6 Furniture Items That Make a Well-Equipped Hospital

A hospital without furniture is nothing but a mere building. A well-equipped hospital has several lifelines, one being bespoke furniture that is functional, durable, and suitable for the purpose. Hospital furniture is uniquely designed according to the requirements and usage. In the current healthcare scenario, there are some pieces of furniture that every hospital must have to deem themselves a “well-equipped” healthcare centre.

Our blog gives you insights into the essential hospital furniture and how they transform the therapeutic environment in these places.

The Significant Role of Furniture in Healthcare

Change is constant in the healthcare sector, where medical treatments have improved, facilities have improved, and medication is more effective. Hospital furniture is no exception in this ever-evolving scenario.

Modern hospital furniture is designed with cutting-edge technology to fulfil the needs of patients in more ways than one. They not only serve as a piece of equipment but also help deliver a better patient experience through comfort, safety, and hygiene.

To ensure a continuum of patient care, every hospital must have a standard set of ready-to-use furniture and medical equipment. And when it comes to hospital furniture, there is no room for compromising on quality. Every piece should be tested for safety standards to ensure durability and functionality.

In short, quality furniture is a vital parameter for determining a hospital’s ability to create a patient-centric environment that feels comfortable and welcoming. So, without further delay, let’s explore the six most common and must-have furniture you will want to have in your hospital.

6 Types of Furniture That Create a Patient-Centric Hospital Environment

It takes no rocket science to guess that every hospital needs the following basic furniture to function as a healthcare centre:

• Beds
• Chairs
• Tables
• Cart and Trolley
• Ward Furniture
• Paediatric furniture

Let’s explore each type of furniture. First off, the hospital bed.

1. The Hospital Bed & its various models

From simple, conventional beds to ultra-luxurious cocoons of comfort, hospital beds have come a long way. Today, the ability of a hospital to ensure full-time care for in-patients is largely determined by the availability of hospital beds.

Since the bed is where patients spend most of their time, a lot of thinking goes into designing this piece of furniture. The current hospital furniture market offers an array of beds in various sizes, functionality, and even colours. You can choose from:

• Mechanical ICU beds are designed exclusively for patients in Intensive Care Units. These beds are powder-coated in mechanical and electrical versions to prevent corrosion and increase their durability for many years.
• Semi-fowler beds come with multiple features like:
  1. Crank mechanism to provide an incline.
  2. Collapsible rails to protect patients from falling off the bed.
  3. Saline holes.
  4. Epoxy powder coating.
• Plain ward beds or single-section beds mounted on PVS stumps or castors.
• Paediatric beds are designed with drop-side rails to ensure maximum security.

Since hospital beds are in use most of the time, durability is a prime factor that should not be compromised.

2. The Hospital Chairs

The hospital chair is the first piece of furniture that greets most patients. They are everywhere- in the lounge, consultation room, diagnostic rooms, labs, ERs, patient rooms, etc. And there are chairs for everyone in the hospital environment. There are chairs for doctors, therapists, patients, babies, and adults.

Given below is the list of chairs used in hospitals:

• Wheelchairs are one of the most commonly used items in every hospital. Used as an assistive device, it promotes mobility for patients who have walking difficulties.
• Dental chairs are exclusively used by dentists. These chairs are specially designed to support a patient’s body during dental procedures.
• Patient chairs are of several types, each used by patients experiencing various medical conditions.
• Recliner chairs come with armrests and also reclines at various angles. As the occupant sits on the chair, the back of the chair reclines, and the front raises.
• A dialysis chair is a fully automatic device manufactured with extra space for free functionality.
• Step chair facilitates the moving of patients through narrow spaces or up and down staircases.
• Lift chairs are powered by a hydraulic mechanism to push the entire chair from the base, enabling weak patients to assume a standing position.
• The gynaecologist’s chair facilitates the treatment and examination of patients. It comes with a comfortable back rest and is generally made of durable alloy or stainless steel for stability and durability.
• Shower chairs are waterproof and come with sturdy armrests and rubberised feet to support when the patient is taking a shower.
• Stretcher chairs allow patients to assume multiple positions for examination purposes. For example, it can easily be reclined like a stretcher or positioned like a chair to conveniently suit the clinical purpose.

3. The Hospital Tables

Available as long, rectangular tables or small square ones, hospital tables serve multiple purposes. They provide bedside assistance for patients and offer support during clinical examinations, labour, and surgeries.

Some of the common tables used in hospitals are:

• Examination tables are available in all doctor’s rooms to facilitate the examination of patients.
• The delivery table is used exclusively to support patients during childbirth and recovery.
• Operation tables are designed to support patients during small or major surgical procedures. These tables are also narrower than normal ones to allow doctors to stand on either side while performing the procedures.
• Bedside tables, usually H-shaped or U-shaped, come with shelves or drawers to accommodate the patient’s personal belongings.
• Overbed tables: These are used by patients to have their meals sitting in the bed.

4. Paediatric Furniture

Paediatric or baby furniture includes a wide range of items designed to support the healing journeys of children, toddlers, and infants. Available in an amazing range of colours and designs, this category includes:

• Cradles and cribs for newborns and infants who are not more than 18 months old. Cradles are like miniature beds with rockers or pivots. Cribs, on the other hand, are beds enclosed by high slats to protect the baby.
• Bassinets are beds for babies up to four months of age. The base is attached to a lever which can be used to raise the bed level to the average adult’s waistline.
• Baby bathtubs are exclusively manufactured to comfortably hold water and support newborns and infants while they are given a bath.
• Baby shower chairs are used in hospitals for toddlers who are patients.

5. Carts & Trolleys

Hospital trolleys are essential pieces of furniture in all health care facilities. These are used to transport myriad hospital supplies and hold equipment such as medicines, emergency equipment, surgical equipment, keratometer and anaesthesia equipment.

Generally, two types of trolleys are used in all hospitals. They are:

• Mayo trolleys are used in operation theatres. They carry all the necessary surgical equipment and are made from surgical stainless steel to ensure extra hygiene.
• Dressing trolleys are used for storing and transferring all medicines and equipment needed to handle emergency medical situations.

6. Patient ward furniture

Apart from beds, patient wards require a specific set of furniture used by patients, their caretakers, and medical personnel. The list includes:

• Bedside lockers to store patients’ valuables and medical records.
• Basin stands to hold liquids during medical procedures.
• Intravenous poles to hang IV fluid bags, which are administered for patients.
• Plain beds are specially designed for patients needing some other form of healthcare.

Hospitals are the nerve centres of the healthcare industry, and the role of each furniture item in this environment can never be underestimated. With healthcare evolving by the hour, choosing furniture based on durability, comfort, and hygiene becomes extremely important.

Rely on Inspace for Superior Quality Hospital Furniture

Inspace Hospital Furniture, Chennai, offers ergonomically-designed furniture created with cutting-edge technology. We also customise furniture as per your specific requirements. Reach out to us for more details.