Over the years, there has been a serious push to reform the way healthcare facilities are designed in order to make them easier to clean, not only reducing the chances of hospital acquired infections from occurring, but also as a productivity measure to keep hospitals running smoothly. This has allowed facilities to maintain a cleaner, more comforting appearance without drastically hindering the speed of patient flow and turnover in a facility. As we move forward in a quickly evolving healthcare landscape, these newly designed facilities are now more important than ever. The ability to keep a facility clean, and keep patients safer, is of growing interest to healthcare companies all over the world. 

This is how these new designs are paving the way towards cleaner, more appealing hospitals. 

Eliminating Textured Materials 

When it comes to material selection for healthcare facilities, smooth, non-porous materials like glass are high in demand. These types of materials are less likely to harbor bacteria inside small pores on the surface, and they are much easier to clean without having to use an abrasive brush to scrub the surface. 

At the same time, bold patterns are now replacing textures in design, preventing the design of walls, floors and other surfaces from becoming too boring and monotone. 

When it comes to furniture, non-porous materials like vinyl and polyurethane are replacing older materials like wood. These new material favorites can also withstand more cleanings and are less likely to encourage bacteria growth. 

Embracing Round Corners 

Corners in rooms, hallways, and even on furniture and medical devices are places that are notorious for catching dirt, dust, and bacteria. Even when cleaned, the smallest particles can find their way into the point formed at the deepest part of every corner. When spaces and object are rounded, there are no corners, and thus there are no places for dirt and bacteria to hide. This reduces problem spots and allows cleaning staff to move more quickly throughout a space, rather than stopping to ensure that a corner is properly cleaned. 

Minimalism 

Sometimes less is more, and thankfully minimalism is still a trending design choice for facilities. But this doesn’t mean facilities need to be boring, simple environments. Learning to accomplish more from a design perspective without integrating an excessive amount of nooks, crannies, and other shapes into a room has become a better way to ensure that facilities are easier to clean and less dangerous for patients who may be susceptible to catching or spreading infectious diseases. 

Hospital Whiteboards for Clean Interiors 

At VividBoard, we take patient safety seriously. We also understand the important role hospital whiteboards play in patient communication and care. Since our whiteboards (and others like them) are in place in so many facilities all over the world, we want you to know that there are plenty of design options that can make your communication boards safe and bacteria free while they’re in place in your patient rooms.  

Learn more about our hospital whiteboard design options and how they make our products a safe, easy to clean communication solution. Contact our team today!