furniture


Money over matter


Healthcare furniture procurers need to think beyond budget to provide the very- best environments


H


ospitals need to have a more- realistic approach to procuring furniture in order to create the best


environment for patients, staff and visitors. This is the warning from manufacturer,


Allseating, which has seen sales of its range of health and care products soar by 30% in recent years. The increased interest in modern


furniture products reflects the shift towards less-clinical and more person- centred hospital design. But are healthcare providers creating


the healing environments they originally intended?


Price counts Michelle Crill, healthcare director at Allseating, has concerns. Speaking to hdm, she explained:


“Typically, furniture manufacturers get involved after a budget has already been decided, limiting the options that are available to them “Add to that the fact that new


healthcare buildings take several years to complete and during that time the furniture cost may fluctuate and new technology could become available. “Unfortunately, oftentimes the


end results does not match the initial design intent.” She added: “Information on residential


products is readily available, giving decision-makers an unrealistic idea of what healthcare products should cost. “When comparing cost, decision-


makers should keep in mind the unique innovations that influence the product’s price. “Important characteristics to look


out for are ease of cleaning, durability, safety, and functionality that provides increased comfort and control. “But budgets are often set early on,


which drives decision-making that is based on cost, rather than the best patient-centered solution for each environment.” For example, a hospital might want


10 recliners for patient rooms and have a budget of £1,500 per chair. But, in


healthcaredm.co.uk 47


reality these chairs cost £5,000 each. "In this case, where the budget is


restricted, it becomes a discussion about whether you reduce the number of recliners or select a less-appropriate solution", said Crill.


Lack of knowledge This approach means that hospitals are, in some cases, not acquiring appropriate furniture solutions for the facility and its patients, caregivers and families. And it’s the responsibility of


healthcare manufacturers to educate all parties involved in the decision-making process, said Crill. “I had a conversation with a client this


week who was interested in a bariatric chair, but without arms,” she said. “We explained bariatric patients


benefit from having arms available for both egress and ingress. These conversations are critical if the specifier doesn't fully understand the various needs of patients. “As we collaborate with healthcare


decision-makers it’s imperative we understand the role of each. “For example, facilities managers


might be more interested in durability, cleanability and replaceable components. Whereas procurement managers are required to stay within a budget, and caregivers are mindful of the comfort and safety of patients. “A caregiver really is the only one


who understands what that chair really needs to have, but the decisions are often driven by reasons that are not human centred.”


www.allseating.com A game-changer


With budgets and funding streams under scrutiny in this way, manufacturers increasingly have to come up with innovations to make procurement of the latest furniture products easier for healthcare operators. With this in mind, Medstrom has


recently launched its specialist equipment rental service, designed to remove all current barriers to accessing specialist furniture and equipment, including excessive delivery and collection charges, long minimum rental periods, inaccurate invoicing, a lack of management information, extended delivery lead- times, a lack of product training, and little-to-no clinical support. Medstrom Now guarantees


immediate access to equipment by ensuring products are always available on-site. Orders are placed online through a


bespoke ordering system and, once confirmed, a code is given to access the equipment. A range of specialist products are


available, including bariatric beds and surfaces, ultra-low beds, the Multicare specialist bed, and the unique Dolphin Therapy surface. Rachel Apsey, sales and marketing


director, said: “Medstrom Now has been developed to address all financial and non-financial challenges that healthcare providers may be experiencing with their existing rental service. "We believe this new service is


a real game changer.” www.medstrom.com


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