What Qualities to Look for in Medical Curtains
If you work in the medical profession, you will know that medical curtains are one of the most commonly used items you need within your setting. Even though they’re not used for diagnosis or treatment, they help patients maintain their privacy and dignity at a time that is possibly a huge struggle for them.
If you’re not sure what features and qualities are best to look for when it comes to medical curtains, this article aims to teach you exactly what factors you need to account for.
Disposable Curtains
Many may assume that the medical curtains they see in hospitals or medical practices are used all the time. However, hospitals usually use disposable curtainsas a way of preventing infection from occurring and maintaining hygiene. In an environment where people are ill, the last thing anyone needs is for more diseases to go around.
It’s also important for medical curtains to be disposable becausevarious bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit, can get on the curtains. In some cases, you can get machine-washable curtains; however, to ensure any bacteria or viruses aren’t still left over, it’s probably best to get disposable curtains for added peace of mind.
Sizing
Due to the varying size of cubicles and rooms – from floor to ceiling and the width of the room – it is important you ensure you get the right size curtain. Failure to do this may result in ill-fitting curtains with gaps in between, which means a lack of dignity for the patient.
For example, if you buy medical curtains for a room and its width isn’t long enough, other patients and staff will be able to see the patient when all they want is privacy. The same will happen if the curtain doesn’t go all the way from the floor to the ceiling; even though other people may only be able to see the bottoms of a patient’s legs in the room or cubicle, it is still somewhat an invasion of privacy, and it’s best for everyone involved if the curtains are the right size.
Fabric
Fabric is another element of hospital curtains that many people fail to consider. As already mentioned, hospitals have a lot of bacteria and viruses going around them, so the curtains should be able to help stop the spread of illnesses and diseases.
This can be done by ensuring your hospital or medical practice has anti-microbial curtains. Not only will this reduce the risk of the spread of infection around the hospital or medical practice, but it will also add an extra layer of protection for both patients and staff.
Curtain Tracks
Curtain fabric, size, and quality are important to check, but so are the right curtain tracks. Many hospitals, or even rooms and cubicles within hospitals, are completely different shapes and sizes, so you must get the right size and shape. If you don’t, even if you have the right size medical curtains, the curtain still won’t be able to fit the room or cubicle, and the patient won’t have the privacy they deserve.
