Cold and flu season is here, again, and that means bracing for an influx of coughing, sneezing, and sniffles. But while patients might treat these symptoms as a seasonal inconvenience, healthcare facilities know better: flu season can quickly escalate into a public health challenge. According to the CDC, the annual flu season typically leads to millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year. In fact, during the 2022-2023 flu season, there were an estimated 26 million illnesses, 290,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths related to the flu1.
While flu vaccines remain essential, there’s another tool in your infection prevention arsenal: hygiene stations. And as we face another cold and flu season, now’s the perfect time to assess whether your current hygiene stations are still up to the task. Spoiler alert: if you installed them during the pandemic, it might be time for an upgrade.
In healthcare environments, germs have the potential to spread rapidly. Respiratory droplets containing viruses can land on surfaces and stay there for hours, creating multiple touchpoints for cross-contamination. To minimize this, proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are crucial. This is where hygiene stations prove themselves invaluable.
Placed strategically in high-traffic areas, these stations remind everyone—staff, patients, and visitors alike—of the importance of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. The more accessible and visible hygiene supplies are, the more likely they’ll be used, stopping germs before they spread further into your facility.
You might be wondering, "Do we really need new hygiene stations?" While it’s tempting to hold onto them, the reality is that high-traffic use over the past few years has probably taken a toll. Bowman® hygiene stations, with their thoughtful design and quality construction, are worth the upgrade. Here’s why:
Healthcare settings are demanding environments. Between high traffic and frequent use, your hygiene stations must stand up to daily wear and tear. Bowman® Hygiene Stations are built to last, featuring high-quality materials that resist damage and are easy to clean. That means your facility can maintain a professional look, even during the busiest seasons.
Bowman Hygiene Stations, available in locking and non-locking models, do more than just hold supplies—they help keep your space looking neat and professional. With everything in its place, you avoid the clutter of random bottles and boxes scattered around. A clean, organized setup shows patients that your facility takes infection control seriously, creating a welcoming and reassuring environment.
Infection control only works if people participate. Bowman Hygiene Stations make it easy for patients and staff to comply with best practices by keeping supplies organized and accessible. With everything from hand sanitizer to masks in one place, it’s convenient to stop, sanitize, and move on—without the need for constant reminders.
Remember when you last upgraded your hygiene stations? Odds are, it was during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when infection control became a top priority across the country. But those stations have likely seen better days. After years of constant use, it's time to reevaluate whether your equipment is still up to the task of handling the challenges of cold and flu season.
Healthcare facilities need to stay one step ahead, especially with flu season potentially co-circulating with other respiratory viruses. Your hygiene stations, which have been worked to the bone since 2020, might not be holding up as well as you think. Cracked, worn-out, or outdated stations can send the wrong message. They may no longer inspire confidence or compliance from staff and patients.
Replacing your hygiene stations with Bowman options ensures that your facility remains prepared and protected for whatever comes your way. Additionally, they offer an easy solution to keeping essential supplies accessible, organized, and easy to use—without compromising on durability or aesthetics.
Keep Your Facility Germ-Free This Season
Cold and flu season is an annual event, and the stakes are always high. Millions of flu-related illnesses occur each year, making it essential for healthcare facilities to remain vigilant. Bowman hygiene stations offer a durable, reliable, and highly effective way to keep germs at bay while maintaining a clean, safe environment for patients and staff alike.
So, as the next round of sneezes and sniffles rolls in, take a moment to assess your infection control tools. If your hygiene stations are still holding on from 2020, it’s time for an upgrade. Investing in Bowman hygiene stations ensures your facility is fully equipped to handle the challenges of cold and flu season, now and in the years to come.
CME is your go-to, one-stop-shop for Bowman® hygiene stations. We have a long-standing relationship with Bowman® and can work with you to find the best respiratory hygiene stations for your healthcare facility and staff.
Our Direct-to-Site services assure hygiene station are delivered and installed when and where it is convenient for you.
About Bowman: Founded in 1971 and a member of the Marketlab family of brands since 2020, BOWMAN® Dispensers is an internationally recognized ISO 9001:2015 designer and producer of premier storage and dispensing solutions. Attentive to innovation and superior end-user experience, BOWMAN® has introduced over 300 products designed to store and dispense personal protective equipment and supplies
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.