As more and more studies confirm the importance of optimal healing environments for patient recovery, healthcare facilities around the world struggle to improve patient experience by redesigning their premises to add colour and comfortable furniture. As a result of their efforts, several hospital seating trends have emerged, the ones below being the most obvious.
5 Trends in Hospital Seating and Healthcare Recliner Design
- Easy to clean, anti-microbial and anti-stain materials – Healthcare facilities need durable, non-porous medical chairs, with no crevices or cracks for bacteria to thrive, and with vinyl and polyurethane upholstery that allows proper cleaning and disinfection, all while keeping moisture at bay.
- Improved ergonomics – Ergonomics are very important for both patients and caregivers. Yet, since each person has different height, weight and body conformation, it is difficult to design chairs suitable for everyone. Rather than trying to come up with a revolutionary design meant to fit everyone, manufacturers focus on developing flexible seating solutions that can be adjusted to meet each individual’s needs. New hospital chairs are higher to spare caregivers from bending, and have different adjustable and removable parts, to ease patient transfer and provide the necessary support for the various positions a complete medical checkup may require.
- Bariatric furniture solutions – As the number of overweight and obese patients grows, healthcare facilities need to offer adequate seating solutions without threatening their patients’ dignity or self-esteem. Bariatric chairs need a sturdy design, able to support between 300 and 700 pounds, but also provide comfortable seating, reclining options and seamless integration with the rest of the furniture.
- Environmental friendliness – As the concern for the environment grows, furniture made from sustainable materials has become the standard for healthcare facilities. To meet this standard, medical chairs have to be free of toxic chemicals, made or recycled or at least recyclable materials, easy to disassemble, and have a long life cycle.
- Family friendliness – The patients’ family members play an important part in the recovery process, so their comfort has become a priority for many healthcare facilities. The seating in the waiting room and in the patient’s room has to be comfortable, so reclining chairs and sofas that turn into beds for the night are slowly becoming a standard.
These trends show that healthcare facilities have begun to treasure the safety and comfort of caregivers, patients and visitors over furniture price and other similar considerations. This can only be considered good news for everyone: the medical staff, the patients and their loved ones, and hospital seating manufacturers like Wintur.
Their healthcare recliner and care platforms follow all the hospital seating design trends and combine them with affordable prices, durability and aesthetics. One look at their Comflex, Certain, and Regency chair and sofa models is enough to inspire confidence, comfort and well being. Check them out and request a quote tailored to your facility’s needs!
