The healthcare industry is diversifying and expanding to meet the rising demand for affordable, comprehensive medical services. Long-term care facilities are filling up to house patients who need months or years of aided recovery. As a result, giving comfort to patients is vital to ease their medical challenges.
While there are several ways to make patients feel at ease, ensuring they have personal space during their stay is essential. Hospital curtains are the most effective method for maintaining privacy and comfort because they create a private space that separates healthcare providers and personnel in various healthcare settings.
What Are Hospital Privacy Curtains?
Having privacy curtains at healthcare facilities and nursing homes is crucial for protecting the security of patients. A hospital curtain, also known as a cubicle curtain, is a type of partition material typically used to provide separate spaces. The cubicle curtains are generally made of naturally flame-retardant material and anti-microbial properties which hang on a track or other support.
Privacy curtains can be used for months unless there are stains or in a room where the patient was under contact confinement for an infection. Generally, there are two options for privacy curtains, disposable and reusable fabrics.
Disposable Curtains VS Reusable Curtains
For years, it took a lot of work for hospitals to decide whether or not to employ reusable curtains or disposable curtains in a healthcare environment. Due to an issue in the health sector with cubicle curtains getting contaminated with multiple strains of bacteria and viruses despite significant gains in medical hygiene.
Disposables
Disposable cubicle curtains are used more due to infection control concerns, but they must be changed regularly or after each patient. There is an initial cost saving, but with the ongoing and increasing cost to replace these disposable privacy curtains, they may not be as cost-effective as reusable options.
Recently, disposable curtains have raised hospital waste, and while many manufacturers offer recyclable products, most end up in general or clinical waste, which presents disposal costs.
Washed Fabric
Reusable privacy curtains are beneficial to a hospital setting as well. Cleaning lightly soiled material is considered more eco-friendly than disposable privacy curtains, despite the costly water bill.
While one can’t wash out some stains, a good quality reusable curtain can endure for up to ten years. The ongoing expenses associated with washable curtains depend on the individual institution’s policies. Also, the laundry cost of maintaining washable fabric curtains may be more expensive than a disposable curtain.
The Benefits Of Hospital Curtains
Privacy curtains play a crucial role in any healthcare facility. People may think they’re for privacy, and that’s an appropriate assumption. Fabric or disposable curtains serve much more than simply concealing patients’ identities. They can contribute to stopping the transmission of disease and making the hospital a cleaner, safer place to receive medical care.
How Often Should Hospital Curtains Be Changed?
If there aren’t many beds in the facility, the fabric partitions can be replaced less frequently, about every four weeks. Privacy curtains in hospitals are notorious for being a breeding ground for germs. An infrequently changed curtain can be a primary source of the spread of infection if it’s contaminated.
Alternatively, cleaning washable fabric should be done as needed, but no longer than every two weeks.
Cubicle Curtains Bring Patient Comfort
Due to infection rates, new viruses, handling, and staining, it’s difficult to determine the best alternatives: disposable cubicle curtains or washing reusable curtains for hospitals.
Overall, the better option for every unique healthcare facility will rely on their specific needs. But one thing is guaranteed, a privacy curtain is a solution and the most effective product that will provide healthcare establishments with avoiding cross-contamination, a clean environment, and patient security.
