Healthcare Furniture and What You Need to Know Now
Did you know that there were more than 6,000 hospitals in the US in 2018 that received an estimated number of 36 million patients in total? The total number of country-wide hospitals is expected to increase in the future as more funds are directed towards the US healthcare system.
Some of these funds are spent on new medical devices, data processing technology as well as healthcare furniture. Believe it or not, the furniture in a hospital or clinic can have a profound impact on the patient. Keep reading to find out a few things to take into account when shopping for hospital furniture from National Project Group.
The Furniture Should Be Made From Sturdy Materials
A healthcare facility is usually visited by thousands of people each year. It requires sturdy and durable furniture to withstand heavy traffic and reduce maintenance costs. Therefore, make sure that you invest in furniture items made from tough metals such as stainless steel. This applies to chairs, coffee tables, and other types of furniture items.
At the same time, the seats in the waiting room should be covered with waterproof textiles. There are different types of waterproof materials specially designed for healthcare facilities. When it comes to desks and countertops, these should be resistant to scratching. If a desk is easily scratched, germs and bacteria can develop there and facilitate the spreading of diseases and infections.
Invest in a Few Bariatric Chairs
Some of the chairs in your waiting and exam rooms should be bariatric. This means that they are extra-wide to accommodate overweight or obese people. At the same time, you can also go for a few armless chair options for overweight people who don’t want or cannot use bariatric chairs. At National Project Group, we have bariatric chairs that come in various designs, sizes, and colors, so you have plenty of options at your disposal.
Make Sure That the Furniture Is Easy to Clean
Cleanliness is probably the number one priority of each hospital or clinic. To ensure maximum levels of cleanliness, National Project Group believes that you need furniture items which don’t facilitate the accumulation of mold, bacteria, and viruses. At the same time, your furniture should also feature non-porous surfaces that can be easily cleaned with different types of cleaning products. Good examples of non-porous materials include stainless steel, glass, hard plastics, and so on.
Add Some Color to Your Hospital Rooms
Many healthcare facilities want to express cleanliness by using completely white furniture items and walls. This is a good thing, but it makes the patients feel uneasy. It would be very helpful for patients to see a bit of color or inviting settings here and there. For example, you can decorate some of the walls of your clinic with pictures depicting natural sceneries.
At the same time, don’t forget to include a plant or two where appropriate. Sealed hardwood floors are also a good idea for the waiting room as they create a more inviting and less “fearful” atmosphere.
Now You Know How to Choose the Right Healthcare Furniture!
These are the most important factors you need to take into account when buying healthcare furniture. Remember that you can harmoniously combine practical furniture items with decorative ones to create a more humane environment for your patients.
If you lack inspiration at this moment, make sure that you contact us today at National Project Group. We specialize in assisting clients to find the best furniture items for their healthcare facilities and we’d love to help you as well!