A Guide to Painting Healthcare Facilities
It takes a special skill set to work in occupied spaces and get it right, fast and efficiently. Those tasked with painting healthcare facilities need to keep these tips and best practices in mind. Still, ultimately the best way to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff is by hiring professional commercial painters.
Let’s face it: A hospital or doctor’s office is the last place any of us want to be, and many patients will judge a provider’s care based on the facility’s appearance. Dingy, drab walls, a cold aesthetic, and poor indoor air quality can all be detrimental to the reputation of your medical practice.
To get the job done right means as much minor disruption as possible. It takes true professionals who are skilled in their craft and trained to be cognizant of the customer’s needs.
Focus on Safety
Painting the interior of a healthcare facility — or any commercial facility — is generally a multi-phase process that starts with planning. All safety hazards of the painting process need to be clearly communicated to staff before any work starts. The painted areas need to be isolated from patients due to the inherent risk and danger to already-compromised patients.
Choose the Right Finish
Healthcare facilities get much more consistent and rigorous cleaning and sanitization than other commercial buildings, which means you should choose a paint that holds up. Gloss or semi-gloss finishes are much easier to clean and don’t show defects like scratches or dings as easily. Some paint manufacturers also carry lines of antimicrobial finishes designed specifically for use in medical facilities.
Tap Into Color Theory
In places like doctors’ offices and hospitals, well-being is of utmost importance and extends into the colors of paint you choose for interior wall surfaces.
- Blue stimulates the mind and boosts productivity. It can help keep employees focused when performing repetitive, automated tasks.
- Red invokes a sense of urgency and can stimulate energy levels to help combat fatigue.
- Yellow is a great choice for healing settings, as it can stimulate emotions, evokes happiness, and brighten spirits.
- Green promotes balance, calmness, and reassurance. These are all great moods for offices in the finance industry.
Schedule Accordingly
The key to painting healthcare facilities is to avoid its impact on patients, employees, and guests. Work with a commercial painting contractor that can paint on nights, weekends, or even holidays — especially if it means avoiding disruption to normal caregiving hours.
Address Ventilation Concerns
Now more than ever, indoor air quality is top-of-mind for healthcare facility managers. If debris and fumes from the painting project enter the ventilation system, the impact could be felt on everyone in the building. Ensure that major systems are being protected as the painting continues and even into the post-painting cleanup process.
Know the Signs
Even with the most robust maintenance schedule, healthcare facilities can see normal wear and tear that will eventually lead to the need for new interior paint. Consider some of these signs:
- Rooting happens when moisture in walls and floors contributes to fungus growth and can cause painted surfaces to crack or split.
- Chalking happens to old paint over time and can leave a chalky residue when you run your hand across the surface.
- Black dots on the paint surface could be symptomatic of mold or mildew growth and can be highly dangerous for patients if not remediated.
- Regulatory changes may also prompt you to need new interior paint to comply with local or industry regulations.
- Spaces repurposed into medical facilities may also need interior painting to better fit how the property will be used going forward.
The right paint choice can improve mental well-being, help boost indoor air quality, and improve wayfinding and navigation for patients and providers, among other numerous benefits. All of these can vastly increase patient satisfaction, which will then help your healthcare facility score high marks and make patients loyal to your providers. This is increasingly important when there’s a growing competitive market and the ability for patients to choose where they can receive healthcare.
Before choosing just any paint for your hospital or healthcare facility, consult a team of commercial painters with experience in this industry. We have the tools and resources to understand how to complete your healthcare facility painting project on time and on budget while following health and safety guidelines. Contact us today to get started!
