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With a new year comes new trends and new technology, and that's true for the healthcare industry, too. From the waiting room to the patient rooms and everything in between, we offer a huge selection of healthcare furniture for the whole building. Here are just a new of our newest healthcare collections for 2018.

 

Brandt Industries Bariatric Stools

Designed for reliable support in patient rooms and labs, this bariatric stool is rated to hold up to 400 pounds. The vinyl-upholstered seat is height adjustable, and it comes with a heavy-duty cylinder for additional support. The five-star base includes three casters that can lock, and a foot ring helps support the legs when used. This stool comes in a wide range of colors to coordinate with any healthcare facility.

 

La-Z-Boy Modular Vinyl Club Chair

If you're aiming for a high-end look in your healthcare waiting room, the Assymble collection is a smart choice. Modern and modular, this group of lounge seating comes in a wide array of colors and configurations so that you can truly achieve a look your patients will love. Benches, lounge chairs and end tables are all available so that you can outfit your entire waiting room with a single collection.

 

Comfor Tek Mobile Dining Chair

Keep the dining room safe with Comfor Tek mobile dining chairs. Ideal for use in senior living facilities, these chairs feature a special push lever that allows care takers to move residents closer to and farther from the dining table without fear of tipping over. These unique seating options come in a range of styles to make your dining area feel like home.

 

Ghent Magnetic Whiteboard

Perfect for healthcare use, these whiteboards by Ghent feature integrated graphics that won't wipe off, and the surgical team will be able to see important patient information at glance. Made to improve communication and collaboration for patients and surgical staff, the entire surface easily wipes clean with a soft cloth and is resistant to the spread of germs and bacteria.

 

Integrant LLC Overbed Table with Integrated Power

These unique overbed tables include modern conveniences to keep patients comfy and cozy during their stay. Power outlets, USB ports and integrated lighting help patients feel more comfortable and independent while helping to reduce the risk of falling during recovery. Once you've added these high-tech overbed tables to your hospital, you won't ever go back to your old ones.

 

Knu Healthcare Narrow Recliner

Available in three sizes to accommodate different patients, the EV mobile medical recliner is a great choice for facilities that see a wide range of patients. This particular recliner series includes removable chair backs, high weight capacities, and reduced angle back reclines. Steel framework and bolted casters along with a heavy gauge reclining mechanism make these recliners a force to be reckoned with.

 

Looking for more? Check out our full selection of healthcare furniture here. Remember, our healthcare furniture experts are always available to assist with any design and functionality questions you may have.

Healthcare

More From NBF

Selecting Seating for Your Healthcare Reception Area

When it comes to selecting reception seating for your healthcare facility, consider very specific features to meet the needs of medical patients, visitors, and staff. The furniture in your waiting room can be just as important as the exam tables in your patient rooms, especially if you work in an emergency hospital or specialty medical facility. Stay on the lookout for products that work together holistically to improve the experience for patients, loved ones, and personnel. Make sure your reception area flows smoothly and consistently to provide a space where everyone in the room can feel safe and at ease.

Upholstery 

Infectious disease control is the number one priority that healthcare seating should provide. When selecting chairs for your medical waiting room, consider the upholstery and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Will this upholstery be time-consuming or difficult to clean?

  • Will this upholstery trap in odor and germs?

  • Will this upholstery be uncomfortable for patients and visitors to sit in for long periods?

  • Will this upholstery succumb to wear and tear quickly?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then the upholstery in question may not be the best choice for your medical waiting room. 

Healthcare upholstery should be easy to wipe clean so that it can be maintained throughout each day, so be sure to select fabric or vinyl without too many creases or small nooks that can trap odor and bacteria. Chairs with waterfall seat edges are easy to wipe down in seconds, and antimicrobial vinyl is specially designed to keep surfaces as clean as possible.

Make sure the upholstery you choose is comfortable enough for guests to sit in for long periods—you don’t want it to be stiff or scratchy. It should also be durable enough to last. Because you will be too busy caring for patients to worry about replacing your reception area furniture every year, select a durable fabric or vinyl option that will stand up to frequent daily use.

User Safety and Support 

Your reception seating should be able to support a wide range of users since you will have visitors of all shapes, sizes, and needs visiting your care facility. Offer one or more bariatric options so that larger folks can feel welcome. Provide a loveseat or sofa so parents can be close to their children while waiting. Chairs with 24/7 capabilities are ideal for emergency waiting rooms where constant use is required.

Make sure that the furniture you choose is comfortable for your guests and easy to operate. Consider adjustable chairs that guests can customize to suit their needs or mobile chairs that can be moved from one end of the room to the other. Chairs with tablet arms make filling out office forms much easier. Select chairs with thickly padded backs and seats that will reduce fatigue and strain on patients in walk-in clinics or family members and loved ones staying all night in the ER. After all, the family is often in just as much distress as the patient. Chairs should be durable enough that patients can pull themselves up out of the seat by grabbing onto the chair arms and pushing themselves up.

Care Provider Safety and Support 

While patient and visitor care are key components of what makes healthcare seating special, it’s also crucial to consider the safety and comfort of your staff when selecting the best furniture. 

Due to the threat of discarded needles and other potentially dangerous items and substances, staff should not have to stick their hands anywhere they cannot see. Clean-out chair backs eliminate the crevasse between the chair seat and back so staff can clean down the chair surfaces and clearly see there is no underlying danger. 

The reception furniture should also promote communication and collaboration between the visitor and the care provider. The nurse or doctor should be able to comfortably sit down next to the patient’s loved ones to let them know that patient’s medical status. Caregivers should also be able to easily assist patients into and out of the chairs.

Accessories and Aesthetics 

Accessories and aesthetics are often overlooked during the purchasing process, but these smaller details could make a huge difference to patients and visitors who are nervous or uncomfortable being in a medical facility. Accessories such as IV poles, side tables, chair casters, moisture barriers, and tablet arms all help to improve the user experience and make your guests’ visit more comfortable. 

Take the design of your waiting area into consideration when selecting your chairs and tables by selecting chairs in earth tones and matching tables to create a warm, inviting look that feels more like home. The design of your reception area and the rest of your healthcare facility should promote healing and optimism, straying away from the traditional clinical look wherever possible.

The furniture in your healthcare facility’s reception area should serve a purpose, which will vary from one place to the next. You’ll want different reception furniture in different styles for different people for pediatric hospitals, the ER, mental health facilities, and rehabilitation facilities, so be sure to consider the needs of your patients before beginning the furniture shopping process.

Trends for Healthcare Spaces at NeoCon 2014

NeoCon, one of the largest trade shows in the furniture industry, took place last week, Monday, June 9th through Wednesday, June 11th. The event features showrooms from top furniture brands and focuses on commercial interiors. NBF, as a large retailer of commercial-grade products, attended the conference to not only see the new design trends, but to also interact with vendors. As we posted previously, there were many trends that we saw emerging consistently throughout the numerous showrooms. One such trend was the emphasis on healthcare segments. While healthcare is a well-established niche of the furniture industry, there were a few developments and trends that could not go unnoticed.

Healthcare Settings and Wooden Furniture

Healthcare design is moving away from the cold and sterile rooms most often associated with the industry. Instead, facilities are trying to find new ways to incorporate design elements that are welcoming and warm to make patients and their visiting family members and friends as comfortable as possible. It’s a trend that is sure to further improve healthcare facilities and shift furniture demand.

An easy way to incorporate more charm is by adding calming yet warm colors and wood tones to the room. Solid wood furniture, however, is not always the best option for healthcare settings due to its porous nature.

On the other hand, these laminate wood options provide the look and warmth of wood combined with a nonporous construction that is easy to clean and disinfect in demanding healthecare environments.

Behavioral Health Four-Drawer Dresser

Specifically designed for the behavioral healthcare market, this Behavioral Health Four-Drawer Dresser provides safety and peace of mind for your staff and patients. Made out of high-pressure laminate, this storage solution also offers patients a place to store personal items, therefore encouraging a clean and neat environment. This patient storage also provides a warm, cheerful look that will brighten any healthcare facility.

Café au Lait Oversized Stools and Round Bar-Height Table Set

Lunch rooms are also a vital part of most healthcare facilities. This Café au Lait Oversized Stools and 30” Round Bar Height Table Set features antimicrobial vinyl upholstery, steel frames, laminate backs, and laminate surfaces. This makes cleaning a breeze—a feature especially necessary in a cafeteria setting where messes are apt to happen. The many different color options are cheerful and bright, helping create a comfortable and relaxing dining experience for patients and guests.

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Nicole Groshek

Nicole Groshek is the social media and content coordinator for National Business Furniture. She helps employees discover the true joy in loving what they do, from working in an inspiring office to having a little fun on the job.