A healthcare facility can make sure furnishings and materials support its infection prevention program by making choices that make keeping the environment clean as simple as possible, according to an article on the Health Facilities Maintenance website.

Healthcare furnishings must be able to withstand hospital-grade cleaning protocols and chemical, said Peggy Sonnenburg, Nemschoff Inc., the healthcare furniture company of Herman Miller Inc.

“For a surface to be disinfected, it has to be cleaned first,” said Mark Krejchi, from engineered surface manufacturer, Wilsonart. 

Krejchi called the three Ds of materials selection: disinfectability, durability and design. 

There is good science to indicate the environment plays an  important role in the healing process, Krejchi said.

For instance, it’s important that design teams select surfaces that are easily wiped down by facility staff. Wood, for example, typically is not ideal in high-risk spaces. It tends to be porous and its finishes can quickly be stripped away with repetitive cleanings. It’ll work for low-traffic areas like administrative offices, but not so much for patient rooms, according to a blog by Todd Imming, Chief Marketing Officer for The Korte Company.

Read the full Health Facilities Maintenance article.