Pick the Right Set of Chairs for a Medical Institution: A How-to Guide
- Families
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- UPDATED February 24, 2025
by Tasha Mayberry
868 shares
Hygienic
Durability
Durability is essential, no matter what type of medical institution you are buying chairs for. If you don’t prioritize durability, you could end up buying furniture that falls apart or breaks when it is sat on. If somebody hurts themselves because a chair you bought broke when they sat on it, they could take legal action against you. The last thing you want is to have to deal with a lawsuit because somebody injured themselves in your waiting room.
Comfort
Comfort is one of the main qualities to look for in furniture being used in a medical institution. It is essential that you buy the most comfortable furniture you can. Don’t make the mistake of skipping over comfort. If you are buying chairs for a waiting room, the chances are that people will have to spend long hours sitting on them. If they are not comfortable, this could cause health problems or stop them from ever wanting to come back.
Mobility
When you are buying chairs for a medical institution, you need to remember that many of the people who visit will suffer from disabilities and health problems. Because of this, you need to buy chairs with adjustable heights. This will make it easier for people who can’t move around as easily to make themselves comfortable. It will also make accidents a lot less likely.
Armrests
Armrests are not mandatory, but they are a good idea if you are buying chairs for a waiting room. People sometimes have to sit in hospital waiting rooms for upwards of eight or nine hours. If the chairs you buy do not have armrests, then they could end up feeling very uncomfortable. Armrests are standard on most waiting room chairs, so make sure that the ones you buy have them.
Weight
The chairs you buy need to be able to support people of all weights. The last thing you want is for people who are considered overweight to be made to feel uncomfortable. If the chairs you buy cannot support them, they are guaranteed to walk away from appointments at your surgery or hospital feeling unhappy.
Fire-resistance
Fire resistance is another important quality to look for. If the furniture you buy is not fire-resistant, in the event a fire breaks out, it could be consumed by it, and this could add fuel to the fire. Fire-resistant furniture is fortunately widely available, so you should not have a hard time finding it. Simply get in touch with your chosen retailer and ask them to send you links to all of their fire-resistant hospital furniture.
Smooth Edges
Smooth edges are important. As mentioned above, if someone injures themselves on one of your chairs because it collapses, they could take legal action against you. The same is true if they cut themselves because it has sharp edges. If somebody cuts themselves in your medical institution, this could be considered a biohazard. It is therefore your responsibility to do everything you can to make sure that no such accidents occur.
Neutral Colours
Try to buy chairs that are painted in neutral colors. This is so that they are not too distracting. Chairs that are too colorful can give your medical institution a playful appearance, which is not what you want unless you are decorating a pediatrics ward. Neutrally-colored furniture should not be hard to find. In fact, it tends to be the norm.
Test Chairs
Before you buy chairs, make sure you test them. Testing them will give you an opportunity to decide whether they are right for you or not. You will usually need to visit a retailer’s showroom in order to test their chairs. Make sure you test each and every chair you are considering buying so that you can identify any flaws or faults they have.
Stackability
Stackability is ideal, but not essential. Stackability is only a quality you really need to look for in chairs that are going to go inside classrooms or offices. You only usually stack chairs if you are trying to make space for activities, which is not typical in a doctor’s surgery’s waiting room. Still, if you think stackability is going to be beneficial, by all means, find chairs that are.
Reclining Features
Reclining features are necessary on chairs in long-term wards. This is because you want patients to be as comfortable as possible. It isn’t usually essential to have chairs that recline in waiting rooms or an ER department, though. This is because patients are usually only in them for short periods of time. Reclining chairs are also more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
Warranty
Finally, make sure that the chairs you buy come with warranties. Warranties make it possible for you to get chairs repaired or replaced for free if they break prematurely. Most chairs do come with warranties but try to get the most attractive warranty plans you can. You can find out what a retailer’s warranties are like by getting in touch with their customer support department and asking directly.
Picking the right set of chairs for a medical institution can be difficult. Just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it is impossible, though. You can use the guidance given here to find the right chairs. Always read a retailer’s reviews before you buy their products, so you can be sure they are worth working with.