By Healthcare Facilities Today

There are countless factors — from infection control to maintainability — for product selection to create comfortable healthcare spaces for patients and staff. According to an article on the Healthcare Design magazine website, behavioral health facilities have issues of durability and safety not required in most other healthcare settings

Because patients at behavioral health facilities are often at risk of harming themselves or others, it’s important to make determinations about every aspect of building design and maintenance based on the potential risk, the article said.

"Coat hooks, grab bars, toilets, showerheads, or wardrobes need to be anti-ligature to prevent patients from trying to hang themselves. Furniture needs to be secured in place so it can’t be thrown or moved to block doorways, and must be free of sharp points, screws, and hidden pieces of wood that can be turned into weapons. Even maintenance items such as plastic trash liners can become a suffocation hazard for suicide-risk patients," the article said.

Also, beyond regular wear and tear, behavioral health patients might try to destroy furniture or finishes by slamming doors, kicking walls, throwing furniture, and puncturing fabrics.

Once a better understanding of the safety needs and features is established, it’s time to look at specific products for behavioral health facilities, the article said. 

Read the article.