Is it so important to have the latest in hospital furniture? Your patients and staff will appreciate it. Comfort and, above all, safety are the foundation for good work.
Atienza&Climent continues to be one of the leading suppliers of materials for hospital institutions. That’s why today, in this space, we’re providing you with a guide with all the information you need about hospital furniture.
What is hospital furniture and why is it so important?
It’s not difficult to understand the scope of hospital furniture. Any furniture used by patients, healthcare professionals, and even family members falls into this category.
Definition and types of furniture
Hospital furniture consists of furniture and equipment required within a healthcare facility. Typically, it includes beds, chairs, armchairs, cabinets, stretchers, medical carts, and screens.
Other items are available for specific areas, such as pharmacy shelves or waiting room chairs and counters. It’s important to have a wide variety of furniture, as each serves an essential function.
Essential functions in health care
Now you might be wondering if clinical furniture really serves important functions. First and foremost, it contributes to patient comfort, providing many psychological benefits.
It also helps with efficient transfers within the hospital. Not to mention, there is furniture that allows you to organize equipment, medications, and all medical supplies.
Impact on recovery and well-being
Little by little, we’ll address the importance of hospital furniture design. After all, every detail impacts patients in one way or another.
Studies, such as that by Sandra Eminovic, show that room colors impact postoperative quality of life. Copper and silver have also been shown to help reduce hospital-acquired infections.
Regulations and certifications applicable to hospital furniture
Furniture manufacturing is regulated by various standards, ensuring a quality standard with a positive impact on health.
Quality standards and ISO/EN certifications
You’re probably wondering what the most important hospital furniture regulations are. First, there’s ISO 9001, which aims to establish a quality management system, ensuring durability and satisfaction.
ISO 13485 focuses on the quality of medical devices. Finally, UNE-EN 14727 implements test-based durability and safety standards. Hospital furniture certifications provide greater confidence when using clinical furniture.
Cleaning and hygiene requirements
Hygiene in hospital environments must be guaranteed with cleaning strategies. Hospital furniture should have smooth, non-porous surfaces, as this facilitates disinfection.
Furthermore, these materials must be resistant to aggressive chemicals such as 2% glutaraldehyde. After all, these chemicals often corrode and damage the furniture’s surface.
Biocompatibility and safety of materials
Among the characteristics of hospital furniture, biocompatibility is essential. It involves the interaction between materials and living beings without the latter having adverse reactions.
The use of stainless steel, which is resistant to cleaning products, and high-strength plastics is important. The same applies to antimicrobial materials such as titanium dioxide.
Ergonomic design and functionality of hospital furniture
Have you heard of ergonomics? It’s one of the keys to efficient work. Having equipment that adapts to workers increases productivity regardless of the area.
Ergonomics for patients and staff
What do we mean by ergonomic hospital furniture? This means that the comfort of patients and healthcare staff comes first:
Adjustable beds reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers.
Chairs with lumbar support reduce chronic low back pain.
Adjustable desks reduce conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
For workers, ergonomics is essential. After all, working in discomfort causes concentration problems and, in many cases, absenteeism.
Importance of mobility and modularity
You’ve probably noticed that hospital furniture often has wheels. Why do you think this is necessary? If you have beds on wheels, the effort required to move patients is minimized.
In addition, by easily moving beds and furniture, each area of the hospital can be easily cleaned. Modularity involves using screens to modify the layout of rooms.
Colors, shapes and finishes
Believe it or not, the shapes and colors of furniture have a psychological influence on patients. For example, soft colors like blue and white convey calm and help lower blood pressure.
Round shapes in furniture reduce stress and prevent injuries in staff and patients. Therefore, not only the colors used in furniture are important, but also the designs.
Examples of ergonomic elements
What should ergonomic hospital furniture look like? Here are some examples:
Treatment chairs with adjustable backrests and footrests for greater comfort
Stainless steel operating room tables are one of the easiest surfaces to clean
Rounded edges on beds and screens to reduce trauma in operating rooms
Ergonomics can be applied in many ways, always with a focus on comfort and safety. It’s important that your provider takes this into account.
Manufacturing and materials: the Atienza&Climent perspective
At Atienza&Climent, we focus on manufacturing custom-made hospital furniture. Our goal is to provide solutions to equip healthcare centers with the latest technology for work and healthcare.
Design and customization process
The first step is to design our clients’ equipment. We evaluate the requirements and the space where the hospital furniture will be located. This allows us to deliver the first digitalized designs that meet safety and quality standards.
Once approved, they are produced with the best materials and delivered to the client. Feedback from staff such as doctors and nurses helps us introduce improvements in ergonomics and safety.
Selection of high-quality materials
Material selection is fundamental to our manufacturing process. We want to offer our customers only the best, such as engineering plastics that are resistant to cleaning chemicals.
This also includes elements like ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), which is durable and easy to clean. And, of course, the use of modern antimicrobial coatings, such as silver and silane.
Technological innovation and smart features
Innovation must always be a priority when it comes to healthcare. Solutions such as vital sign sensors and touchscreens are possible in modern clinical furniture. The goal? To automate patient care.
Commitment to sustainability
Another of our greatest strengths is our commitment to sustainability. That’s why plastic recycling is so important in our supply chain. Repurposing these materials is a task we must all participate in.
How to choose a furniture supplier
How do you choose the best healthcare furniture supplier? You must ensure they meet all safety certifications and allow you to customize your equipment. You should also pay attention to after-sales service.
30 years of experience and quality are what Atienza&Climent stands for as a hospital furniture manufacturer. Contact us and let’s start building the future of your business.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre el material hospitalario
El mobiliario hospitalario incluye todos los muebles y equipos diseñados para su uso en centros de salud. Abarca camas, sillones, mesas, carros médicos, biombos y armarios, entre otros elementos esenciales para pacientes y personal sanitario.
El mobiliario ergonómico mejora la comodidad del paciente y previene lesiones en el personal sanitario. Camas ajustables, sillas con soporte lumbar o mesas regulables reducen la fatiga, el dolor y los riesgos de lesiones laborales.
Los principales estándares son ISO 9001, que garantiza la calidad del sistema de gestión, ISO 13485 para dispositivos médicos, y UNE-EN 14727, que regula la resistencia y seguridad del mobiliario clínico.
Los materiales más comunes son acero inoxidable, plásticos técnicos como el ABS, y superficies antimicrobianas a base de plata o dióxido de titanio. Todos deben ser resistentes, lisos, no porosos y fáciles de limpiar.
Un diseño ergonómico y estéticamente armónico mejora el confort, reduce el estrés y acelera la recuperación. Colores suaves como el azul o el blanco transmiten calma y favorecen el bienestar psicológico.
¿Qué significa que un mueble hospitalario sea modular o móvil?
