Infection control is critical in healthcare environments to protect patients, visitors, and staff. Here Tim Checketts, head of Specification at dormakaba, discusses how the right door and access control solutions can help minimise the spread of germs, while still achieving the required accessibility, security, and safety.
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a serious issue for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Not only do they pose a risk to the health and life of patients, but they also have a significant impact on healthcare resources. Research published in 2019 suggests that while only a small proportion of all patients acquire a HCAI, it typically increases their stay in hospital by around nine days, and approximately one-fifth of all available bed-days in NHS hospitals in England are taken up by HCAI patients. The study also found that the cost of managing a patient with a HCAI is around three times higher compared with a patient without. In total these infections cost the NHS in England alone around £2.7 billion per year
Reducing the spread of the bacteria and viruses that cause these infections is thus critical for any healthcare organisation. One of the key elements in infection control is reducing transmission through contact with surfaces. As features of a building that are interacted with most, the correct choice of doors, hardware, and security components, has an important role in achieving this.
Low-contact door solutions
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