The curtains used in healthcare facilities and GP practices serve numerous functions, including ensuring patient privacy, preventing the spread of illnesses, and fire retardation. Because of their different roles, they need to have qualities that make them suitable for use in these settings. You should look for these qualities when shopping for medical curtains.
The Type of Fabric
Medical curtains undergo heavy use depending on the setting. For this reason, the fabric they are made of should withstand such heavy use by being durable and strong. Additionally, these curtains should be strong enough to remain suspended from mounting racks for extended periods.
The fabric should also be hypoallergenic. Due to the massive number of people who visit the hospital, you need to ensure the curtain does not present any problems for them, and being hypoallergenic helps with this.
Lastly, it would be best if you also considered the thickness of the material. While it might seem like thicker materials are better for privacy, this notion does not apply in a hospital setting. Thicker and heavier fabrics are typically more absorbent than thinner and lighter ones, making them a breeding ground for allergens and pathogens.
Antimicrobial Properties
Medical curtains should never become breeding grounds for bacteria, so select medical curtains with antimicrobial properties. Curtains with these properties use materials and finishes that help them eliminate fungi, viruses, and bacteria. By killing these pathogens on contact, they ensure healthcare professionals do not transfer them from the curtains to their patients.
Some hospitals also choose disposable medical curtains with antimicrobial properties. Doing so makes for a more sterile environment because healthcare professionals can remove these disposable medical curtains as soon as they get soiled and hang new ones without wasting time.
Flame Resistance
Although not common in modern hospitals, the use of oxygen and other chemicals in healthcare settings poses a massive risk if a fire started. If the curtains are not flame resistant, they will become part of the fire's fuel, helping it spread and deal even more damage to the property.
Remember to leave enough space between them and the ceiling so your sprinklers work as expected in case of a fire.
Length
How long do you want the curtain to be? Many healthcare settings want curtains that run from the ceiling to as close to the floor as possible. Such curtains give patients the most privacy, whether undergoing a procedure or talking to their doctor.
Regardless of the curtain's length, it should never touch the ground. Most people do not acknowledge it, but floors carry a massive number and numerous types of pathogens, especially in healthcare settings.
Ease of Cleaning
If you decide not to go with disposable medical curtains, ensure the ones you pick are easy to clean. Staff should be able to wipe them down with a disinfectant regularly. When they take them down for cleaning, the process should be easy, and the curtains should ideally be machine washable.
Using the guidelines discussed above will help you pick medical curtains that are durable, sanitary, and safe for your patients. Ensure the curtains you choose provide enough patient privacy and are easy to handle, especially when cleaning them.
