The promise of lowering costs while creating better outcomes with greater patient satisfaction. For most in hospital leadership, that concept—the triple aim—remains the principal thought behind every decision.
Each goal is equally worthy but equally at odds in practice.
That’s a paradox.
Fortunately, when it comes to the question of selecting the right ergonomic seating for different hospital environments, the answers aren’t nearly as amorphous. In fact, they often sit comfortably side-by-side.
Starting a work-up of critical features
Common considerations include task duration, hygiene, and mobility but the specifics vary in every room, workstation, and procedure suite. Some users may face prolonged periods of sitting in static posture. Others may need the ability to rapidly adjust in given places where staff members share usage of the same chairs from shift-to-shift.
- Emergency Department (ER)/Trauma Bays. There may not always be a lot of cross-over in terms of what nurses, technicians, and attending physicians do for patients, but the fast pace of treatment does require the seating in place to be multi-task oriented. Hydraulic-height adjustment from a footring, 36o-degree swivel capability, and easy cleanability are the starting points.
- General Examination Rooms. Through the many processes of patient interaction and charting data, moderate periods of sustained use are the norm. So it stands to reason that contoured seat pans and adjustable height and lumbar support are vital to keeping clinicians at eye level with patients and within short reach of medical devices.
- Radiology, Endoscopy, and Respiratory Therapy Workstations. Long hours spent in front of the computer and/or the patients themselves require strong postural support functions to reduce musculoskeletal strain and fatigue. Foremost among them include fully adjustable seat height, depth, and tilt, as well as breathable mesh or medical-grade upholstery.
- Operating Rooms, ICUs, and Hematology Units. Patients depend on their anesthesiologists, surgeons, and assistants for precise, task-specific treatment; in turn, those professionals must rely on the chairs they use to do no harm. Look for seating that maintains spinal alignment during extended procedures while supporting forward-leaning posture.
- Front Desk, Admissions, and Billing/Coding Areas. Frequent but short patient interactions can be draining on staff members assigned to those jobs. So it’s particularly important that the chairs used don’t exact a toll of their own. Firm cushioning, adjustable armrests, and antimicrobial upholstery are must-haves for employees who carry a long list of must-dos.
Your registry for ergonomic quality. At BioFit, form meets function—especially when it comes to meeting the moment in medical facilities of every description.
Our flagship MVMT Pro Series heads the list. Options include weight-activated controls that automatically adjust to the user (alleviating the need to reset controls during shift changeovers), as well as a diverse choice of upholstery colors, finishes, and accessories.
Additional solutions by seating design can also be found in our Amherst, Elite, and Bridgeport lines. The former stands as a prime example of executive-style ergonomic support, complete with large backrests and broad, saddle-shaped seats for optimized performance; the second by versatility and configurability engineered for all-day comfort; and the latter series sporting a smaller trapezoid-shaped backrest that promotes dexterity while seated and general wellbeing.
In environments short of the need for seating with a backrest, but long on need for hands-free control, our Aramis (2A) and Aramis Vacuum Formed (2A-VF) stools make an ideal step-up for specifiers. The high-resilience foam cushion of seat maintains shape for superior aesthetics and ergonomic support—just what the doctor (and their assistants) ordered!
The triple aim is still the target.
We’ll help you find the range.
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