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 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 Community Memorial Hospital, USA

Transforming the NICU at Community Memorial Hospital

silentia_case_story_community_memorial_hospital_usa_1

Silentia Screens shown here at the Community Memorial Hospital NICU.

In 2018, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, CA was moved to a new location, providing them with a much larger delivery space and recovery ward. Deborah Hill, Clinical Nurse Manager, saw an opportunity to re-envision the NICU experience for patients, families, and staff. The need for reliable, multi-purpose hospital equipment was key to creating the ideal NICU environment.

Impact of privacy and design

“Silentia helped bring our vision to life and recommended a design that is working really well for us.”

For the NICU nurses at Community Memorial Hospital, the ability to monitor a patient’s vitals without having to be at their bedside was a necessity. The old curtains did not provide enough visibility to the hospital monitors, so private moments among family members were often interrupted. Silentia worked with hospital engineers to determine which privacy screens would best suit their new space; and provide families with as much privacy as needed without having to close a door. With the implementation of Silentia privacy screens, staff immediately noticed a shift in the way families were allowing themselves to react in the moment due to the better sense of privacy.

“Ask any nurse in America and they’ll tell you that the NICU is not a place where a person should feel like they have to hide their emotions. Silentia privacy screens eliminate that need.”

Silentia privacy screens gave nurses a greater sense of comfort when having private conversations with families. The NICU can be a very intimidating place for most families, and while newborns are technically the patients, much of the focus is making sure the families remain calm. Nurses are responsible for updating family members every step of the way, and that includes news that can be very difficult to process. Strength is often tested in the NICU and families go through dramatically different emotions within extremely close quarters. Silentia privacy screens preserve the sanctity of the caregiver-patient relationship and offer a personal level of compassion and discretion.

Installation is easy due to the flexibility of the Silentia screen system.

Improved infection control

“The switch to privacy screens was like night and day.”

One of the main goals surrounding the new space was to find hospital equipment that could help the staff maintain quality infection control. Since most premature infants are born with a compromised immune system, any level of exposure can be considered a risk. Community Memorial Hospital wanted to explore options outside of the old curtain dividers since they were more prone to contamination and difficult to clean.

The NICU staff immediately began to see improvements once they started using Silentia equipment. The privacy screens have a hard, smooth surface which are easy to clean and did not require any special cleaning products. The hospital’s Infection Control Team were especially pleased to learn that the Silentia privacy screens were working to enhance the hygiene of the NICU without compromising the environment. When staff are in a rush, the privacy screens collapse easily and roll up against the wall. This was a huge time saver for nurses, making discharging one family and welcoming another a much easier experience.

Photo Credit: Community Memorial Hospital.

Facts:
Community Memorial Hospital of San Buenaventura is a 242 bed community based teaching hospital located in Ventura, California

Hospital Curtains

Cleaning Fabric is prone to contamination.
Equipment is bulky, parts break easily.
Curtains need to be sent out weekly for costly cleaning.

Silentia Privacy Screens

Hard surface is smooth and easy to clean.
Slim, rolls up against the wall when not in use.
Does not require special cleaning solutions or instructions.

Delivering on promises

“The Silentia team was very easy to work with. You would have thought that Community Memorial Hospital was their one and only client from start to finish.”

Deborah Hill recalls her interactions with Silentia starting from the moment she picked up a brochure. “The Silentia team answered every question, did not oversell, and did not over promise. They took the time to travel to our location just so they could stand in our space and bring our vision to life.” Silentia understands the basic needs of hospitals from several different angles. While some requirements vary between wards, Silentia believes that privacy, durability, and infection control are the core pillars of functionality. We build products designed to make people’s lives easier, and our experience allows us to recommend the best products based on our clients’ needs.

“Once you have experienced a screen like this, you’ll never go back to curtains. Ever.”

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

2018 Egebjerg Care Home, Denmark

Images come before words. For people with dementia, PhotoPanels™ are a positive tool

People with dementia often have difficulty expressing themselves with words. This is why the visual aspect is key. Images come before words and are processed faster in the brain than other sensory input.

PhotoPanels™ can be used specifically to create peace of mind and a positive distraction for people with dementia.

Nursing home uses sensory chair and PhotoPanels to give a man with dementia peace and shield from the activities in the common area.

PhotoPanels are easy to use

Care home staff can use PhotoPanels™ to help residents with dementia:

“The screens have been purchased specifically to create small, flexible areas, to divide a room in two or to shorten the length of a corridor. If any residents feel overwhelmed by the distractions that come with dining together, we can easily bring out a screen and create an area of peace around them. The screens are easy to use and are beautiful to look at. We are very happy to have them,” says Charlotte Winsløw Ashi, ward nurse at Egebjerg Care Home dementia unit in Denmark.

PhotoPanels in sensory laboratory.

Positive distraction

People with dementia have difficulty perceiving space and their surroundings. For instance, if they see a door, they may instinctively think of going through it. Egebjerg Care Home uses PhotoPanels™ to disguise exits, so residents are distracted from leaving the floor.

“The exciting thing about the screens is that they can support us professionally and be used for many different situations every day”
Charlotte Winsløw Ashi, ward nurse.

Garden fence and sunflowers signal a boundary and distract people with dementia from using the exit.

Calming and reassuring

Sounds, noises and many impressions can make people with dementia feel insecure. But a peaceful, visual image can tone down the many distractions. Normally images are typically placed in halls, corridors and other common areas, however PhotoPanels™ brings the pictures close to people so it is easy to see and enjoy.

“We know that views or images of nature alleviate anxiety and pain. The folding screens from Silentia allow us to shield residents and use the images to create peace and relaxation. If we calm the brain, we can prevent stress hormones,” says Birgitte Tjørnelund, teaching in dementia and neuropedagogy, Southern Social and Health Care College in Denmark. The college’s two sensory rooms for educational use are equipped with sensory lights, sound and PhotoPanels™ from Silentia.

Everyday motifs stimulate the memory and evoke memories.

Use a picture to connect and engage

Pictures that create calm and peace of mind. For the well-being of people with dementia.

Where and how to use PhotoPanels:

Protecting: For immediate screening, if a resident needs to be shielded against too many impulses and sensations from surroundings. To act as a shield in front of a door or elevator, so a resident with dementia will be distracted from using the exit.

Relaxing: For variety, so that people with dementia get both stimulation in common areas and peace of mind in small groups or alone.

Remembering: To help stimulate memories and open up for a conversation.

Natural motifs with depth and perspective create a sense of calm.

Durable and hygienic

PhotoPanels™ have hygienic surfaces that can cope with the cleaning agents used in care environments. The Daylight screen brings life and depth to the image when daylight shines through.

2017 Herlev Hospital, Denmark

StoryPanels is a natural choice for us, as we focus on family-oriented care

StoryPanels is a very useful tool for hospital staff to help children to think about something other than pain by focusing on fantasy and positive thoughts.

Herlev Hospital has one of Denmark’s largest paediatric units. The unit has StoryPanels mobile folding screens installed in each of its eight two-bed wards, as well as one mobile bed end screen in the emergency room.

“Children shouldn’t have to feel pain. For this reason, we focus a lot on pain management, partly through medication and, to a large extent, through fantasy games and positive distraction. This makes it a natural choice for us to have StoryPanels installed in the unit. They provide both privacy and distraction – and are easy to keep close at hand,” says Annemarie Tang, charge nurse of ward 2 in Herlev Hospital’s paediatric unit.

StoryPanels mobile folding screen for dividing the two-bed wards.

Family-oriented care

Herlev Hospital’s paediatric unit is located on the 20th floor and has colourful, child-friendly surroundings. The unit treats children and young people who are acutely ill or have had surgery.

“StoryPanels can be used to create privacy, to provide a positive distraction, for instance when medication is administered, or as a topic for comforting conversation”
Annemarie Tang, charge nurse, paediatric unit, Herlev Hospital.

“Using StoryPanels is a natural choice for us, since we focus on family-oriented care on several levels. The StoryPanels can be used to create privacy, to provide a positive distraction, for instance when medication is administered, or as a topic for comforting conversation. If a child needs to undergo a demanding examination or procedure, the staff always work in pairs. One distracts the child while the other carries out the procedure,” explains Annemarie Tang.

Staff and parents use the screens

The screens are mobile instead of fixed to the walls. This is a deliberate choice. Staff can move the screens to wherever they are needed, and parents can use them to give the child peace and privacy.

“We want to incorporate StoryPanels into our skills programme regarding children and pain management, and we encourage parents to talk to the children about the pictures on the screens. Parents are our greatest resource. Their experience of the child’s reaction to pain is valuable to us. I am also certain that our excellent hospital clowns can use the StoryPanels to help entertain the children.”

The medical equipment in an emergency room can be overwhelming for children in hospital. StoryPanels quickly and efficiently screen the equipment out of sight.

Screen in a paediatric unit must be stable

The unit previously had textile patient curtains installed on the ceiling, but they were removed for hygiene reasons and replaced with screens with textile or plastic.

“But those mobile screens were heavy and unstable. A paediatric unit must have stable screens that do not risk falling on top of the children. StoryPanels is stable and easy to use in our daily work. And they’re also hygienic,” Annemarie Tang points out.

The paediatric unit at Herlev Hospital treats children aged 0–18. Herlev Hospital is one of the Capital Region of Denmark’s four hospitals, which serve 425,000 people in 9 municipalities.

Design that stimulates imagination

Silentia’s StoryPanels help caregivers to make children feel more comfortable by creating a positive distraction by changing focus to something playful. The colours, shapes and funny figures all have a purpose to give a positive psychological effect, a calm feeling and to stimulate the imagination.

Positive distraction

Positive distraction can reduce children’s pain. Distraction means helping the child think about something fun or exciting and change focus to something new and positive.

2016 HFR Fribourg, Switzerland

Thanks to Silentia our open space floor plan is more flexible

How do you organize the best possible patient flow in an intensive care unit? “Silentia’s folding screens inspired our staff to find the best combination between open spaces and private rooms.”

“Choosing Silentia’s folding screens helps us to be more open in reconsidering the way we organize ourselves. It helps lead us to new ideas,” says Gilles Jégou, Clinical Expert at the Intensive Care Unit C at HFR Fribourg – Hôpital cantonal, in the city of Fribourg.

The Silentia folding screen has both brightened up the unit and retained privacy for the patients.

“Many patients make the comment that our ward is brighter, thanks to the translucent panels letting in the natural daylight. Also the panels reduce the feeling of being enclosed, allowing the patients to have privacy without feeling closed in.”

A mix of open space and private rooms

While planning their new intensive care unit Gilles Jégou and his colleagues researched different design concepts for the intensive care environment.

“The open space concept gives quick patient access, optimal patient overview, but has problems with the noise level. On the other hand, the private room concept gives maximum privacy, but requires more space in total and is not as flexible in caregiver and personnel interactions. Everything has been studied and taken into consideration regarding flow, patient frequencies, equipment and caregivers. Our final decision was to create a mix of both concepts,” says Gilles Jégou.

The new intensive care unit is organized with 2 four-bed rooms, 1 two-bed room and 2 one-bed rooms for isolation. The front part of the unit is for patients with short stays, for example cardiology-patients. The areas in the back of the unit are for patients who stay longer, for example patients in isolation or with strokes.

The Silentia screens are folded in for normal situations and are easy to pull out to allow for privacy when it is needed. It is safer than curtains, as the staff still has the overview and visual contact with the monitoring, because the height of the screens is just perfect.

Folding screens ensure privacy and overview at the same time

In the open space areas the Silentia folding screens are excellent in providing privacy while still providing an overview for the staff.

“Before, we used to pull out the curtains and close everything. Now the screens are folded in for normal situations and are easy to pull out to allow for privacy when it is needed. It is safer, as we still have visual contact with the monitoring, because the height of the screens is just perfect. Today we can perfectly fulfil the recommendations of the Swiss Society for Intensive Medicine and still have a perfect overview. This positively influences teamwork and dynamics. We have an open space which can be screened off and be very flexible.”

Much more flexible than curtains

“The screens are easy to use. They are much more flexible than curtains: When we need more space we just move them to enlarge the available space. The screens do not transform the four-bed rooms into one-bed rooms. They simply deliver the privacy needed while keeping the advantages of the open space concept,” says Gilles Jégou.

He points out, that the screens do not interfere with any other equipment. They leave plenty of room for equipment mounted in the ceiling such as lifting hoist systems, medical equipment and lighting. The screens are mounted to floor poles and can be pulled out in all directions.

“At first sight I had some doubts about the floor anchoring of the folding screens. However, the poles on the floor allows us to mark the different zones better than with using mobile screens on trolleys, because they would be moved around. The screen mobility with the floor poles gives us all the flexibility we need. A simple click with the foot allows us to easily open or close the space.”

The screens are mounted to floor poles and can be pulled out in all directions.

These screens are the easiest to clean

Hygiene is an important issue in the intensive care unit. Silentia’s folding screens are easy and fast to clean which helps maintain a constant and high level of hygiene.

“Curtains are a bad solution. From a hygiene point of view, the fabrics of the curtains are banned. Before, we had to call the cleaning staff, they arrive with their footstool, take the curtains down, and replace them after they are cleaned. This is time-consuming and inconvenient. The folding screens however, are the easiest to use and clean. They can be cleaned like any other surface. We love how they fold without hinges; it makes the cleaning so much easier. Furthermore, we made sure to position the poles so that we can mop the surrounding floor.”

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 Altstätten Hospital, Switzerland

Versatile room divider from Silentia provides easy, smart and effective solution for all needs

How can we combine two different functions in our cardiology examination room without disturbing the patients? At Altstätten Hospital the focus is on patient care, and thanks to Silentia the cardiology department found a smart solution to their question.

“I was very positively surprised with the Silentia solution. And the feedback from the whole team on investment, nstallation, quality and design has been overwhelmingly positive. We would consider a similar Silentia solution again if needed,” says Tanja Gygax, purchasing manager at Altstätten Hospital in the north east of the canton of St. Gallen.

The search for a versatile, solid room divider

The cardiology examination room is intended for the ambulatory examination of two different patients at the same time. An ECG examination can be carried out on one patient lying on a couch while at the same time another patient undergoes a physiological test. The hospital staff wanted to divide the room to give the patients more privacy. They considered a permanent partition wall, but this would mean major changes to the room, would create a very inflexible solution and would take at least a couple of days. That would mean closing down activities on the ward and disturbance due to noise and dust.

“The folding screen means we can make optimum use of the space. Several patients can be treated in the same room without any invasion of their privacy. We are very happy with this solution,” says Petra Maier, team leader in the endoscopy and cardiology department at Altstätten Hospital in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen.

A Silentia screen was the best solution

Tanja Gygax was then presented with the idea of using Silentia’s screen system to divide the room. In Partnership with Med-Innova SA, Silentia’s representative in Switzerland, a 1.85-metre-high fixed screen was chosen in combination with a folding screen that could be extended as a folding door. The solution would permit complete screening of the patients for minimal investment. The setup is highly flexible – within half an hour it can be removed again. Tanja Gygax and Petra Maier, team leader in the endoscopy and cardiology department, had several requirements that the solution from Silentia should meet:

Requirements for Silentia screens

No crevices, screws nor other components where dirt would be able to stick.
The screen should be easy to clean with surface disinfectant.
Neutral and harmonious design. Easy to use and operate.
The screen had to be stable and offer versatile usage.
Costs had to be kept within the budget.

“The solution from Silentia meets our expectations perfectly,” says Petra Maier, team leader in the endoscopy and cardiology department. She and the staff found it a brilliant solution, and decided to go ahead. They were surprised that it only took one and a half hours to install the Silentia wall and folding screen – and practically without dust, noise or disruption during installation.

We are very satisfied

“The fact that the wall is movable delivers the best possible solution. The room can now be used very efficiently. More patients can now be examined in a single room, and the movable screens offer good protection of patients’ privacy even though they do not provide noise reduction. We are very satisfied and happy with this solution,” says Petra Maier.

A step in the right direction

The health sector is developing very fast and has a great need for flexible and futureproof solutions. Using Silentia’s screen system, hospitals are able to adapt wards and treatment units to suit their changing needs for the efficient treatment of patients.

2013 Herlev Hospital, Denmark

Folding screens mean more space for patients

A trial with Silentia’s folding screens revealed so many benefits that the entire neurology department at Herlev Hospital has now replaced all its curtain screens with folding screens. Besides improving hygiene the screens from Silentia also free up more space around the beds, and save a lot of wasted time in the day-to-day routine.

“The main benefit is that the Silentia screens are easy to pull out and push back. They take up less space than folding curtain screens, so we have more free space around the patients. Another big advantage is that they are very easy to clean,” explains Mona B. Andersen, nursing secretary in the neurology department at Herlev Hospital. She helped to test Silentia’s folding screens for a planned extension to the emergency admissions ward in autumn 2011.

Colleagues had heard about benefits

“The traditional folding curtain screens took up so much space that they were taken off the ward when they were not in use. So every time we needed a folding screen we had to trek along the corridors or go to other wards to find a screen – if we could find one free at all. That was a waste of time for the staff and involved awkward manhandling of screens, so we were keen to find a better solution when the time came to extend the ward,” says Mona B. Andersen, explaining how they came to test the Silentia screens.

Colleagues in other departments had already commented on the benefits of the new screens, so in November 2012 the neurology department scrapped all its time- and space-consuming curtain screens and is now the first department at Herlev to use only wall-mounted folding screens.

Silentia supplied 23 folding screens, each measuring 1.85 metres high and 2.25 metres long, a size that provides good screening around patients. All the screens are wall-mounted and positioned so that they do not obstruct hoists or other equipment.

The trial in the emergency admissions ward quickly showed that the folding screens from Silentia fit in very well with the daily routine.

Versatile and ergonomic screens

Silentia’s folding screens are ergonomically designed in lightweight materials with integrated handles and versatile wheels. They are easy to pull out, and when they are pushed back they automatically fold up correctly.

The smooth surfaces meet strict hygiene requirements and withstand the disinfectants that are used in hospitals. The wheels can easily be removed and washed in a dishwasher.

Screens are always close to hand now

A wide cross-section of patients come to the neurology emergency admissions ward – men and women, young and old – and it is important that staff can screen patients off so that they and their relatives can relax. The trial quickly showed that the screens fitted in well with the daily routine.

“We found straightaway that the screens worked very well with our patients and the equipment on the ward. Now they are always close to hand and we no longer have to worry about where to find a screen. There is still space for our ceiling hoists, and when we are not using the screens we can push them against the wall so they are out of the way. The new screens are also a lot nicer than our flowery curtain screens, which easily got torn and stained. Now we have a clean and simple look that is much more pleasant,” says Mona B. Andersen.

5 benefits of Silentia folding screens

Available in three variants: folding screens, end screens and fixed screens.
The screen surfaces meet strict hygiene requirements and are resistant to the disinfectants that are used in hospitals.
Screens are available in a range of variants and sizes. They can be mounted on walls, floors or existing equipment – or on trolleys so that they are completely mobile.
Screens can be supplied in many colours, with printed designs or a logo, as required.
The screens have clean lines that harmonise with the working environment and provide effective screening for patients.

2011

Mobile end screens, simple handling and effective screening

Silentia end screens are available in two models.

Silentia’s end screens are mobile screens with a design and functionality that is clearly shared with the rest of the Silentia screen system. They are simple to use and simple to clean. They are easy to move wherever screening is needed, and they provide effective privacy for the patient. They can be used at the ends of beds, across doorways or around changing areas.

End screens are available in two different models. The first is made up of three sections and is 1.5 m wide when extended. The sections are joined by a patented solution that ensures they remain in the position where they are placed. The second model is made up of a larger number of shorter sections, has spring-loaded lockable wheels at each end and is 2 m wide when extended. Both models measure 0.5 m wide when folded and are available in a height of 1.55 m or 1.85 m.

The wheeled base has a patented design that ensures good stability despite the small outer dimensions. The cut-out section at the front maximises the working space. The screens are available in a choice of colours. One new feature since the first quarter of 2012 is that end screens are also available in Daylight, a matt/frosted finish that lets through daylight.

2011

Silentia Screen System, new colours and laminates

Silentia folding screen with Print Collection laminate.

Imagination on screen

For more than 20 years Silentia has been producing and refining its range of hygienic and easy-to-use patient screens for healthcare. Production and development are based in Sweden and the company’s screens are supplied from the factory to many parts of the world.

Silentia’s screen system offers a wide range of choices for different applications. Screens are available in a variety of lengths and heights, and with many different mounting options. There are also numerous options regarding the appearance and finish. In addition to a choice of 10 standard colours, Silentia now also offers its Print Collection of printed motifs on a white background. The Print Collection motifs have been chosen to inspire the imagination of children and give them something enjoyable to think about, to make their stay in hospital more enjoyable. Another recent addition is Daylight, which has a matt/frosted appearance and lets daylight through without compromising patient privacy. The Daylight panels are impact-resistant and can be washed down with water. Standard colours are available in single-colour laminate (White, Forest, Ocean, Savannah and Tropical), wood pattern (Birch and Walnut) and other patterns (Papyrus, Lime and Mandarin).

Silentia folding screen range of laminates and colours.

2011

Let daylight flood in with Daylight, frosted plastic brings elegant new solutions

Let daylight flood in with Silentia Daylight Top folding screens.

Silentia’s folding screens have been on the market since 1989 and are supplied in two standard heights and many different lengths and colours. The product range is continuously being extended and now forms a complete system that is used all over the world.

Complete privacy

Silentia’s folding screens and fixed screens are now also available in a frosted version that we call Daylight. Daylight lets in more light than the standard coloured panels, while still giving complete privacy. The Daylight range includes screens with frosted panels and screens with combinations of frosted and coloured panels.

Silentia Daylight Top folding screen, an elegant combination of coloured and frosted panels.

Daylight Top and Daylight Duo

Daylight Top means that the top section of the screen is frosted, while the rest is coloured, so the screen appears lower. A Daylight Duo folding screen has frosted sections in pairs, while a Daylight Duo fixed screen has only the outermost or innermost half of the screen in a frosted finish. In the case of Daylight Top Duo, the top section is frosted along half the length of the screen, while the rest is coloured.

Silentia folding screen entirely in Daylight frosted plastic.

Daylight for folding screens and fixed screens

Folding screens with only frosted panels are available in several lengths up to 2.75 m. Daylight Top and Daylight Duo are offered in lengths of up to 3.75 m. Fixed screens are available in two lengths: 1.3 m and 2.4 m. The shorter screen is available with all frosted panels and as Daylight Top, with just the top section frosted. The longer screen is also available as Daylight Duo and Daylight Top Duo.

2011

A flexible system with a wide choice of mounting options, can be mounted directly on the wall, or with spacers

Silentia folding screen mounted directly on a wall using a wall mounting.

Silentia folding screens are available in two standard heights and in many different lengths and colours. In standard configuration the screen is mounted directly on the wall using the supplied wall mounting. If this is not possible due to a wall panel, hoses, cables or the like, the wall mounting can be mounted on spacers to move it a short distance out from the wall. Spacers are available in fixed lengths or adjustable in length.

Mounting with clamp on wall rail

If a wall rail is already fitted to the wall, the wall mounting can be attached to this instead using wall rail clamps.

When a screen is mounted on wall rail clamps it can easily be moved sideways by releasing the screws and sliding it along the rail. If there is just one wall rail, a wall rail clamp can be combined with a floor support for a more secure mounting.

Screens can also be mounted easily on wall rails using Silentia wall rail clamps. • A spacer provides clearance for a wall panel, hoses or cables. • Mounted on a pole that is screwed to the floor. The EasyClick system allows screens to be removed easily for cleaning or transferring to another type of mounting.

Mounting directly on floor poles

Silentia screens can also be mounted on floor poles that are screwed to the floor. This is a good alternative if there is no nearby wall or if there is a window in the wall where you want to place the screen.

Ability to switch mounting types

If it is necessary to move a screen from a wall mounting to a floor pole this is an easy task. Just undo a screw, then simply remove the screen from the wall mounting and transfer it to the floor pole. It is also possible to swap two screens of different colours and lengths, as long as they are the same height.

2011

Fixed screens for patient wards

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

Fixed screens are now available for use on patient wards where there is a need for permanent screening.

Silentia has been supplying folding screens to the health sector since the start of 1989, and its products can now be found all over the world. Production and development of new products are based in Sweden. The ambition behind the development process has always been to create products that are easy to use, easy to install, easy to clean and can easily be combined with each other. Now a range of fixed screens has been added to the system.

Fixed screens can be used wherever there is a need for more permanent screening. They are mounted between a wall and a floor pole, or between two floor poles if they need to be installed away from a wall.

Fixed screens can be used alone, in combination with other fixed screens, or with folding screens. This makes it possible to create a room within a room, such as a changing area. The fixed screens are available in heights of 1.45 and 1.85 m, and in lengths of 1.3 and 2.4 m. Screens of different heights and colours can be combined if desired.

In conjunction with the introduction of fixed screens, the design of the floor poles that were previously supplied with folding screens has also been modified. The new pole is made from aluminium, and the foot of the pole has a hard plastic cover that is easy to keep clean. The pole is available with mounting points for up to four screens and is secured to the floor with screws.

The foot of the new pole is covered with a rigid plastic cap that is easy to keep clean. • Up to four screens can easily be attached and detached from the new pole using the EasyClick system.

Extension screen

Another new product is an extension screen for use with folding screens. This has two main applications. Where space is tight it can be difficult to find space for both a bedside table and a folded wall-mounted screen. An extension screen can be used here to move the folding screen a short distance from the wall even when it is folded. The extension screen can also be used to make a screen that is longer than 3.75 m, which is the longest folding screen.

An extension screen frees up more space for a bedside table.

An extension screen also allows you to create screens that are longer than 3.75 m.

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.