Selecting Hospital Chairs for Optimal Patient Support and Safety
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Hospital chairs are easily one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment in healthcare settings.
Just considerâŚ
Patients sit for hours on end during treatment and recovery. Waiting rooms and lounge areas mean even more sitting time. The wrong chair can cause pain, pressure injuries and even disastrous falls.
But the good news?âŚ
Selecting the best hospital chairs for your facility doesn’t have to be so difficult. With just a few basic guidelines, any healthcare facility can make a huge difference in patient outcomes and safety.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Hospital Chairs Matter More Than You Think
- Essential Features Every Hospital Chair Should Have
- Types of Hospital Chairs and Their Uses
- Best Practices for Choosing Patient Chairs
- Maintenance and Care for Hospital Chairs
Why Hospital Chairs Matter More Than You Think
Here’s a stat that will blow your mindâŚ
Nearly 1 million patients fall every year in hospital facilities. These falls result in over 250,000 injuries and nearly 11,000 deaths annually.
A large number of these incidents occur when patients try to sit down or stand up. Slick surfaces, poor posture and inadequate seating all increase fall risk.
But here’s the dealâŚ
The proper hospital furniture can help prevent so many of these incidents. Hospital chairs with strong support features provide patients with stability when they need it most.
And it doesn’t end there.
Sitting improperly in inadequate chairs can cause pressure ulcers, muscle fatigue and longer recovery times. Patients who are in pain or discomfort from a bad chair are more likely to try to move around constantly.
This movement and readjustment drastically increases the risk of falls.
Essential Features Every Hospital Chair Should Have
If you’ve spent much time in hospitals, you know not all hospital chairs are created equal.
The difference between an average chair and one that will really help patients comes down to the features. Here are the must-haves when shopping for the best hospital chairs for patientsâŚ
Adjustability
Patients have a wide range of body types and abilities. A chair that is ideal for one patient may be unsafe for another.
The best chairs have options for:
- Seat height adjustment
- Armrest height and width
- Backrest reclining
- Footrest attachments
Adjustments allow staff to customize each chair to the patient.
Stability and Support
A solid frame is also a necessity. Hospital chairs must remain stable when patients are transferred on and off during mobility.
The best chairs have:
- Wide and stable bases
- Locking wheels or casters
- Anti-tip features
- Frames that support bariatric patients
Easy-Clean Materials
Infection control is always a top priority in a healthcare environment. Hospital chairs must have surfaces that can hold up to daily cleaning with harsh disinfectants.
Vinyl and antimicrobial fabric covers are common. They resist stains, repel fluids and don’t trap bacteria like fabric upholstery often does.
Types of Hospital Chairs and Their Uses
Learning about the different chair types will also help you make informed purchasing decisions.
Patient Room Chairs
Patient chairs and lounge chairs are for visitors and those patients who need to sit out of bed during recovery.
They should be comfortable for long periods of sitting, yet also easy to clean and move.
The best patient room chair has good lumbar support and armrests that support patients when they stand up.
Treatment Chairs
Treatment chairs are used for procedures such as dialysis, chemotherapy or blood transfusions.
These specialised chairs often include:
- Multiple reclining positions
- Built-in IV pole holders
- Extended comfort features
- Accessible side panels for easy patient access
Waiting Room Seating
Waiting rooms are the first area many patients see when they enter a hospital or clinic. Chairs in these areas need to strike a balance of comfort, durability and aesthetics.
Waiting room chairs often see the most use, so heavy-duty construction is key.
Bariatric Chairs
Standard chairs often cannot safely support larger patients. Bariatric hospital chairs have reinforced frames, wider seats and higher weight capacities.
The best bariatric chairs never make patients feel like an afterthought. All patients deserve safe and dignified seating options.
Riser Recliner Chairs
Riser recliners are specialised chairs for patients who have trouble sitting down or standing up by themselves.
The powered lift mechanism gently tilts the chair forward to reduce strain on joints and muscles during transfers. These chairs are often lifesavers for elderly patients or those recovering from surgery or injury.
Best Practices for Choosing Patient Chairs
Selecting hospital chairs involves many factors.
Start with the patient.
Think about the needs of the average patient. A children’s hospital has vastly different requirements than a geriatric care facility. An orthopaedic unit may have very different needs than other hospital areas.
Consider the care setting.
Location matters when it comes to hospital chairs. Chairs for treatment areas may have different features than those in waiting rooms. Chairs in high-traffic areas must also be more durable.
Factor in staff needs.
Hospital staff move and adjust these chairs all day. Chairs need to be lightweight enough to push around easily, yet remain stable when occupied.
One audit found that 85% of hospital chairs did not meet minimum safety requirements for older adults. That is why careful selection is so important.
Factor in total cost of ownership.
Cheaper chairs often end up costing more in the long run. They break down faster, require more maintenance and may need replacement earlier.
Quality hospital chairs can cost more initially, but often have better value over their life cycle. Durability, warranty coverage and expected lifespan should all factor into your comparisons.
Consider infection control capabilities.
Hospital chairs with seamless construction, for example, will resist bacteria better. Materials with antimicrobial properties help keep bacteria and viruses at bay. Ease of cleaning is also important.
Maintenance and Care for Hospital Chairs
Hospital chairs are only as good as their maintenance.
Regular inspection is key.
Staff should inspect chairs each week for:
- Loose bolts, screws or other hardware
- Damaged upholstery
- Wobbly legs or frames
- Adjustment mechanisms not working
Early detection can prevent accidents and prolong the life of your equipment.
Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Each material has its own cleaning requirements. Using the wrong products can damage surfaces and void warranties.
Most hospital chairs can tolerate typical healthcare disinfectants. However, double check compatibility before using any chemicals.
Set a replacement schedule.
No chair will last forever. Set standards for when chairs must be replaced. Worn padding, structural damage or persistent hygiene issues should all be flags.
Train staff on proper use.
Misuse is a common cause of chair issues. Train all staff on weight limits, adjustment procedures and safe transfer techniques.
Wrapping Things Up
Hospital chairs have a much bigger role to play in patient safety than most realise.
The right hospital chairs can:
- Reduce fall risk by a huge margin
- Increase patient comfort and recovery
- Support infection control measures
- Improve the overall patient care experience
Choosing the best hospital chairs for patients isn’t just about comfort and aesthetics. It’s about creating a safer healthcare environment where patients can heal and recover.
Here’s a stat for youâŚ
The chairs in a healthcare facility are an investment in patient outcomes. Each chair is an opportunity to either support patient safety or undermine it.
Make the investment worth it.
