The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped how hospitals think about safety, hygiene, and design. Healthcare administrators now realize that protecting patients and staff isn’t just about protocols and medicine, it’s also about infrastructure choices. One breakthrough in hospital design that is making a meaningful impact is smart glass for hospitals, particularly switchable glass. It allows privacy on demand while reducing the risk of contamination from fabrics and other high-touch surfaces.
Smart Glass Implementation in Hospitals as an Answer to COVID Pandemic Threat
The COVID-19 pandemic has put hospitals to the test and proved that immediate change is inevitable to ensure the safety of both patients and medical staff. In terms of safety, the industry of new technologies has a lot to offer, creating solutions for the interior design of medical facilities. One of such solutions may be switchable smart glass.
Curtains & Blinds Versus Pandemic Threat in Hospitals
One irony of an infectious disease outbreak is that it turns hospitals, which should be a refuge for the sick, into hot zones, putting everyone inside at risk. But a silent culprit tends to be overlooked. It is not the patients or the staff or the visitors. It is the building itself.
“Thoughtful modifications to the built environment, to how health-care facilities are designed, operated, and maintained, could help curb the spread of infectious disease, reducing the toll of future outbreaks as well as the COVID-19 pandemic raging today,” explains Emily Anthes in The Washington Post.
Why Traditional Curtains and Blinds Fall Short
New healthcare facilities’ needs can be met by innovative materials, which are less hospitable to microbes than those traditionally used in such settings. Currently, fabric curtains and blinds are widely used to provide privacy, but they’re also problematic.
Here’s why:
- Fabric curtains are easily contaminated
- They can host pathogens for months
- Cleaning and replacing them is time-consuming and costly
- They often go unnoticed as contamination points
A recent study by the University of Michigan Medical Center found that 28% of curtains tested at six of Michigan's top healthcare facilities contained bacteria resistant to powerful antibiotics, which are responsible for disease transmission. And it gets more alarming. link
When COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, doctors examined 138 early cases and found that 41% of patients most likely contracted the disease in a hospital setting.
Smart Glass as a Hygiene-Focused Alternative
Switchable glass for hospitals gives a compelling alternative to traditional privacy solutions. By replacing curtains and blinds with smart glass walls, hospitals can drastically reduce infection risks.
Key benefits:
- Seamless, non-porous surface that doesn’t trap microbes
- Easy to clean with standard glass disinfectants
- Instant privacy with zero physical contact
- Long lifespan with minimal maintenance
The result? A more sterile environment with fewer opportunities for bacteria to linger, and faster cleaning turnaround between patients. This is where smart glasses in healthcare truly shine by offering both form and function in the fight against contamination.
Broader Applications of Smart Glass in Healthcare
Beyond patient rooms, smart glass for hospitals is being used in:
- ICUs and isolation wards
- Operating theatres
- Diagnostic labs
- Waiting areas and staff rooms
Its adaptability makes it suitable for spaces that require visual separation without sacrificing light, as well as areas where infection control is paramount.
Conclusion: A Smarter, Safer Future for Hospitals
In a world where hospital environments must be both safe and efficient, technologies like Privetek™ offer a glimpse into the future. By replacing high-risk elements like curtains and blinds with smart glass for hospitals can ensure:
- Faster cleaning
- Fewer infection points
- Long-term savings
- Improved aesthetics and patient experience
The pandemic has shown that healthcare environments must evolve, and smart glasses in healthcare are part of that evolution.
