THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

Furniture located within healthcare settings receives substantial abuse and rigorous daily cleanings. How can you prolong the life of furniture while still cleaning and disinfecting properly?

1. Utilize solid surface countertops with an integral sink bowl at patient care and public areas. Solid surface provides a seamless, easy to clean high touch surface. 

2. Consider using furniture pieces with metal legs in lieu of wood. Metal withstands abuse and heavy cleaning protocols over time.

3. For upholstered pieces, look for the following:

   • Field replaceable parts such as legs, arms, and seats.

   • Cleanouts between seat and back for ease of cleaning.

   • Field replaceable upholstered furniture covers can be changed in the field when upholstery becomes damaged or worn.

   • Wall saver legs and backs prevents chairs from damaging the walls behind.

   • Urethane or solid surface arm caps protect upholstered arms and withstand heavy cleaning protocols.

   • Ensure that all seating meets weight requirements, and integrate bariatric seating choices seamlessly.

   • Use only durable non woven textiles in your patient care areas. Be sure to understand your upholsteries warranties and cleaning recommendations. Consider that your upholsteries will last 3-5 years at a maximum, and have a plan for replacement including replaceable covers and an operational budget that supports replacement.

4. What cleaners are recommended to kill COVID-19? See link below from Enviro Leather. https://www.ldiinteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/COVID-19-Cleaners.pdf

THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

The patient room should provide a comfortable place to heal while balancing infection control and safety. The built environment can achieve both goals using the following guidelines.

1. Controllable, multi-function over bed lighting provides ambient, exam, and reading light levels.

2. The patient room TV can be used for both education and entertainment. With family members temporarily no longer allowed in patient units, it can also be used to video conference family members.

3. Access to natural light and outdoor views are proven to improve healing times.

4. Easy access to power and/or USB allows patients the ability to charge their devices and stay connected to family members not present.

5. Opportunities for patients and family members to personalize the room can include a designated shelf for flowers, cards, and pictures.

6. Sheet vinyl with heat welded seams and integral base are sometimes reserved for higher acuity rooms such as ICU, Isolation, and NICU. As healthcare design changes over the next few months, we may see more patient rooms with sheet vinyl to increase flexibility.

7. Solid surface countertops with integral solid surface bowl sinks create a monolithic seamless surface that is easy to clean.

8. Floating counters and casework minimize hard to reach places and allow for rooms to be disinfected quickly and efficiently.

9. Encourage good hand hygiene practices by placing the sink next to the door and illuminating with proper light level.

10. Cubicle curtains are no longer a standard in patient rooms. If desired, reusable cubicle curtains can be an alternative to reduce the spread of bacteria.

THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

While we don’t yet know the full impact of COVID - 19 on the future of the built environment, what is certain is that change is coming.

How do we balance the patient experience while keeping staff, patients, and families safe?  In a series of upcoming blog posts, we will share ways the interior built environment can support the healing of patients, support of staff, and safety for everyone.