March 1, 2019
From the front entry, down the hallways, into patient rooms and throughout operating rooms, there are some specific considerations to keep in mind when choosing flooring in a hospital. Each surface needs to be smooth to accommodate wheeled traffic like wheelchairs, stretchers and supply carts. It’s equally important that those surfaces be non-slip and easy to clean.
In addition to these daily use considerations, the flooring choice should be cohesive with the overall décor of the space. Time spent in hospitals is generally stressful and tense and choosing colors and patterns that have a calming effect on those who need it most can help alleviate feelings of unease and tension.
Wayfinding
Visitors to a hospital or healthcare facility are generally not familiar with their surroundings and rely on wayfinding signs and directional arrows. Flooring can be used to help zone different areas with designated colors for different departments, directional stripes or contrasting designs. Possibilities include using color to signify safe walkways, seating areas in waiting rooms, or sections that are off-limits to visitors.
The color-coding on this floor make the transition from one department or area to the other clear, while adding a bit of personality.
Zoning
Zoning in the operating room or patient suites can also be beneficial and easily demark one area from another. By creating a perimeter around an operating table in this it creates a visual cue for where essential personnel should be located. This can help ensure that equipment and non-essential personnel are close by when needed and out of the way when not.
Clean
Surfaces in hospitals are exposed to contaminants, bacteria, viruses and bodily fluid, making cleanliness of the utmost importance. Crevices can harbor potentially dangerous bacteria and can lead to HAIs. Seamless flooring eliminates this issue while being easy to clean and can stand up to the necessary daily cleaning with harsh chemicals.
The flooring in this dialysis center curves up the wall creating a seamless space that leaves less no place room for bacteria to collect vs. alternatives such as tile or vinyl sheet.
The liquid properties of resinous flooring during installation, make sloping to drains easy, aiding in drainage, making it ideal for sanitation rooms.
Safety First
While cleanliness and chemical resistance are essential, the safety of patients and employees is nearly as important. Hospitals are busy places that have many different moving parts. Patients and supply carts are wheeled from one area to another and need to be moved swiftly without wheels getting stuck or slowed down on cracked or uneven flooring. In addition, medical staff may need to sprint to a patient’s room during an emergency and walk over spills while providing care. A seamless resinous floor with non-slip features can combat both of these issues.
Back of House
Often overlooked, but equally as important is the back of house areas, such as the kitchen where patient’s food is prepared. The kitchen areas may be subject to different types of environments such as hot ovens, and steam cleaning, requiring a thicker more resistant flooring choice.
Additionally, storage areas and mechanical rooms benefit from the same features a resinous flooring system offers other areas of the hospital while providing a seamless transition from one area to another.
Not Just for Indoors
Don’t forget the outdoor areas such helipads for arriving transports, having a clearly defined landing spot indicating where the awaiting personnel can safely standby can speed up patient transfers and reduce any confusion in an emergency.
Quick Turn Around
A hospital’s primary mission is the health and care of its patients and a hospital room, operating room or clinic that is not operational can’t do that. Functional, clean and safe floors are essential to the steady operation of any facility and resinous floors are often the perfect solution. They offer all the benefits above as well as a fast installation to limit downtime. It’s important to speak to a professional to help determine the right system for each area and compare the features and benefits they provide before making any decisions. Whatever the application and intended use, there is a resinous flooring system that will provide the functionality and aesthetic desired.