How Your Hospital’s Flooring Choices Can Affect Patient Safety

In the high stakes and high pressure healthcare industry, patient safety is paramount. However, the safety of the nurses, doctors, and other workers cannot be overstated. Due to the nature of the hospital environment, trips and falls could be considered an occupational hazard. An accident like this at the wrong time could prove catastrophic for both patients and caregivers. 

Unfortunately, trips and falls are more common than one would hope. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research (AHRQ), up to one million patients in hospitals throughout the country fall each year. Even worse, damages from falls do not qualify for reimbursement, as they are considered “never events” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In other words, it is up to the hospitals themselves to do everything possible to ensure against slips, trips, and falls. 

Fortunately, the right flooring choices can go a long way toward preventing these kind of incidents. While commercial design and renovation demands flooring surfaces of all types, there are solutions that can eliminate transition strips that feature upwards of 0.25” of elevation. The result is an aesthetic and functional floor that allows for improved roller mobility and removes popular spots for dirt and germs to hide. For example:

• Sheet, required for aseptic areas, can be mated to LVT.
• LVT of 5mm in thickness or less is perfect for carpet tile, and does not require a transition strip.
• Moisture-proof bonding technology can be implemented to marry hard and soft surfaces, like broadloom carpet and sheet, and stand up for years against heavy foot traffic

When it comes to selecting the right kind of flooring for a hospital’s needs, coefficient of friction is a common concern. Traffic patterns of patients, staff, and even visitors must be considered and tested. There are also requirements to be met for the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG). In order to meet the mandate of a static coefficient of friction of more than 0.6, most healthcare facilities must rely on dense, non-polished flooring. Thanks to the decades of experience and vendor relationships at our disposal, CIC has become a go-to resource for Miami healthcare facilities, including Jackson Memorial Hospital.

As the healthcare industry rapidly evolves, CIC is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation—remaining prepared to meet the requirements for doctor and patient safety alike. Well-designed spaces are crucial for functionality as well as patient recovery, and goes well beyond flooring choices. If you are a healthcare professional researching new design or renovation options for your facility, and are in need of a partner who understands the intricacies therein, please contact our team today.