The Unseen Power of Polymers for Healthcare Interiors

These days it seems we are all seeking workplace equipment that blend aesthetics with optimal performance and durability. In healthcare environments, this challenge is amplified by stringent demands for hygiene and patient well-being. This is where polymers, often overlooked in favor of more "traditional" materials, are revolutionizing the landscape of healthcare equipment and furniture by offering unparalleled advantages to both functionality and the overall design narrative.

Forget the sterile, purely utilitarian image you might carry of polymer healthcare equipment. Today’s medical-grade polymers are sophisticated materials engineered to meet the unique challenges of healthcare while offering a surprising degree of design flexibility.

Let’s explore why these versatile materials are becoming indispensable for forward-thinking healthcare design with examples from Metro®, an industry leader in the manufacture of equipment used in healthcare.

The Designer's Edge: Why Polymers Excel in Healthcare Equipment

Polymers are not a substitute; they are an upgrade. For interior designers focusing on healthcare, the benefits of polymer translate directly into a more functional, aesthetically pleasing, and ultimately, healing environment. Here is how:

• Hygiene as a Design Principle: This is paramount. Polymers, by nature, are non-porous and can be molded into seamless forms, eliminating the microscopic crevices where bacteria and viruses thrive. Many advanced polymers, like those used by Metro, are infused with antimicrobial product protection during manufacturing. This is not a coating that wears off; it is integrated, actively inhibiting microbial growth between cleanings. For designers, this means you are recommending surfaces that actively contribute to infection control.
  
  
• Unrivaled Durability and Reduced Maintenance: Healthcare facilities are high-traffic, high-impact zones. Unlike painted metals that can chip, scratch, and corrode, medical-grade polymers are incredibly resilient. They resist dents, peeling, and reaction to the harsh chemicals found in hospital-grade disinfectants. This translates to furniture and equipment that looks newer for longer, thereby reducing the need for costly replacements to maintain your design's integrity over time. Less wear and tear also means less visual clutter and a more consistently appealing space.
  
  
• Lightweight for Improved Workflow & Ergonomics: Imagine a nurse effortlessly maneuvering a fully loaded medical cart – it is a beautiful sight, isn’t it? Polymers deliver significant strength with remarkable lightness. This not only eases the physical burden on healthcare staff and contributes to a better working environment, but it also allows for more flexible design and quicker reconfiguration of spaces as patient needs evolve. From a design perspective, lighter elements can also contribute to a less imposing and more welcoming atmosphere.
  
  
• Design Versatility & Aesthetic Potential: Today’s polymer technology offers an array of colors, textures, and finishes. Unlike the limited palette of some traditional materials, polymers can be pigmented throughout, ensuring color consistency even when scratched. Polymers can mimic other materials or stand on their own with a clean, contemporary aesthetic. This opens a world of possibilities for creating comforting, calming, or vibrant spaces that move beyond the clinical feel.
  
  
• Corrosion Resistance: A Hidden Gem: In environments with frequent spills, bodily fluids, and aggressive cleaning agents, corrosion is a constant threat to metal components. Polymers are inherently resistant to rust and chemical degradation which helps ensure the longevity and structural integrity of furniture and equipment. This resistance also offers a wider range of placement options for polymer-based healthcare equipment, including in traditionally "wet" areas.

Polymer in Practice: Metro's Healthcare Equipment Innovations

Metro has harnessed the power of polymers to create innovative medical equipment solutions that align perfectly with the evolving demands of healthcare design.

Mobile Medical Carts - Metro FlexLine® Carts, Lifeline® Carts® and Starsys® Carts

Here’s why polymer construction is the new go-to for medical carts:

Integrated Hygiene: The smooth, seamless surfaces of Metro's polymer carts, with antimicrobial product protection built-in, are incredibly easy to clean and sanitize. This simplifies maintenance for staff and offers visual reassurance of cleanliness, a key design consideration for patient perception.

Design Cohesion: Available in assorted colors, these polymer carts can be customized to complement a facility's established color scheme, a welcome break away from the traditional metallic look. Their clean lines and uncluttered aesthetic improve the overall visual appeal of patient rooms, corridors, and treatment areas.

Silent Mobility: Polymer casters and lightweight construction reduce noise which contributes to a quieter, more peaceful healing environment – a subtle but powerful design impact.

Shop CME Corp. for Metro Polymer Medical Carts

Shelving Systems - MetroMax® Shelving Series

Here’s why polymer construction is the new go-to for the often overlooked but critical need for organized and efficient healthcare supply space:

Visual Lightness & Openness: Unlike bulky wire or solid metal shelving, MetroMax polymer shelving, particularly the open grid designs, offers a lighter visual footprint. This can contribute to a sense of calm by making sterile processing areas, supply rooms, and even patient care areas feel less cluttered and more spacious.

Uncompromising Cleanliness: Removable polymer shelf mats are a dream for maintenance, allowing for quick, thorough cleaning. The commitment to hygiene is visually evident to patients and staff alike as well as fostering a sense of trust and order. From a design perspective, a visibly clean environment is inherently more appealing.

Corrosion-Free Aesthetic: Polymer posts and shelves eliminate concerns about rust and corrosion compromising the integrity of the shelving, even in high-moisture areas like sterile storage or wash-down zones.

Learn more: Advantages of Polymer Shelving in Sterile Processing Departments

Specialty Cabinets & Storage Solutions - Starsys® Cabinets

Here’s why polymer construction is the new go-to for specialized cabinets that typically house essential supplies and medications requiring security and a cohesive aesthetic.

Integrated Design Elements: Polymer construction offers sleek, integrated designs with full extension drawers and customizable configurations for a more refined and less institutional feel. The option to choose colors and finishes allows these functional pieces to blend seamlessly into the environment.

Acoustic Benefits: Polymers inherently absorb sound better than rigid metals and are the material of choice for quieter environments such as medication preparation or supply retrieval areas. This subtle acoustic dampening can help improve patient and staff experience.

Future-Proofing the Interior: By recommending polymer solutions, designers are selecting materials that are inherently adaptable to future advancements in hygiene protocols and technology.

Shop CME Corp for Starsys Supply Cabinets

Workstations – Starsys® Workstations

Here’s why polymer construction is the new go-to for stationary and mobile workstations.

Durability and Resilience: Constructed of a robust polymer that resists chipping, scratching, and denting, polymer workstations offer a longer service life compared to traditional laminated wood or painted metal workstations.

Easy Cleaning and Infection Control: Polymer workstations answer the call for infection control with non-porous, seamless surfaces, antimicrobial protection on high touch surfaces, chemical resistance, and easily removable or accessible parts for thorough cleaning.

Modularity and Adaptability: Starsys workstations are easily reconfigured to optimize space or meet evolving needs with a wide range of compatible components including stationary and mobile work centers, wall cabinets, and freestanding cabinets equipped with drawers and shelves.

Ergonomics: By design, the Starsys workstations offer easy access to supplies and equipment, ADA compliant kneehole options, and are constructed of lightweight polymer.

Aesthetics & Patient-Centered Design: With atmosphere and visual appeal top of mind these days for patient and staff comfort, polymer workstations are the go-to solution for a less clinical healthcare environment. Choose from a wide pallet of calming colors, integrated lighting, and minimalist design for uncluttered efficiency.

Shop CME Corp for Starsys Workstations

For the interior designer focused on healthcare environments, understanding and embracing the power of polymers is no longer a choice, but a necessity. These materials offer the required blend of advanced functionality, uncompromising hygiene, and surprising aesthetic versatility. By considering polymer-based equipment and furniture from manufacturers like Metro, you are not just recommending products; you are crafting spaces that actively contribute to better patient outcomes, improve staff efficiency, and create environments that are truly designed for health and healing.

Partner with CME Corp. for Polymer Healthcare Equipment by Metro.

CME Corp. and Metro have a long-standing history and relationship – over twenty-five years! Our account managers and CAD designers can work with you to lay out the all-important supply areas for optimal storage as well as equip staff and patient spaces for workflow efficiency and comfort.

In-house delivery and installation teams will ensure your Metro healthcare equipment is delivered and installed in it is service location when it is convenient for you and your patients.

CME Corp. is your one-stop shop for polymer healthcare equipment by Metro.

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About Metro: For over 95 years, Metro has been the world's leading manufacturer of storage and transport equipment. From our innovative wire and polymer shelving lines to the revolutionary Starsys® product line, and a broad range of healthcare cart solutions including the Lifeline emergency cart, Flexline® procedure carts and Lionville series medication carts, Metro puts space to work in healthcare facilities everywhere.

About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers. With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.