that Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard has been focusing on since he began almost six months ago.

Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard is the sole distributor of the Silentia screen system in Denmark. His background is in the building materials industry, where he specialised in acoustic plasterboard ceilings, plastic and metal components for the European market. He was born on Funen and lives in Zealand with his wife and three children.

Clearly the most economic solution

Experience has shown that the economic benefits of using folding screens clearly outweigh those of curtains. This is because it is generally necessary to have two sets of curtains that have to be fitted, taken down and washed, then refitted, and so on. This means additional operating costs, while screens can be included in the general cleaning routine and wiped down as required. The increased cost of buying screens can be recouped, depending on the costing process, within one to one and a half years. From then on the screens are much cheaper to use. The hygienic design and ergonomic advantages of screens contribute to low operating costs.

Highly practical

The design of the screens is modern, practical and timeless. They are available in a wide range of colours, which can be combined with frosted plastic panels to ensure plenty of light gets into the ward. They are supplied in standard heights of 1.45 and 1.85 m, and in lengths up to 3.75 m, so they can extend from the headboard all the way around the bottom of the bed.

The surfaces of screens consist of a hygienic and easy-to-clean, high-pressure laminate in a self-supporting, lightweight sandwich construction. The frame is made of anodised aluminium. The design uses a minimum of components, and careful attention has been given to construction, to avoid crevices.

The screen panels have a light and strong cellular construction. The screens do not rattle when they are folded together, and they are designed to prevent trapping fingers. The wheels have sprung mountings that absorb small irregularities in the floor surface.

Screens are easy to use in a daily clinical environment. They are easy to move around and so easy to operate that it can be done with one hand.

Great flexbility

Silentia’s screen system can be fixed straight to the wall, using a wall rail, or mounted on a floor pole, but for maximum flexibility there is also a choice of mobile screens that can be moved around as required. The system can also be expanded as needed, for example with an extended end screen up to two metres wide.

Silentia has not yet encountered any screening requirement that the company has not been able to solve, Henrik Fribo-Søndergaard points out:
“The products have been very well received and hospitals can see the benefits of switching to them, so it is just a matter of time before more screen purchases are included in the budget. When a hospital is considering screens we get lots of questions about detergents, flexibility and installation dimensions. In most cases a height of 1.45 m is sufficient,” he says.

Gazelle company

Silentia screens are produced in a very modern, highly automated factory in Falkenberg, Sweden, midway between Helsingborg and Gothenburg. The company has a reputation for checking every detail during the manufacturing process. All components have to be of the highest quality and reliable delivery is a top priority.

In 2007 the company was nominated as a “Gazelle” growth company, and in 2008, 2009 and 2010 received “Super Enterprise” awards for its combination of high growth and profitability. Recent new products from the Swedish factory include the “Daylight” screen, which features transparent panels. This improves light influx into darker parts of a ward. Screens featuring children’s drawings are also available for children’s wards.