Furniture Uniquely Designed for the Special Needs of Medical Environments

by Valerie Glander

Medical environments often require special considerations to ensure safety, comfort, and cleanliness standards unmatched in other commercial spaces. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, standards for furniture and other surfaces are under more scrutiny than ever. Your lobby is the first experience your patients have within your practice. Selecting appropriate furniture, finishes and layout will communicate the level of care provided at your facility. 

In this guide, our furniture team will review some of the most important features available in the healthcare market today. Let us help you make a great first impression with your patients! 

Feature: Bleach-cleanability

Textile manufacturers use a variety of rating systems to illustrate the durability of their products. In medical environments, bleach-cleanability is one of the most important as furniture should be disinfected regularly. Materials given a bleach-cleanability rating do not weaken or fade when exposed to the approved diluted bleach solutions. 

What you may not know is that the technology for making bleach-cleanable textiles has become very sophisticated – creating a wide variety of textures, woven patterns and colors possible. You are no longer limited to wipeable vinyl surfaces – there are many wovens available as well. 

Feature: Replaceable Parts

Medical furniture is a big investment and in many environments, it gets a lot of use. Having a great warranty is important, but there are other ways to protect your long-term investment like considering Component-Based Furniture. Our vendor partner, Integra, is built on this concept. Each furniture piece is created with the ability to replace parts in the field. A sofa arm is damaged? We can order a new arm and replace it on-site at much less cost and disruption. (Another benefit with Integra? Their seating is rated to provide a 1,000 lb. dynamic load capacity.)

Feature: Innovative Materials

Traditionally, medical practice lobbies have featured inviting wooden chairs and peaceful artwork. In a private practice, disinfection practices may have been less important than providing a welcoming space.   Post-pandemic, however, many practitioners are reconsidering real wood products for better cleanability.  Kwalu is redefining this model with impeccably-designed, durable wood-look materials and solid surfaces. 

Kwalu’s surfaces can withstand the harshest cleaning regimes without sacrificing the warm, inviting style of wood.

Feature: Cleanouts

A cleanout is a space where the back and sides meet the seat of a chair.  Unlike a standard sofa or chair, medical furniture should be designed to accommodate the cleaning of all surfaces. The Hon Soothe seating and Global River+ Sofa shown above illustrate this well – you don’t readily see the gap, but it allows your cleaning team to wipe between the cushions at the back to rid the chair of any hidden dirt and eliminate the build-up of germs.

A word of warning – this option does not come on all lounge furniture, so be sure to ask if you’d like to include it with your selections.   

Feature: Special Dimensions

Healthcare furniture vendors offer a wide array of seating to meet universal design requirements. Hip chairs, also known as easy access chairs, can be an important safety feature in medical environments. The higher 24” height of the Hip Chair makes it much easier to get in or out of, particularly for visitors with hip or joint issues. Bariatric chairs offer a wider range of widths and higher weight limits. 

Other considerations include determining a layout that works for families with small children, accommodating injuries, and addressing other unique requirements for your patients. Our furniture team has created custom solutions to meet the most specific client needs. Because most healthcare furniture is made to order, we can work with our vendors to find cost-effective customizations.

We’ve reviewed some of the features that differentiate healthcare furniture from the contract market, and I want to point out that these options are often available at a range of price points. Office Express partners with a wide range of vendors in order to provide the best solutions for your practice. Stop by our showroom and talk with our knowledgeable sales and design teams about all our Healthcare options – from the lobby to patient care.