**** NOTE: Elkriz is a fictional company. ****

**** This is not a real product. ****

What are Fabric Privacy Curtains Doing to Your Patients?

Do you face the same problem that healthcare facilities worldwide face? Infections. Especially a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). You’re not alone in this fight.

What Would You Do?

Imagine that you’re the one in charge of a large healthcare facility. Despite your best efforts, HAIs run rampant. Your patients are getting new infections. But you don’t know why.

You need to find a solution fast. But first, you need to find the cause. You suspect HAIs are lingering in the patients’ rooms.

Once a room is vacated, it’s cleaned and sanitized. Or so you think. However, the problem persists. What could it be?

You then realize the only thing not cleaned is the curtains. And they’re not washed after each patient. That would be expensive and not practical.

You need to have the rooms ready quickly for the next patient.

You’ve read articles about HAIs. Then you think, are the fabric curtains the culprit? Maybe so. But you want proof.

Curtains are Dirty.

At least one country in Europe has said that curtains are “reservoirs of infection.”

A report from Denmark says that a curtain’s contamination is from:

Secretions from sneezes and coughs.
Touched with uncleaned hands.
Bodily excrements.
Blood.

All of these can harbor microbes that can survive for an extended time. Especially on the curtains. Microbes such as MERSA, VRE, C. difficile, norovirus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

As a result, some European countries have changed their requirements.

They now require new and renovated hospitals to use hard-surface patient privacy screens.

Do You Want More Proof?

In the United States, the National Institute of Health (NIH) looked into the HAI problem. Their report showed that curtains are a significant site of bacterial contamination.

When testing fabric curtains in nursing facilities, 40% were found to be contaminated.

Of the curtains tested, 12 (92%) showed contamination.

In another test, 41% of the curtains showed they were contaminated at least once. Of those, 21% had MERSA, and 42% had VRE contamination.

The American Journal of Infection Control also conducted a study. It showed 37% of hospitals launder privacy curtains only when they are visibly dirty.

According to the American Hospital Association™, in the U. S., there are:

6,093 hospitals.
913,136 staffed beds.
34,426,650 hospital admissions annually.

With the wide use of fabric curtains in U.S. hospitals, HAI transmissions are inevitable.

But are the patients the only ones at risk?

HAI Affects More Than Patients.

Anyone who enters the patient rooms is at risk of HAI. Including:

Medical staff (nurses, doctors, technicians, etc.).
Custodial (who picks up the trash, handles the curtains, etc.)
Others.

Elkriz Screens to the Rescue.

But now there’s a solution. Not only does it reduce HAIs, but it also lowers costs.

Presenting Elkri patient privacy panel screens.

Since the Elkriz privacy screens have a hard surface, they’re easy to clean. Much easier to clean than fabric curtains.

Elkriz panels can reduce the threat of HAI to patients and your staff.

A hospital test compared curtains to Elkriz screens. The Elkriz screens improved hygiene and reduced the HAI rate significantly.

The Elkriz screens don’t harbor microbes the way curtains do. What about moving them to another room?

Screens are Easy to Move.

Elkriz screens are movable from room to room.

They can also be arranged to fit around the equipment’s size and shape.

Elkriz screens can be mounted on a wall by using a wall rail or on a pole.

Plus, they’re expandable by adding panels.

With castors, Elkriz screens are easily moved to other rooms or departments.

The Elkriz-Click system makes the screens easier to rearrange, move, and change.

Benefits of Elkriz Screen Systems.

Changing from fabric curtains to solid Elkriz screens reduces the HAI rate.

Elkriz screens are very easy to clean and disinfect. Hospitals already have the cleaning and disinfecting supplies on hand. And it is done without needing to remove the screens from the room.

The castors are removable for easy cleaning and disinfection.

Elkriz Has Decorative Screens.

You have a choice of solid colors and graphics on the panels. Choose from:

Story panels.
Art panels.
Photo panel designs.
Clear panels for easy monitoring.

Elkriz panels can help boost morale. In both patients and staff.

Costs Less.

Fabric curtains have to be replaced more frequently than Elkriz panels.

The initial cost may be higher than that of fabric curtains. With the savings in cleaning and replacement costs, the screens cost much less over their lifespan.

With Elkriz privacy screens, there’s no need to pay a team to:

Remove the screens.
Transport to an off-site laundry service.
And then reinstall them.

Elkriz materials are durable and guaranteed for a life of up to 10 years.

How much has HAI cost your institution? In just legal fees in the past, present, and future?

Would you like to reduce your HAI rate? And save money at the same time?

If so, contact Elkriz to book a free demonstration now.

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**** NOTE: Elkriz is a fictional company. ****

**** This is not a real product. ****