Choosing the right furniture for your healthcare or medical facility can be an overwhelming process. You need to consider several important factors such as functionality, safety, quality, and so on, to provide the best possible care to your patients. With so many options out there, along with limited upfront information, purchasing the right healthcare furniture can be a time-consuming and challenging task when it really should not be. To make it a simpler process, we have prepared this guide for you. In this article, we have compiled a list of important factors to look for when buying healthcare furniture so that you feel confident about your next purchase.  

What is healthcare furniture?

Healthcare furniture refers to furniture designed specifically for use in healthcare or medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, long-term care homes, and others. The furniture is typically designed by acknowledging the needs of patients, health care providers, and visitors to ensure a comfortable and safe environment. Healthcare furniture can include anything from hospital beds to waiting room furniture, medical office furniture, examination tables, storage cabinets, and so on. When choosing healthcare furniture, it is important to keep in mind several important factors, like functionality, durability, safety, cleanliness, comfort, and accessibility.

Functionality

When buying medical furniture, the first thing to note is the functionality of the furniture as every piece of furniture serves a specific purpose. For example, your furniture requirement will vary depending on where you want to use it – whether it is for the waiting room, patient examination room, hospital room, and so on. Typical hospital furniture includes different types of tables, chairs, beds, trolleys, privacy screens, etc. The way you use the combination of different furniture pieces right down to their arrangement can enhance the user experience. It is also essential to remember the overall design and layout of the facility so that it complements the space and proves to be efficient for both patients and healthcare providers.

Durability

Since medical furniture is subject to frequent use, it is prone to wear and tear. In addition, they are also exposed to harsh chemicals and cleaning agents. As a result, when choosing furniture for your healthcare facility, it is important to buy furniture that is not only of commercial-grade quality but also extremely resilient in nature so that they are long-lasting and cost-effective. Whether it is the furniture material or fabric, make sure they are of high quality, easy to maintain, and durable so that they are worth the money. Durable medical furniture can also help in infection control, ensure patient safety, and provide a stable environment for the patients where they are able to heal faster and better.

Safety

Safety is a top priority for the healthcare system, and it is no exception when it comes to choosing the right healthcare furniture. When buying medical furniture, you should make sure that it does not have any sharp edges that can cause accidental injury. For the safety of the patients, medical furniture should ideally have soft-rounded corners, be sturdy, can be moved easily, and handle the weight of the patients. To ensure the safety of both patients and clinicians, it is important that the hospital furniture is well-maintained and cleaned regularly. Any damaged or broken furniture should be immediately removed for safety reasons.

Cleanliness

Medical furniture is exposed to high traffic and prolonged use, not to mention they are also susceptible to carrying various germs and bacteria. On the other hand, medical furniture needs to be safe and disinfected easily to provide a healthy environment for the patients so that they can recuperate fast. For this, it is important to choose medical furniture that can be maintained and cleaned easily as well as withstand harsh chemicals. When buying furniture, pay attention to the materials and fabrics used. For example, avoid furniture that has porous materials, grooves, or ridges in them, as they are excellent for harbouring microorganisms and forming biofilms that are hard to clean, even with strong disinfectants. Go for hard surface or non-porous materials that are easy to clean, microbial resistant, and durable. Choosing eco-friendly furniture can also provide a healthier environment in your medical facility which will ensure the best care possible for the patients.

Comfort

Comfort is another essential factor to consider when it comes to medical furniture. The hospital environment can be stressful and uncomfortable for patients. Well-thought-out and ergonomic furniture can ease tension and improve patients’ comfort. Good hospital furniture should be comfortable and efficient to promote good posture, healing, and minimize discomfort, so patients can relax and sit for hours without having back pain or fatigue. Comfortable medical furniture can improve patient satisfaction as patients who are comfortable during their stay in a health clinic are more likely to have a positive experience. This can ultimately lead to enhanced patient experience, so patients will be likely to have a high level of trust in the healthcare institution. On the other hand, comfortable medical furniture for healthcare providers can also help them relax and reduce their stress during their long hours allowing them to provide their services and care to the patients efficiently.

Accessibility

Apart from being comfortable and durable, hospital furniture should also be easily accessible to elevate patient experience during their hospital stay. For example, some patients can have difficulties carrying out simple actions like walking, sitting down, standing up, or moving around. Hospital furniture should be easily accessible to improve functionality and provide better outcomes for the patients. When buying hospital furniture, make sure they are patient-centric, such as having better grips, adjustable heights, or ease of mobility, so that it is easier for patients to use them autonomously.

To conclude, healthcare furniture plays an essential role in creating a safe, comfortable, and functional environment in healthcare facilities. It can help elevate patient comfort, safety, and recovery while ensuring that health experts can provide their best service and care to the patients. By choosing the right furniture, medical facilities can create a safe, supportive, and healthy environment that promotes the healing and recovery of patients.

Harkel Office specializes in high-quality and well-designed furniture for your hospital or healthcare facility. We understand one size does not fit all, so we will provide unique solutions that provide the best results for your patients, staff, and visitors. Book a consultation with us today at 905-417-5335 to find the right furniture for your healthcare facility.