After conducting research and testing, the hospital selected nora flooring for their corridors, sterile areas between ORs, nurses stations, patient rooms, labs and closets. Don Stichter, vice president of facilities, says, “I considered many different floors, attended seminars, talked to various vendors, etc. Eventually, the hospital tested nora. Environmental Services appreciated the slip-resistant properties of the flooring, and housekeeping was interested in how easy it is to clean. Also, a simple routine means it’s easier to train new cleaning staff”.
Other considerations included comfort and acoustics. “We really wanted to pay attention to the needs of our nurses. The added underfoot cushion helps relieve foot and leg fatigue. Another important area we focused on is acoustics, specifically for our sensitive NICU patients. The sound-dampening attributes of the flooring really provide the atmosphere we were looking to achieve.”
Pleased with the performance of the flooring, Albany Medical Center will use nora as its standard moving forward. “There is no reason to change once you find something that works,” says Stichter.