Looking for a way to keep your hospital running smoothly while keeping patients comfortable?
Every healthcare facility has the same problem. You need furniture that can survive the high-traffic nature of healthcare while still providing patients with the comfort and safety they deserve.
After all, seating plays a huge role in the patient experience. The difference between:
- Satisfied patients
- Angry patients, visitors and staff
The problem?
Most hospital chairs don’t measure up. They fall apart quickly, are difficult to clean and cause more frustration than they are worth.
By not investing in the right chairs, you are opening yourself up to unnecessary expenses and bad patient outcomes.
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to choose hospital chairs that deliver unbeatable durability, without sacrificing the comfort patients need.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why Hospital Chairs Need Special Considerations
- The Hidden Costs of a Poor Choice
- 5 Essential Features For High-Traffic Areas
- How To Strike The Balance Between Durability & Comfort
Table of Contents
Hospital Chairs Need Special Considerations
Hospital chairs are NOT the same thing as office furniture…
The reality is that your furniture is working in one of the most demanding environments for seating out there. Chairs that would fall apart in a regular office in weeks will fall apart in your setting much faster.
The same chair is used by multiple patients with various mobility needs. Staff members need to get into chairs on both sides of patients quickly for certain procedures. All chairs are cleaned several times a day with hospital-grade disinfectants.
That’s why selecting from an extensive range of hospital chairs specifically designed for healthcare environments is crucial for long-term success.
The Data Speaks Volumes
Hospital and healthcare facilities are some of the worst places for furniture to be in. According to recent data, furniture placed in patient care areas is cleaned on average one time per day and typically has a life cycle of 7 years.
But there is something many people don’t know…
There are hospitals that have some of their furniture still in use that have been there for over 40 years, due to proper planning and research.
Planning ahead and selecting the right chairs can save you thousands of dollars in replacement costs.
The Hidden Costs of Choosing the Wrong Chairs
Buying chairs that don’t fit your setting and workflow is a recipe for added expenses.
When you select chairs that can’t hold up in your environment, you wind up paying the price through:
- Frequent replacements – Low-cost chairs that break in high-traffic settings need to be replaced frequently
- Maintenance and repairs – Chairs that aren’t built from high-quality materials need more upkeep
- Patient complaints – Discomfort and poor fit are a huge factor in patient experience, and the wrong chairs will cost you
- Employee dissatisfaction – Chairs that are hard to clean are annoying for staff, and slow down care
But there’s more.
Bad seating choices can also affect patient safety. Chairs that are hard to get in and out of have a higher rate of patient falls. Furniture that is hard to clean is a risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are about 722,000 healthcare-associated infections that occur in the United States annually, in hospitals.
Furniture choice plays a direct role in infection control.
5 Essential Features Chairs Must Have For High-Traffic Areas
Want to know what makes a chair that works for your environment?
When selecting chairs for busy hospital settings you have to be laser-focused on these essential features. If you choose furniture that lacks any of these features, you will regret it later.
1. Must Be Easy To Clean
This should go without saying but,
You need chairs with surfaces that can stand up to being cleaned multiple times per day with hospital grade disinfectants. Things to look for include:
- Non-porous surfaces that prevent liquids from seeping in
- Smooth, no crevices or piping
- 360 degree cleanable – The entire chair must be able to be sanitized.
Do NOT purchase anything with fabric welting or piping. Those are a bacteria haven that put patients at risk.
2. Bariatric Chairs Available
This is one thing most healthcare facilities overlook…
In a typical healthcare facility, at least 15% of seating should be bariatric rated. This allows all of your patients to feel welcome and included.
But that doesn’t mean you just buy a handful of bariatric chairs and call it a day. You need a selection of chairs that blend well with the rest of your furniture line, while still providing the additional support your heavier patients will need.
3. Must Be Easy to Egress From
Patient safety starts with getting into chairs without issues and getting out safely.
Ideally, your chairs should have:
- Padded armrests that a person can rest their full body weight on
- Appropriate height to stand up without difficulty
- Chairs should have a stable base so that it doesn’t tip or slide.
- No pinch points that a person could get caught on or injured by.
Tip: A chair with arms need to be able to support a person pushing down on the arm with their full body weight when trying to stand up.
4. Metal-to-Metal Construction
Chairs that last for decades instead of just a few years?
Look for chairs that have frames with metal-to-metal connections. This allows the chair to be able to handle the constant stressors of a busy healthcare setting without loosening or coming apart.
Plastic connections and glued wood just aren’t going to work in a healthcare setting. The materials won’t last nearly as long.
5. Antimicrobial Protection
Hospital chairs should be coming standard with antimicrobial protection.
Doesn’t replace cleaning but adds another line of defense between cleanings. Look for chairs that have been treated with antimicrobial properties that help prevent bacterial and fungal growth.
Finding The Balance Between Durability and Patient Comfort
This is where most facilities make their biggest mistake…
You need chairs that can withstand the rigors of your healthcare environment but are comfortable enough for patients to not mind sitting for long periods of time.
The solution? Focus on hospital chairs that were built specifically for healthcare. Quality healthcare seating will deliver the medical grade durability you need as well as all the comfort-focused features you will be looking for.
Comfort Matters
When it comes to seating comfort, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Ergonomic features that support good posture
- Cushioning that retains its shape
- Breathable fabric that allows air circulation
- Adjustability options to suit different patients
Don’t sacrifice durability for comfort though. The best hospital chairs offer both without having to sacrifice one for the other.
How To Get The Most From Your Hospital Chair Investment
The Healthcare furniture market is booming, and for good reason.
Market research predicts that the worldwide healthcare furniture market is expected to grow from USD 9.8 billion in 2023 to USD 18.6 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%.
That growth rate shows the increasing understanding that furniture quality directly impacts patient outcomes.
Purchasing Tips
To make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck:
Start with standardization. Purchasing a line of furniture that has multiple seating options in similar, or even the same styles. Streamlines inventory and makes management easier.
Lifecycle costs – The higher price chair that lasts 15 years is cheaper than a budget chair that needs to be replaced every 3 years.
Plan for change. Purchase modular furniture designs that can be adjusted and changed as your needs change.
The Bottom Line
The chairs you select for your facility aren’t just pieces of furniture. They are the environment where patients heal and recover faster, staff members provide care efficiently, and your facility keeps its costs down.
Remember the main features the ideal hospital chairs have to have:
- Easy clean surfaces for infection control
- Bariatric chairs for inclusive patient care
- Safety focused egress features for patient safety
- Durable construction for the long term
- Antimicrobial protection for that extra protection
Investing in quality healthcare chairs pays dividends for years to come. Patient satisfaction, lower replacement costs, and reduced risk for infection all add to the success of your facility.
Don’t settle for chairs that won’t work in your environment.