1/27/2023
Launching your startup may be one of your most difficult ventures. There are so many things to consider when getting ready to open for business, and selecting the right office furniture is not usually high on what is probably a very long to-do list. Many startups begin by offering their employees folding chairs to sit in, shabby tables to work on, and little to no décor to look at. Of course, this lack of style and function is always due to a lack of money.
Startups rarely have the extra cash to spring for genuine leather office chairs, wood veneer executive desks, or one-of-a-kind artwork. But what happens when you need to impress business investors? When you want to attract new employees to work for your company? When you have clients come in for a meeting? Your office design can make more of a difference than you think.
Branding is hugely important for the success of any business, and branding your office to fit with your identity will help inspire employees and impress investors and customers. There are plenty of ways to bring branding into your workplace, and it doesn’t have to be an expensive process. Some of the most affordable ways to reel in your identity are to paint the walls your brand colors, purchase some coffee mugs with your logo for your employees, and buy office furniture in a style that matches your business goals. If you’re starting a new attorney’s office, you may want desks and bookcases with a traditional look. If you’re starting a trendy marketing firm, you may choose something more modern. Take the identity you want people to associate with your brand and incorporate it into every aspect of your office design.
What makes furniture functional varies greatly from one company to the next because every business operates a little differently. If you and your employees work in an environment that requires constant collaboration between coworkers, you may want to consider creating an open-office floor plan that facilitates open communication without the barriers that cubicle walls put up. However, if your business is in an industry requiring quiet concentration, you may want to add more private offices to the area. For most companies, a mix of openness and privacy is best.
Also consider the versatility of your office furniture. Adding mobile filing cabinets with padded tops that can be used as both storage and chairs is a great way to save space and cash in a startup office. Desks with built-in storage often take up less floor space than a table desk that needs an additional cabinet added to the workspace. Selecting furniture that serves multiple purposes is a great way to save room in a small area and a great way to save money.
If your employees can’t stay comfortable at work, they aren’t likely to be very productive or even stay with your company for long. Although metal folding chairs may be the most economical choice, they won’t be good for your business in the long run. Instead, equip your workstations with affordable ergonomic chairs, pull-out keyboard trays, adjustable-height monitor stands, and anything else that will make your employees’ 8-hour day more enjoyable.
Along with the right furniture, make an effort to allow employees to take a break now and then. We know you’ve got a lot of work to get done, but a short walk or breath of fresh air allows employees to return from their mental break with a renewed sense of creativity and eagerness to get the job done.
Last but not least, take measures to make your new business a fun place to be for employees, investors, clients, and yourself. No one wants to come to work every day only to sit at his or her computer without any human interaction or anything to look at other than black text on a white screen. Adding pops of color to your office and allowing employees to decorate their desks with family photos and memorabilia will give them the little boost of inspiration they need to be effective workers.
1/27/2023
Telehealth (or telemedicine) is one of the key trends helping lower healthcare costs and improve patient access. Most hospital systems are investing in telehealth technology, and consumers are seeing real advantages. How can telehealth change healthcare for the better?
Telehealth allows patients to see caregivers when and where they choose, including in a clinic, at a pharmacy, or even at home. This benefit can be great for anyone working nontraditional hours or who cannot get to the doctor easily. Access to round-the-clock care can also help eliminate the need for costly and unnecessary ER visits.
Telehealth visits are often 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of traditional in-person appointments. Recent studies show that more than 75% of issues are satisfactorily resolved after a telehealth visit, resulting in an overall lower cost to the patient while retaining the same quality levels.
For those living in remote or underserved areas, telehealth allows broader access to caregivers and the ability to see specialists not present in the area. Caregivers from many disciplines can collaborate effectively and offer patients a better experience and better outcomes.
There’s no question telehealth provides many benefits to the patient. As with any new technology, there are some concerns.
When a patient is not in direct contact with the caregivers, there is a greater potential for identity theft or unauthorized use. Ensuring HIPAA compliance is also a potential concern, especially in retail or pharmacy sites.
1/17/2023
The remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using telecommunication technology, otherwise known as telemedicine, has grown rapidly in popularity over the last several years and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Telemedicine is most commonly used in pharmacies wherein patients call with questions regarding their prescriptions. However, the practice is also gaining popularity in primary care as patients use telemedicine for routine consultations with doctors, chronic care issues, and quick and easy healthcare questions.
Not only does telemedicine save time for both healthcare provider and patient, but it also saves the patient money as the cost of telecommunicating with a healthcare provider is almost always less than coming into the office and often even free. If your facility plans to implement telemedicine practices, ensure you have these tools for success.
The nature of telemedicine often requires healthcare providers to be able to move about a space freely. Computer carts can make this easier, and many are designed specifically to accommodate the needs of medical professionals. These versatile pieces of furniture are heavy-duty and have expanded functions, including keyboard trays, lockable casters, and built-in battery packs that keep laptops charged all day. You’ll even find carts that lock laptops in place for stability and security.
Like laptop carts, certain AV accessories will be necessary for healthcare professionals working with telecommunicating patients. Keyboard trays, CPU holders, and power and data ports are small but important features needed to keep things running smoothly. In addition, you’ll want to equip the space with a laptop charging cart that will keep computers charged when in use and safe and secure when not.
1/10/2023
If you work in a medical facility, you know how important the right furniture is to the operation and sanitation of the building. When it comes to spaces where healthcare is being provided, everything needs to be cleanable and safe for patients, guests, and care providers. Although choosing the right furniture for your healthcare facility is crucial, equipping the space with the right accessories is just as vital to ensure you’re creating a space for healing. Healthcare accessories from NBF include 4 major groups: accessories for facility protection, waste receptacles, infection control solutions, and information boards.
Accessories for facility protection reduce the likelihood of a healthcare facility succumbing to damage caused by regular use. Wall protectors, corner guards, and rails will protect a wall if a hospital bed, wheelchair, or laptop cart crashes into it. Not only does this save the facility from constantly making repairs to the building, but it is also a safety concern. Cracks and scratches in walls and furniture can harbor harmful germs and pathogens that are difficult to clean, thus increasing the likelihood of patient illness and the chance that the facility could be shut down for violating health codes.
Waste receptacles for a medical facility must adhere to much stricter standards than those a business office can use. Standard waste receptacles are typically made of stainless steel, which is easy to clean and can even be washed with medical-grade cleaning agents. Most medical waste bins also feature a step-on open mechanism that allows care providers to open the lid without needing to touch the unit, further preventing the spread of potentially harmful pathogens.
You will notice two specific types of medical waste bins in a healthcare facility that are red. They are brightly colored to signify that only certain materials can go in them.
Biohazards: These bins are usually metal or plastic and feature a step-on opening. Biohazard waste receptacles must be leakproof.
Sharps: These waste bins are for needles and other sharp objects.
This category of healthcare accessories is obvious. Infection control in a space where potentially harmful germs constantly come in and out can be tough, and that’s why medical facilities must take every precaution to stay on top of it. Infection control solutions include accessories such as sanitizer units, hand hygiene shelves, and infection control centers that include gloves and masks. Having these supplies available will keep the spread of infection at bay, keeping everyone in your facility as healthy and safe as possible.
Information boards can be as simple as a basic whiteboard or as complex as interactive boards with pain charts and hospital branding. Information boards help relay communications between patients, families, and caregivers, ensuring everyone is on the same page. These boards often include daily goals, which can aid in the recovery process.
When selecting the right information board for your facility, be sure to put cleanability at the forefront of your mind. Glass boards are the easiest to clean completely, and you can erase even permanent markers from this type of surface.
12/20/2022
Did you know that 92% of employed Americans confess that aspects of their workspace make them unhappy? As a result, businesses are improving their workplaces, striving to create environments where great work happens due to employee satisfaction. Among new measures taken, companies across the country are considering employee health by incorporating bookable wellness and mothers' rooms into the office. If you’re considering adding one or more of these spaces to your office, keep reading for inspiration and ideas for what you’ll need to get the job done.
We've all been there. You're hard at work when a splitting headache hits. It’s not bad enough to convince you to go home, but with nowhere outside your desk to go and the fluorescent lighting making things worse, what else can you do?
Rather than forcing employees to suffer through temporary illnesses or use valuable PTO, wellness rooms provide a third option. Wellness rooms are small, single-occupancy rooms that are bookable in the same way your formal conference rooms are bookable. Equip your wellness rooms with healthcare-grade seating, including a guest chair and a recliner so employees can close their eyes and rest when they’re not feeling well. We also recommend adding relaxing artwork and décor to the space, including a soft light lamp for those who need a mostly-dark room to relax.
New mothers who breastfeed their babies face a challenge upon returning to work that is not often talked about. Since workstations aren’t private enough and bathrooms aren’t sanitary or comfortable enough, most breastfeeding mothers are forced to travel home over their lunch break to pump.
A simple solution for offering new moms a better option is to add a mothers' room to the office. Like wellness rooms, mothers' rooms should include healthcare-grade seating that’s comfortable enough for long periods of sitting. We recommend a healthcare recliner. In addition, we suggest adding a sink to the room for pump and bottle washing. You may also consider including lockers so that multiple mothers may keep their equipment in the room rather than taking it in and out daily.12/13/2022
Whether you’re working in a tight cubicle or a small home office, conserving what little space you have can be tough. Take these 6 tips to maximize even the smallest workstation.
If there’s one tip to take away from this list, it’s this: purge all nonessentials. Ask yourself, “Do I need to keep all this paperwork on my desk?” and “Are 10 photos of my dog really necessary?” because when you don’t have the luxury of a large workspace, the answer is probably no. Read our complete guide to getting rid of unneeded clutter here.
The best way to keep all that clutter at bay is to not create it in the first place. If you have the opportunity to save documents digitally, choose that method over filing printed materials. Keeping paper clutter to a minimum will free up tons of space on your desk and in your desk drawers, and a cleared-out desk will feel much more spacious.
Rather than keeping personal photos, your physical calendar, and your contacts list on top of your desk, post them all on the wall. Utilizing the vertical space in your office will keep your desk cleared, greatly increasing the amount of space you have to work on.
Small spaces can often create a cave effect and lack proper lighting. Combat this by equipping your workspace with a good lamp. Keeping your desk well-lit will help you stay alert throughout the day, and a brighter workspace can even create the illusion of being larger.
If you’re working in an open-concept office or cubicle layout, take advantage of the common areas around you. Whether it’s storage islands between workspaces or a coat closet in the front lobby, using areas outside of your desk space will help keep your workstation clear.
In your attempt to keep your small workspace clean and clear, you may be tempted to toss personal items. Do not do this! Although you may want to cut down on the number of personal items at your desk, keeping a few family photos or trinkets will help boost your mood throughout the work day and keep you working happily and productively.
We can’t always choose our desks, but we can choose how we work. Remember, when it comes to thriving in a small workspace, less is more, and there’s always room for the things you really need.
12/13/2022
The waiting room in a healthcare facility serves many purposes—it establishes a first impression, offers a place to rest and recharge, and provides patients the chance to connect with caregivers and others. Waiting rooms are valuable, busy real estate, so planners and facility managers need to determine how to best use the space.
You may be tempted to cram in rows of ganged seating with the mindset that more seats equal more use, but this approach often leads to the opposite result. Why? Studies of waiting room utilization have shown that some seats in a busy waiting area are almost always filled while others are often left empty. In some cases, people will stand rather than choose one of the “unpopular” seats. What makes a seat popular?
Placement: Studies show patients prefer seats with a direct line of sight to either the reception desk or doorway to treatment spaces (or both). Patients want to ensure they aren’t “forgotten,” and those with visual or auditory limitations want to ensure they aren’t missed.
Proximity: This varies by practice and patient population, but studies show patients are more likely to choose seating near amenities. That might mean a charging station, coffee bar, in view of a television, or children’s play area in pediatric spaces.
Personal Space: Generally, patients will not choose to sit right next to a stranger unless no other options are available. They may even prefer to stand in this situation. Studies show that even when seating is arranged in back-to-back rows, people will space themselves so they aren’t directly behind someone. Personal space is an important consideration, especially when patients feel vulnerable due to illness.
Accessibility: Long rows of ganged seating are often not comfortable or accessible for those with physical limitations. Those who are mobility impaired, obese, or pregnant often have trouble getting in and out of standard chairs or navigating crowded aisles. Dedicated wheelchair parking is easy to overlook when designing a space but critically important.
Here are some design solutions to ensure that your waiting room space is safe and comfortable for patients while ensuring that seats aren’t wasted.
Consider providing single chairs, love seats for those who arrive with a companion, hip chairs that offer a higher seat for anyone with mobility issues, bariatric seating for larger visitors, and perhaps a round table with chairs for families. Benches near entry doors create a safe place to wait for transportation or a companion.
Seat cushions should be firm, and most chairs should have arms to help patients exit the seat easily. The key is to ensure your patient population is seated comfortably, safely, and in a way that makes them feel welcomed and soothed.
Ensure there are spaces where wheelchairs can be placed safely so that aisles and patient flow are not impeded. Aisles should be wide enough between seating rows that a person with a walker can pass safely.
Offer seating with integrated power that allows patients to use their devices while waiting. Small workspaces provide a place to complete paperwork or catch up on work.
When establishing your design, ensure that most seats have a clear line of sight to the reception desk, treatment areas, and restroom.
12/6/2022
If you’re working as a caretaker in a senior living or assisted living facility, you’ve probably experienced the difficulty of transporting residents. Mealtimes and various leisurely activities often require scooting a resident’s chair from its pulled-out place into the table. But how do you safely transfer a resident with limited mobility from a wheelchair to a dining chair and then safely scoot that chair under the table without risking injury? That’s where ComforTek Titan chairs come in handy.
ComforTek Titan swivel chairs are equipped with mobility assistors that make it easier to move an individual closer to a table. Step on the mobility assistor underneath the seat to make pushing in the chair a breeze. Step on the assistor again to back out when mealtime is over.
When the assistor is not in use, the chair remains locked in place for reliable stability. The swivel action locks every 90 degrees to provide additional stability for residents who need to hold onto the chair arms when transferring. Because of their simplicity, these chairs offer a dignified way for residents to be moved into and out of table spaces without drawing unwanted attention.
Not only are these chairs safe to use, but they’re also comfortable enough for residents to sit in for long times. Each seat has a sturdy 800-pound weight capacity and a seat and back made from moisture-resistant, cold-cured foam that provides plenty of padding for support. The arms of the chair are outfitted with nonslip arm caps that are soft to the touch for additional stability and comfort.
These chairs are constructed with a sturdy metal framework and upholstered in easy-to-clean vinyl that resists stains and other damage. A cleanout space between the seat and back makes the chair even easier to clean, as crumbs and other materials are not able to get stuck between the seats.
The mobility assistor not only reduces the risk of injury for staff and guests, but it also minimizes damage to carpets since chairs no longer need to be dragged across the floor. These seating options also include glides for use on wood floors and carpeted surfaces if needed.
11/29/2022
You must consider several important factors when outfitting a behavioral healthcare facility with new furniture. The challenge of furnishing this type of healthcare facility is that you need to accommodate individuals with vastly different needs due to the great range of conditions that behavioral health facilities treat. Here’s what you absolutely must consider before selecting your new furniture.
The number one most important consideration when it comes to selecting behavioral health furniture is patient and caregiver safety. Avoid opportunities for patients to harm caregivers, other patients, or themselves. This applies to every facet of your facility. For example, fasteners should be tamper-resistant, and there should be no exposed staples or other catch points on any furniture items.
Eliminate the possibility of stashed contraband by avoiding concealment points in chairs or other furniture. Ligature points should not be available to any patient, so chairs should be armless or have closed arm panels, and cabinets and doors should be fitted with breakaway hooks and hinges. When it comes to freestanding chairs, sled base models are often preferred as they are harder to weaponize.
Ensure that you equip your facility with absolutely no furniture that has removable parts, and outfit patient rooms with open shelving rather than cabinets with drawers and doors. Windows should be outfitted with unbreakable glass.
The second most important factor to consider is that you’ll want to create an atmosphere wherein patients feel a sense of control. Remember, the goal is to make patients feel like they are working toward recovery, and they will never get that sense without first having a sense of freedom.
Try to achieve the look of a traditional healthcare facility rather than a correctional institution by incorporating peaceful nature scenes on the walls and soft, inviting colors in your furniture. Residents should be able to move furniture, but they should not be able to pick furniture up. Behavioral health furniture is usually significantly weighed down, and it may be bolted to the floor in areas such as a cool-down room where the chances of a lash-out are particularly high.
Every room in your facility should feel warm and inviting, and patients should have access to natural light in individual rooms and common areas.
Residents in behavioral health facilities need more personal space than individuals in the average healthcare facility. Chairs in any seating area should be able to be moved apart, meaning that grouped seating is OK, but it's recommended to use tables as spacers to that nobody feels crowded. Space should also be built in between all seating areas and tables so that residents have the option to sit alone if they so choose.
11/29/2022
The Healthier Hospitals Initiative (HHI) was started by 12 US health systems to make healthcare environments safer for patients, guests, and caregivers. The initiative focuses on 6 challenge areas: Engaged Leadership, Healthier Food, Leaner Energy, Safer Chemicals, Smart Purchasing, and Less Waste. Participation is voluntary—hundreds of hospitals and health systems are enrolled and undertaking one or more of the challenges.
The Safer Chemicals challenge relates to furniture and healthcare interiors. It’s not surprising that more chemicals are used in healthcare than in any other industry—many of these chemicals can have a lasting and negative impact on people. The HHI Safer Chemicals challenge encourages users to commit to using greener chemicals to clean and disinfect, eliminate chemicals of concern (mercury, formaldehyde, and more), and purchase furniture items that are free from harmful chemicals.
For furniture, items and their components (textiles, foam, etc.) must be free from added flame retardants, antimicrobials, and “chemicals of concern.” Those chemicals include heavy metals, PFCs, and PVC. Many of these chemicals can build up in the body and cause diseases and other health concerns, like asthma.
The interiors industry has embraced the effort to reduce or eliminate the use of these chemicals in healthcare settings. Most major furniture suppliers have made efforts to eliminate these harmful chemicals to meet HHI standards. This not only benefits the healthcare industry but can result in a safer manufacturing environment and less toxic waste in landfills.
NBF supports this important initiative—our item descriptions call out those items that meet HHI standards, and our furniture consultants can help build a package of sustainable, healthier furniture for any facility.11/8/2022
As the healthcare industry continues to become more competitive, quality design in patient areas has never been more important. Patients have increased choices on where to receive care, including many nontraditional providers. Thus, providing a space that supports great outcomes is critical.
There are 3 primary stakeholders in the care experience—patients, the support network (family and friends), and caregivers. Good design ensures each participant’s needs are supported, leading to the best possible results.
The patient should be at the heart of design decisions in both inpatient and outpatient spaces. Offer positive distractions, like views of nature or soothing artwork, to reduce stress and anxiety. Some patients will prefer privacy and quiet, while others might wish for socialization opportunities. Offering a variety of waiting space seating can provide both. Giving patients some control over the environment is very important, so make sure that adjustable furniture like recliners can be safely operated without assistance. Patients also appreciate amenities like coffee/refreshment areas, charging ports, or furniture that incorporates technology.
The patient support network has become increasingly important in achieving a good outcome because family and friends can advocate for their loved ones, ask questions, and make sure caregiver instructions are followed. To support this group, create care spaces that offer opportunities for collaboration, including screen sharing. For longer stays, consider offering places for family members to rest, share a meal, or get some work done.
10/25/2022
When it comes to selecting reception seating for your healthcare facility, consider very specific features to meet the needs of medical patients, visitors, and staff. The furniture in your waiting room can be just as important as the exam tables in your patient rooms, especially if you work in an emergency hospital or specialty medical facility. Stay on the lookout for products that work together holistically to improve the experience for patients, loved ones, and personnel. Make sure your reception area flows smoothly and consistently to provide a space where everyone in the room can feel safe and at ease.
Infectious disease control is the number one priority that healthcare seating should provide. When selecting chairs for your medical waiting room, consider the upholstery and ask yourself the following questions:
Will this upholstery be time-consuming or difficult to clean?
Will this upholstery trap in odor and germs?
Will this upholstery be uncomfortable for patients and visitors to sit in for long periods?
Will this upholstery succumb to wear and tear quickly?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then the upholstery in question may not be the best choice for your medical waiting room.
Healthcare upholstery should be easy to wipe clean so that it can be maintained throughout each day, so be sure to select fabric or vinyl without too many creases or small nooks that can trap odor and bacteria. Chairs with waterfall seat edges are easy to wipe down in seconds, and antimicrobial vinyl is specially designed to keep surfaces as clean as possible.
Make sure the upholstery you choose is comfortable enough for guests to sit in for long periods—you don’t want it to be stiff or scratchy. It should also be durable enough to last. Because you will be too busy caring for patients to worry about replacing your reception area furniture every year, select a durable fabric or vinyl option that will stand up to frequent daily use.
Your reception seating should be able to support a wide range of users since you will have visitors of all shapes, sizes, and needs visiting your care facility. Offer one or more bariatric options so that larger folks can feel welcome. Provide a loveseat or sofa so parents can be close to their children while waiting. Chairs with 24/7 capabilities are ideal for emergency waiting rooms where constant use is required.
Make sure that the furniture you choose is comfortable for your guests and easy to operate. Consider adjustable chairs that guests can customize to suit their needs or mobile chairs that can be moved from one end of the room to the other. Chairs with tablet arms make filling out office forms much easier. Select chairs with thickly padded backs and seats that will reduce fatigue and strain on patients in walk-in clinics or family members and loved ones staying all night in the ER. After all, the family is often in just as much distress as the patient. Chairs should be durable enough that patients can pull themselves up out of the seat by grabbing onto the chair arms and pushing themselves up.
While patient and visitor care are key components of what makes healthcare seating special, it’s also crucial to consider the safety and comfort of your staff when selecting the best furniture.
Due to the threat of discarded needles and other potentially dangerous items and substances, staff should not have to stick their hands anywhere they cannot see. Clean-out chair backs eliminate the crevasse between the chair seat and back so staff can clean down the chair surfaces and clearly see there is no underlying danger.
The reception furniture should also promote communication and collaboration between the visitor and the care provider. The nurse or doctor should be able to comfortably sit down next to the patient’s loved ones to let them know that patient’s medical status. Caregivers should also be able to easily assist patients into and out of the chairs.
Accessories and aesthetics are often overlooked during the purchasing process, but these smaller details could make a huge difference to patients and visitors who are nervous or uncomfortable being in a medical facility. Accessories such as IV poles, side tables, chair casters, moisture barriers, and tablet arms all help to improve the user experience and make your guests’ visit more comfortable.
Take the design of your waiting area into consideration when selecting your chairs and tables by selecting chairs in earth tones and matching tables to create a warm, inviting look that feels more like home. The design of your reception area and the rest of your healthcare facility should promote healing and optimism, straying away from the traditional clinical look wherever possible.
The furniture in your healthcare facility’s reception area should serve a purpose, which will vary from one place to the next. You’ll want different reception furniture in different styles for different people for pediatric hospitals, the ER, mental health facilities, and rehabilitation facilities, so be sure to consider the needs of your patients before beginning the furniture shopping process.
10/25/2022
Setting up a patient room in your healthcare facility goes far above and beyond the design considerations of the everyday office or living space. Not only do your patient rooms need to look clean and professional, but they also need to be comfortable for your patients and conducive to the work that your healthcare providers perform daily. When it comes to furniture for the space, here are the basics you’ll need.
While patients need to be made comfortable during their stay, it’s important to remember that family and friends of inpatients often spend long hours at the hospital supporting their loved ones. For this reason, comfortable guest seating should be available in your hospital waiting room and patient rooms as well. From well-padded armchairs to recliners and sofas that pull out into beds, there are plenty of options to choose from in this category, and you’ll be able to find a solution no matter how small or large your space may be.
Privacy is key when it comes to extended stays in hospitals and other medical facilities. If your patient rooms are not private, you will want to add a privacy curtain to separate the area from other hospital beds in the room. Medical grade curtains run on a professionally installed track and are made from antimicrobial fabrics, making them highly resistant to the spread of germs.
Your patients will likely need to eat meals from the comfort of the hospital beds during their stay at your facility. Because traditional bed trays can be difficult for some patients to balance on their laps, you should invest in overbed tables for your patient rooms. Overbed tables sit on the floor but extend over a patient’s lap to make eating meals more manageable. Most overbed tables are height-adjustable and mobile, making them versatile options for any hospital.
You will likely want to keep whiteboards in your patient rooms so that healthcare providers can leave notes for one another and write down schedules as needed. Many medical whiteboards include attached clocks and relevant graphics such as pain scales and calendars. Some whiteboards are even customizable so you can put the name and logo of your hospital on them if desired.
9/8/2022
Concerned for patients who have difficulty getting into and out of the guest chairs in your medical waiting room? Consider adding hip chairs to your reception area, especially if your healthcare facility sees geriatric, orthopedic, or pregnant patients regularly.
Hip chairs have a seat height that typically measures around 40”H. Because hip chairs have a much taller seat height than standard guest chairs, they facilitate ingress and egress for patients who have a hard time sitting down and standing back up. Patients can simply lean into a hip chair rather than having to bend down far, which can cause major body strain.
Not only do hip chairs make the waiting room experience more comfortable for patients, but they can also significantly reduce the risk of injury for the people who need them. Bending to get into a chair is a recipe for disaster for anyone at risk of falling. Hip chairs require less bending and less exertion of energy, making them much easier to get into and out of, thus greatly reducing the risk associated with standard waiting room chairs.
7/20/2022
Setting up a pediatric facility is similar to setting up a healthcare facility for adults, but you must consider several major differences. Keep these tips in mind while shopping for furniture and accessories for pediatric exam rooms and waiting areas. Patients and parents will be happy you did!
Safety is the most important factor to consider when purchasing any furniture for a healthcare facility, especially when it’s for pediatric use. Remember that children are much less predictable than adults, and take special measures to support the safety of children of all ages your facility sees, whether that be infants, toddlers, young children, or young adults. For example, exam tables and scales should include safety rails to prevent falling, and furniture edges should be rounded and pinch-proof to prevent injury. Consider soft seating in the waiting area to prevent injury and keep kids comfy while waiting.
Specialty pediatric tables are designed small to accommodate children comfortably. In addition to their small size, pediatric exam tables can also have special features such as integrated scales, rails, and fun aesthetics. Pediatric exam furniture should be easy for children to get onto and also make it easy for caregivers to do their work. Don't forget your pediatric doctor stools!
Pediatric healthcare furniture should include fun designs that will make children feel more at ease at the doctor’s office. Fun wall decals, soft furniture, and themed exam tables and phlebotomy chairs make it seem a little less scary and can vastly improve the experience for the patient, the parents, and the caregivers. Phlebotomy chairs with fun designs make shots less scary, providing a positive distraction so caregivers can do their jobs.
Like everything else in your pediatric facility, you should include kid-size waiting room furniture so children can use it. You may want to include loveseats and sofas that will allow children and parents to sit in the same chair. No matter what seating you choose, go with something easily cleaned, such as vinyl upholstered seating in the sitting area and resin or hard plastic chairs in the play area. This furniture should also be durable to ensure it won’t wear down and become unsafe for your patients and guests.
Not only do you need to accommodate the children who visit your pediatric facility, but you also need to consider the needs of their parents. Waiting areas and exam rooms should be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, and parents should have a clear view of their children at all times, whether their child is in the play area of your waiting room or the exam room.
7/13/2022
In 2022, it is clear that the practice of healthcare design remains a dynamic and challenging one. As designers, we have worked hard to respond to changing needs, manage stalled project timelines, and navigate supply chain and labor challenges. We don’t have a crystal ball or any certainty on what will happen to our industry next. In March 2020, I recall naively thinking that this would all blow over in a few weeks. Here we are almost 2 years later! So, where do we go from here? What can we look forward to in 2022 and beyond?
One of the major challenges facing the healthcare industry is staffing—caregivers have taken the brunt of the pandemic stresses for 2 years and are burning out and leaving direct patient care. Health systems have been forced to limit nonemergent procedures, limit admissions, and even consolidate facilities because there are not enough staff to provide patient care. The consequence is lost revenue, increased costs due to reliance on travel nurses, and a detrimental impact on overall patient outcomes. The healthcare design industry cannot solve such a complex problem alone, but we can be part of the solution.
It’s proven that the built environment positively impact patient outcomes—I believe that the same can apply to staff spaces. Too often, caregiver respite areas are afterthoughts, relegated to cramped, windowless spaces with few amenities. As we move forward, we need to work with our clients to make these environments reflect the value these critical employees bring and ensure they are truly places to rest, recharge, and connect with colleagues. That might mean access to outdoor space, comfortable lounge seating, or private areas to rest during a long shift.
An upgraded staff lounge is no good if the workers don’t have time to use the facilities. The design community can’t change increased caregiver workloads, but we can work closely with staff on process improvements.
Some studies indicate that up to 40% of clinical office work is redundant or wasted effort, so we can make this a focus of our design programming. Work closely with clinical employees to determine where current bottlenecks are and where steps are wasted. Some potential time savers can include decentralizing critical supplies to reduce back and forth travel, using automation and technology to eliminate manual processes, and standardizing rooms and equipment.
Implementing standard designs and furniture in patient spaces can help ensure uniform and consistent processes. Reducing room variations can save staff time looking for needed items during a patient visit and potentially allow any provider to use any room during busy times. Standardizing furniture, surface materials, and equipment can have the additional benefit of saving time for maintenance staff and environmental services as well.
The past 2 years have shown us that the move toward resilient and flexible healthcare spaces is increasingly important. We’ve seen clinic spaces transformed into vaccination centers, hospital units moved to COVID wards, and in an extreme case, a parking deck used as overflow care space. Healthcare design needs to continue to push boundaries as to what is possible as we prepare for post-COVID and potential future pandemics.
Many of these changes will take place at the architectural level, like improving HVAC, using UVC lighting, and increasing the ability to effectively isolate infectious patients. From a design perspective, we can plan interior spaces that promote teamwork and coordination of care among staff and help patients communicate with family by including screens and technology that allow remote communication.
From a patient and family perspective, the waiting area is one of the biggest changes to healthcare facilities during the pandemic. Some healthcare facilities have eliminated them altogether, opting for a self-rooming model. Most others have removed much of the existing seating to provide safer distancing between patients. Packing waiting rooms as densely as possible with rows of bus-station-like seating is a thing of the past.
There will always need to be patient and family-friendly waiting areas—as designers, I think we can take lessons learned from COVID and make these spaces welcoming and safe for all. Studies show that patients prefer seats with a direct line of sight to either the reception desk or doorway to treatment spaces (or both). Patients want to ensure they aren’t “forgotten,” and those with visual or auditory limitations want to ensure they aren’t missed. Create smaller groupings of varied types of seating rather than long rows of chairs – this ensures that everyone can be accommodated safely and allows privacy for families that may want to discuss health issues.
If space permits, designate “sick” and “well” waiting areas where those coming in for routine care are separated from potentially infectious patients. This design strategy has been used very effectively in pediatric practices. Using wider seats—like benches, loveseats, or bariatric chairs can help create distance between patients while offering a safe place for larger users.
One of the many challenges facilities faced during the pandemic was the degradation of surface materials due to increased cleaning protocols. It’s more important than ever to strategically choose materials in healthcare spaces. Manufacturers are working hard to bring innovative materials to the design community that will withstand harsh disinfectants while still being safe for users. The choices are overwhelming—how can we choose a material that performs well while still meeting our aesthetic goals?
The DCF (Durable Coated Fabrics) Task Group is an interdisciplinary team of designers, textile suppliers, and furniture manufacturers working on this challenge since 2017. They publish ongoing updates, recommendations, and research on materials that have been tested in healthcare settings. By reviewing their recommended performance standards and CFFA (Chemical Fabrics and Films Association) certified products, you will find a group of materials tested thoroughly in health environments.
The past 2 years have been challenging for the healthcare design community but have taught us many valuable lessons that we can use to create more effective spaces for patients and caregivers. There is no way to predict what 2022 (and beyond) may hold, but we have a strong community of passionate designers dedicated to delivering beautiful, safe, and efficient healthcare spaces. I am excited to see where the future takes us!
7/8/2022
When furnishing a healthcare facility, knowing where to start your search for the right furniture can be daunting. Not only does furniture need to be commercial quality, but it also needs to go far above and beyond what you would buy for a typical business. Where do you start? These are the top 4 most crucial factors to consider (in order of importance) according to our healthcare furniture experts consider to be the 4 most crucial factors.
Not surprisingly, the first and most important factor you must consider when shopping for healthcare furniture is how safe the product is to use. Think about the types of patients your medical facility treats each day. For the average adult care facility, you’ll want to make sure at least 15% of the seating in your waiting room is bariatric to ensure that all guests feel welcome and comfortable during their stay with you. Depending on the types of patients you see regularly, you may need even more than this. If you’re outfitting an orthopedic or geriatric facility, provide hip chairs for guests who may struggle with getting up from standard guest chairs.
Along with a safe weight capacity, chairs should also feature a safe egress, meaning they should be able to support the weight and motion it takes for an individual to get out of them. A chair with arms should include padded armrests that are comfortable and easy to grip. Plus, they must be able to bear the weight of an adult person pushing down on them to get out of the chair. Similarly, provide armless chairs for larger patients who may not want to use a bariatric chair. Remember, creating a healing atmosphere involves giving your patients the freedom to choose where and how to sit.
Beware of pinch points. Though it can require a lot of research and comparing different pieces of furniture, try to include as few pinch points in your healthcare furniture as possible. Safety hazards can be found in any furniture that has moving parts, from fold-down trays and over-bed tables to adjustable chairs and cabinetry. Although eliminating all pinch points will be near impossible, you can reduce them significantly.
Tip: Incorporate furniture that uses piano hinges rather than cabinet hinges for extra safety, especially in furniture being used around children.
Avoid furniture with welting, also called cording or piping. Welting elements make great catch points for bacteria to grow. Not only can bacteria be spread through contrast stitching and piping, but these upholstery elements can also irritate the skin. Instead, look for seating with waterfall edges to minimize bacteria catch points and provide your guests a greater level of comfort. If your seating has seams, make sure that they are outward facing (facing away from the person sitting in the chair) to minimize the opportunity for bacteria growth.
Due to the nature of healthcare facilities, the cleanability of your furniture could factor into its safety since the only safe furniture in a medical facility is that which is kept impeccably clean and sanitized. Of course, the best way to keep your furniture perfectly clean is by buying furniture that’s easy to clean.
Healthcare seating should always include a clean-out space between the seat and back of the chair—the bigger, the better. Not only does this leave fewer catch points for bacteria growth and bedbug breeding, but it also makes the chairs much easier for staff to clean, ensuring the upholstery is cleaned completely and leaving no room for missed spots. A large clean-out space will prevent potentially harmful or bacteria-filled objects from being deposited between the seat and back of the chair. Remember, your cleaning staff should never have to stick their hands in an area where they can’t see what they might be touching—it’s a health concern and a safety concern for patients and staff alike.
In addition to seating, ensure that all furnishings in your medical facility are made using easy-to-clean materials. Wood and veneer furnishings are porous and not acceptable for a healthcare setting. Instead, select laminate for your reception desks, tables, and cabinetry, which gives off the look of wood but is far more cleanable. Remember that everything in your healthcare facility needs to be cleanable, not just what you can see on the surface. Even the insides of cabinets and drawers must be able to be cleaned completely in order to minimize the spread of harmful bacteria in your facility. Consider using drawer liners that can be easily removed in the event of an unexpected spill.
When it comes to durability, you’ll want to once again consider your facility’s regular population. In most facilities, the space should be equipped with furniture that has a framework with metal-to-metal connections, which are the most durable. When it comes to desks and tables, be sure to get furniture that won’t scratch easily, as scratches on table tops can become a quick breeding ground for germs that can easily spread between patients. All furniture, including seating, should be moisture-resistant and able to withstand regular wear in a busy waiting room or exam room.
Though the aesthetics of a medical facility may not seem important to the untrained eye, we assure you that they matter quite a bit. Just because an environment is sterile does not mean it has to look cold and uninviting. Rather than decking out your hospital or private practice with white-on-white walls and furnishings, incorporate warm, inviting tones in your wall paint, furniture, and décor. A pleasing look will help boost the morale of your guests, helping to calm uneasy nerves and make visits more comfortable for everyone involved. You can achieve this through nature scenes on your walls, laminate furniture in warm wood tones, and seating in earthy colors or fun patterns.
6/1/2022
When designing a waiting room for your doctor’s office, your first concern is likely the cleanability and safety of the reception area, and that’s a good thing. Patient and caregiver health should always come first when designing any space in a medical facility, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the aesthetics.
A well-designed doctor’s office waiting room should make patients and their families feel comfortable and more at ease—especially considering the nervous and frightened feelings many visitors experience while in a healthcare facility. Here’s how to design your healthcare waiting room to be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for patients and their families.
First, you should arrange the furniture in your waiting room to make the space feel open and easy to navigate. Not only are large walkways necessary for the safety of patients and staff, but they’re also beneficial for the mental well-being of your guests. Chairs and tables that are too close together can make people feel confined, adding to the stress of being at the doctor.
In addition to optimizing the flow of your seating area, create clear paths to your reception desk and exam rooms. Making your guests search too hard to find their room or an information desk will almost certainly add to the stress of their visit.
It’s important that waiting room seating in a healthcare facility be durable and easy to clean, but it should also be comfortable enough for your guests to relax during their wait. Choose well-padded guest chairs, and incorporate several types of seating into your space. There should be chairs with arms for those who prefer to rest their arms, chairs without arms for those who don’t like them, bariatric seating for guests who need it, and possibly loveseats or sofas for parents and children who want to sit together.
Although you’ll certainly want to make your guests feel welcome in your reception area, you should also take measures to make your staff comfortable. After all, happy employees do the best work. Outfit your reception area with a desk that’s an appropriate size for the space and provides front desk staff with the filing and storage they need to do their jobs effectively. You’ll also want to make sure that your receptionist has a good ergonomic chair to sit in throughout the day to prevent fatigue.
Even if your facility’s brand color is purple, that doesn’t mean you should paint your entire lobby violet. Remember, the goal in healthcare interior design is to be soothing. Choose soft and neutral colors, and try to make the room feel more like a cozy home living room than a medical facility. Soft shades of green, brown, or gray are great for waiting room walls, and chairs, tables, and a reception desk in a soft wood-patterned laminate will create the feel you want. One exception is in pediatrics. Because children are the main focus in a pediatric facility, feel free to incorporate bold, bright colors that will excite young patients.
Similarly, the artwork, accessories, and décor in your reception area should reflect the calming look you’re going for in your office furniture color scheme. Add faux plants to unused corners and use naturescapes in your wall art for a serene appearance.
Lighting should reflect the needs of your specific facility. Soft, bright light creates a sense of calm, while low, warm light can make a space look homier. While natural light is always best, it’s not always a viable option. Try to avoid fluorescent lighting, which can come off as harsh on the eyes and make guests feel fatigued.
Nobody enjoys sitting in a waiting room, but you can make the experience more positive by offering reading materials, free Wi-Fi, and a play area for children in your waiting room. Providing these small pleasures will give your guests and patients something to do while they wait, which can take their minds off of their impending appointment and make them feel more comfortable with their surroundings.
