Commercial Restroom Reflections: Considerations in Healthcare Design

Restrooms in healthcare environments come with a very unique set of considerations—they must cater to individuals with special needs, ensure optimal hygiene for patients, be optimized for those with behavioral health concerns, and more.

We spoke with Mary Phelps, a 40-year industry veteran, healthcare leader, and Sloan’s manager of strategic accounts, about Sloan’s innovation in this space and its importance in supporting patients and healthcare professionals alike.

How do Sloan's offerings enhance infection control measures in healthcare facilities, and what innovations set them apart from competitors? 

Ease of use and sensor operation are big differentiators in healthcare facilities. These aspects are important for a wide range of patients, whether they lack the strength to flush a toilet handle or turn on a faucet, or if they have a physical disability. For individuals in wheelchairs, they need to be able to approach the lavatory from their chair and put their hands under the faucet, which is why Sloan prioritizes its open front sinks (Designer Series™ Open Front or SloanStone® Arrowhead) in healthcare environments.

Self-guided handwashing faucets are critically important as well. I recall a healthcare system in Houston that was having issues with parents going into the NICU and the PICU to see their babies without going through the required proper handwashing protocols. As a result, Sloan installed guided handwashing faucets that provide a walkthrough on a CDC-approved handwashing process. This proved to be hugely beneficial, helping reduce germs and bacteria. 

Healthcare facilities still face problems with Legionella. To avoid this, they need to have their systems set to the proper temperature and can’t have standing water in faucets, flush valves or plumbing system’s piping. The ability to purge faucets every 12 to 24 hours is important to avoid bacteria from growing and spreading.

How do Sloan products incorporate inclusive design principles to ensure accessibility and comfort for all users, including those with special needs?

Multi-laminar faucets are required in healthcare environments and are also crucial for ensuring accessibility for those with a disability. With water being one of the largest carriers of germs and bacteria, multi-laminar flow faucet aerators are important in order to minimize splash back. Additionally, if the faucet is mounted in a way that the water flow will be directly onto the drain, that's going to cause splash back onto the user, so to avoid that, the faucet aerator should be in front of the drain instead of directly over it.

Obviously, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a huge problem in healthcare environments, so the most important thing is handwashing. Sloan’s mobile handwashing units can be placed in strategic areas—elevator banks, escalators, food courts, and more—to promote proper hygiene on the go.

What unique features do Sloan's products offer to help minimize slip and fall incidents in healthcare facilities, particularly in high-traffic areas?

Sloan’s AER-DEC® Integrated Sink Systems with faucets, soap dispensers, and HEPA-filtered hand dryers all within arm’s reach help to minimize the potential for slip and falls, which are a huge problem in healthcare and the number 1 lawsuit in class A office buildings. 

There are a lot of healthcare facilities that will not allow hand dryers and instead want to use paper towels due to the airborne particulates from hand dryers. With that in mind, we encourage the placement of paper towels to be right at the sink if you're not going to use a deck-mounted hand dryer. 

The angle of the sink itself is also very important. With open front sinks, facility managers will want to make sure that the sink is installed correctly at the right angle, so water doesn't splash back and out into the room. 

How do Sloan products improve maintenance efficiency for facility managers, and what specific technologies contribute to reduced downtime?

Bluetooth and Internet of Things (IoT) innovation really help from a facility maintenance perspective to ensure water isn’t being wasted. For instance, if a faucet or flush valve is constantly running, the technology will notify the maintenance team to proactively make repairs.

In terms of keeping fixtures cleaner to support maintenance, SloanTec® is a hydrophobic and oleophobic glaze for vitreous China fixtures to help keep them from harboring germs and bacteria. This not only makes fixtures easier to clean but keeps them cleaner for longer.

A lot of facilities opt for manual vs. sensor-based products due to the cost differential. If that’s the case, manual flushometers can be supported by installing copper handles, which reduce the amount of antimicrobial germs and bacteria that come along with manual valves. The copper properties of the handle can inhibit germ growth.

Sloan uses PVD finishes on its faucets and flush valves that adhere to the fixture and last longer and are more durable than a powder or epoxy coat. These PVD finishes not only provide aesthetic appeal in a variety of colors such as graphite, brushed nickel, polished brass, and more; they also can withstand harsh cleaning that is required in healthcare environments.

What other special considerations need to be made uniquely for healthcare environments?

Often, healthcare facilities, especially behavioral health facilities, need to install ligature-resistant products. Depending on the type of product, they must either be concealed in the wall or for water closets go all the way back to the wall with no gaps. This is important for shower heads, flushometers, lavatories, toilets, and other restroom fixtures.

Bariatric applications are another important consideration. Which require floor-mount products that can accommodate up to 2,000 pounds of static load-bearing weight. 

What is the next step in healthcare restroom innovation?

IoT and building maintenance systems certainly play a role in the effort to help facilities control water. From a fixture perspective, ICU (intensive care unit) sinks can help to control the splashing of water in ICU areas.

From a design perspective, healthcare facilities are getting away from institutional looks in patient rooms and moving to a more home-like feel. For example, in children’s hospitals, bright colors with fun elements on the wall are used to help keep kids happy, and the same concept is now happening with geriatric patients. Elderly individuals are living longer, and if they have to be away from home, they want to be in a healthcare environment that feels more like home and is more comfortable for them.