Maximising patient safety, comfort and recovery is always a high priority in a hospital setting. In the past, hospitals and clinics have merely relied on curtains as their privacy solution. But in 2021, relying solely on curtains to achieve patient privacy in a hospital is not the best choice.
Switchable glass, also known as smart glass or privacy glass, has been installed in countless hospitals recently. There are plenty of applications for switchable glass in hospitals, including consultation rooms, ICU rooms, emergency rooms, hermetic doors, operating room/theatre, laser surgery theatre and nurseries/neonatal ward. But why should you make the switch to switchable glass in your hospital? Read on to learn why your hospital needs switchable glass.
Reduce dust and bacteria
Curtains are notorious for harbouring dust and bacteria. While this is a mild concern in the domestic home, it’s particularly worrying in hospitals – especially since the emergence of COVID-19. Privacy curtains store bacteria at concerning rates because they are frequently touched and infrequently changed. In fact, a small study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found that curtains can quickly become ridden with harmful bacteria, including the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), within just 14 days after cleaning.
In stark contrast to curtains, switchable glass is a hygienic, low maintenance alternative. Instead of having to swap and wash hospital curtains constantly, switchable glass simply needs to be cleaned with a non-abrasive window cleaner. The ease of cleaning makes switchable glass the preferred choice to maximise hygiene in hospital and clinic settings.
Optimal privacy
Curtains lack the complete privacy that comes with switchable glass, as they can leave gaps when they are not drawn properly. When patients are in the hospital, they’re already vulnerable; and feeling exposed at your most vulnerable doesn’t help with patient comfort. Switchable glass provides optimum privacy in hospital settings. At the flick of a switch, the glass switches from transparent to opaque, with no gaps in privacy whatsoever. Plus, if the power was to cut out, switchable glass reverts to its opaque state, ensuring the dignity of your patients at all times. With optimum patient privacy, this reduces patient stress, promoting steady recovery.
Reduced noise
Another way to reduce patient stress is through reducing noise. With quiet patient rooms, you can help your patients sleep and reduce their stress levels. Switchable glass instead of curtains helps decrease noise levels and increases patient comfort, promoting recovery. This is especially relevant when laminated smart glass is used.
Exposure to natural light
Natural light is known to have many benefits to our overall health, wellbeing and happiness. Patient rooms that include windows made with switchable glass allow natural light to flood the space during the day. When the patient desires privacy or darkness for sleeping, all they need to do is flick the switch off to restore the privacy glass to opaque. If a patient is bed-ridden, or has difficulty moving, switchable glass lets them control the natural lighting in their room without having to rely on the assistance of a nurse or visitor.
Patient monitoring
To enhance productivity when monitoring patients, nurses can check on patients at the flick of a switch with a switchable glass. It’s also an incredibly safe and hygienic solution for patient monitoring where the patient in question is being treated under isolation.
Projector screen
Yet another plus to installing smart glass in hospitals and clinics is that it can double up as a projector screen. This is incredibly useful in that it can assist with education in hospitals teaching students, it can help with performing diagnoses, and can be used for practically any display purpose required.
Improve the patient hospital experience with Polyvision Switchable Glass
Our Polyvision Switchable Glass can be installed as a wall, dividers, windows and pretty much anything else you can think of. We’ve installed privacy glass in a range of hospitals across Australia, who have benefited from the increased hygiene, privacy and patient comfort that comes with smart glass. If you’d like to learn more about how Polyvision Switchable Glass can be used in your business or home, chat with the team today.
