Medictur.ru
Chairs used in healthcare facilities need to meet the requirements of their intended setting and task. An ordinary chair is not automatically suitable for a medical procedure: its support, construction, upholstery and cleaning requirements all need to be considered.
Main types of medical chair
The original overview groups chairs for clinics into three main categories:
- Working chairs for clinical staff.
- Massage chairs.
- Blood donation chairs.
Each category includes different models, with variations in equipment, intended use and optional features. This is a practical grouping used in the article, rather than a complete formal classification of all healthcare seating.
Working chairs for staff
Working chairs are described as the most common medical chairs in healthcare facilities. They are used by staff, including doctors and nurses, rather than primarily as patient seating. Although they can look similar to office chairs, the demands of a clinical setting differ, particularly in relation to materials and upholstery.
The covering should be easy to clean and suitable for the facility’s cleaning and disinfection arrangements. The source describes long-lasting sterility as a desirable property, but ordinary chair surfaces do not remain sterile simply because they have been cleaned. CDC guidance on healthcare equipment distinguishes the disinfection of noncritical surfaces, including clinical chairs, from sterilisation.
The original article contrasts natural leather used on some office chairs with seamless synthetic coverings used on medical chairs. Similar coverings can be found on patient chairs and couches. The important consideration is the actual material’s cleanability and compatibility with the permitted products, rather than a blanket assumption that every synthetic covering is suitable. NHS guidance on infection control in healthcare buildings recommends easily cleanable, impermeable upholstery, preferably with no seams or with sealed joins.
Massage and blood donation chairs
Massage and blood donation chairs are intended for patients. Donation chairs provide support during blood collection. The source also describes chairs used for haemodialysis and cytostatic treatment, such as chemotherapy. Suitability for these longer treatments depends on the individual model’s intended use and configuration; a chair designed for blood donation is not automatically interchangeable with every therapy chair.
As an example of these different applications, LiKAMED’s therapy-chair range includes models for dialysis, oncology and blood donation. Additional components may be needed for particular uses, and manufacturers often supply accessories as options.
The massage models described in the overview have an elongated form, with sections positioned almost horizontally. They include supports for the head and legs, and many allow the position of individual sections to be adjusted. These are features of the models discussed, rather than a description of every product sold as a massage chair.
Seating for corridors and waiting areas
Another group includes chairs for waiting rooms and rest areas. These may be individual seats or linked seating units. The source describes practical, relatively inexpensive models with metal frames and synthetic-leather upholstery; specifications and cost vary between products.
A medical stool is presented as a versatile option, with a steel frame and a simple seat. It may provide seating for a clinician or be used for suitable brief procedures, including finger-prick blood sampling. The original article also mentions using a stool for massage when a dedicated chair is unavailable. Whether this is appropriate depends on the person’s support needs and the task; a stool does not offer the same positioning or support as a specialist chair.
Simple construction can make a stool easy to clean and maintain, which helps explain its usefulness in many clinics. Its suitability still depends on the actual design, condition and intended use, rather than on the assumption that it can be used for any short procedure without assessment.
Original source: Zaplata — Types and uses of chairs in healthcare facilities.
