The healthcare industry is an industry that is constantly undergoing changes. Discoveries are made every day: new diseases hit the population, and new treatments are tested. However, one thing remains constant and that is the need to keep medical offices sanitary for the health of patients and their caretakers. Carpet flooring is inappropriate in exam and operating rooms as it cannot be easily sanitized and washed clean in case of spills or splashes. Without a clean floor, patients are susceptible to infection during surgery or further infection if they are at the doctor for an illness or injury. Wood floors, while they can be wiped up, cannot withstand the heavy foot traffic or the heavy cleaning of medical offices or medical buildings.
So, what types of floors are appropriate for medical buildings? That depends on the type of medical procedures that will be performed there and the purpose of each room itself. Operating rooms have different needs than waiting rooms, and exam rooms different needs as well.
Exam room floors need to be able to be sanitized and cleaned up in case a patient gets sick. The requirements for flooring in exam rooms are not quite as stringent as those for operating rooms, or pre-op and post-op recovery areas, but they still need to be able to be cleaned easily and efficiently. For operating rooms and pre- or post-op care rooms, an aseptic, sterile environment is crucial to patients’ health. Operating rooms typically use sheet vinyl flooring or rubber sheet flooring, as they can be installed seamlessly. Seamless floors are essential to prevent the growth of pathogens in cracks and seams in operating theaters and emergency rooms.