The demand for durable, sanitary, and comfortable interior solutions will grow in the coming years as respiratory illnesses like the coronavirus and medication-resistant “superbugs” become more of a threat. So naturally, this will cause a shift in healthcare furniture trends, leaving your doctor’s office looking slightly different.

The patient experience is front and center in many conversations among healthcare institutions. They are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to gain patient loyalty, given the influence of satisfaction ratings on hospital payments. The latest healthcare furniture trends are intended to improve the patient and employee experience in hospitals. The main goal is to create a family-friendly environment while also considering furniture designs that make it easy to clean and sanitize.

Preventing The Spread Of Illness

Manufacturers are focused on infection prevention in furniture designs in the fight against healthcare-associated illnesses (HAIs). Bacteria can thrive and develop in cracks and crevices, spreading to patients and visitors. As a result, nonporous furniture is better for patients and the hospital’s budget.

Infection control has moved to the top of many hospitals’ cleanability standards. It sparks debates about clean-out spaces and arm caps in healthcare furniture, but it also looks deeper into the surface material selection, antimicrobial use, and cleaning processes.

Health care vinyl and polyurethane textiles, which are durable, moisture-proof, and easy to clean, are currently popular. In addition, Anti-stain and antibacterial properties should be included in the material.

The arm caps should be made of a single component rather than layers of different materials. This eliminates difficult-to-clean gaps and crevices. In addition, a clean-out gap in the seat and seat back should be provided for easy cleaning and wipe-down. The framework of the chair should also be designed to be easy to clean.

  • No moisture, liquids, or other substances should be able to enter the surface, making it impenetrable and scratch-resistant.
  • To prevent injuries, furniture should have rounded edges.
  • In order to be adequately sanitized, any furniture in a healthcare environment should be able to withstand harsh industrial cleaning products.

Providing Comfort

When one thinks of a doctor’s office or hospital, comfort may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, unfortunately, in the middle of a highly transmissible pandemic, that tendency shows no signs of stopping down, especially when social isolation and social distancing are two of the most effective strategies we have to combat this virus.

Healthcare providers are having to consider these new factors when designing and implementing them into furniture choices.

It’s vital to realize that no two patients are the same when it comes to enhancing ergonomics. The ergonomics of a patient are determined by his or her height, weight, strength, agility, and other characteristics. Therefore, it is ideal to create furniture for the ‘middle’ of the anticipated patient group and then provides various features, alternatives, and accessories that allow caregivers to modify the furniture.

Healthcare furniture should be designed for patients to prevent further injury or sickness and also for staff to prevent workplace injuries.

  • Patient rooms should offer pullout sofas and comfortable recliners for visitors.
  • Create a space with fun colors to enhance mood and atmosphere.
  • With the number of electronic devices that people use daily, accessible power outlets in waiting rooms provide spacing to promote social distancing. Many furniture options now have built-in charging stations.

Providing An At-Home Feel

A comfortable office desk situated behind a curved metal divider

Creating a home-like design is a popular trend in many businesses, but the intended effect is much more appropriate in healthcare. Designers accomplish this aesthetic by incorporating traditional home-like characteristics into commercial areas, resulting in a pleasant setting for patients and visitors.

Create a Comforting Atmosphere

Many individuals are uncomfortable and anxious when they go to the doctor, but creating a homey atmosphere might help them feel more at ease. Patients, especially those who are in hospitals overnight or for weeks at a time, require a location that isn’t a conventional hospital room. Natural wood flooring, for example, is a terrific way to create a home-away-from-home atmosphere.

Art has been introduced into healthcare rooms to bring aesthetic accents to normally sterile environments. Even something as basic as a landscape picture in a physician’s or dentist’s appointment room can give a little more warmth.

Don’t Forget About Flooring

Wayfinding is a must-have component in healthcare interior design. It’s a popular feature in retail and hospitality flooring designs. Wayfinding is the concept that flooring patterns, colors, and designs can act as a map to help individuals navigate huge, unfamiliar spaces. The flooring must be easy to clean and durable enough to tolerate spills and accidents in a medical facility. Thankfully, there are a variety of flooring options that are both durable and distinctively designed, making constructing a clear and distinct pathway simple and appealing. This is also a way you can promote social distancing to prevent the spread of illness even after a pandemic.

Healthcare Furniture Trend Solutions

Do your patients feel comfortable and safe? Whether people are going to the doctor for a routine check-up or are rushed to the emergency room after an accident, having the right office furniture with the right function and comfort is critical to reducing typical healthcare worry. We provide functional and elegant furniture for waiting areas, nursing stations, doctor’s offices, patient rooms, and more to ensure that your patients have a pleasant experience throughout their healthcare procedure. See what Marathon Building Environments has to offer in terms of healthcare furniture trends and get the best healthcare furnishing options for your practice. With a variety of brands such as Steelcase, Globalcare, Case Systems, and Stance Healthcare, there is no shortage of options to choose from. Visit the website to get started on finding your healthcare furniture solution today!

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