By Mary Phelps
From the June 2025 Issue of Facility Executive

Infection control is a critical concern in healthcare restroom environments, where healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)  pose a serious risk to patients and staff.

In fact, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that nearly 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquire HCAIs while being treated for other health issues, and more than one in 17 of these patients die due to HCAIs.

And while hand hygiene is the most important factor in healthcare restroom product consideration, there are several other elements that are critical as well — from inclusive and welcoming design to a safer floor design and durable maintenance solutions.

Thankfully, healthcare facility managers have a wide range of options in each area to create a safe, hygienic, and durable space for patients, staff, and visitors alike.

Healthcare Restroom Design: Safety First

Faucets and flush handles can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria in any public setting. In a healthcare environment where patients are frail or battling illness – and where healthcare providers need to ensure their hands are clean – it’s even more important to specify fixtures that minimize the spread of germs in this fashion.

For the most part, that equates to specifying touch-free faucets and flushometers that reduce touchpoints and help make the restroom experience virtually hands-free.

However, it also means taking even further precautions to keep touch-free fixtures clean. Commercial restroom manufacturers have developed hydrophobic glazes that repel liquids and inhibit the growth of germs and bacteria. This helps to keep fixtures cleaner for longer by imparting permanent water-repellent and oil-repellent properties to vitreous china, while also making them easier to clean for facility maintenance staff. 

Similarly, copper-coated flushometer handles inhibit the growth of common bacteria, molds, and fungi, and supplement regular cleanings to help prevent contamination.

Hand hygiene is also supported by guided handwashing faucets, where an LCD display shows a CDC-compliant five-step handwashing process, providing optimal hygiene for every user.

In addition, it’s important to take slip and fall risk into serious consideration in healthcare restrooms since elderly patients may be frail or physically impaired.

According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), slips and falls account for over 1 million hospital emergency room visits each year, or 12% of total falls. These types of falls can be common in healthcare settings, especially in high-traffic areas around restroom sinks where water tends to collect.

That’s why all-in-one sinks — where the faucet, soap dispenser, and hand dryer work together all within hands reach in one sink basin — play an important role in preventing patients and providers from having to walk across the restroom to dry their wet hands. This means fewer puddles, fewer slips, and a safer environment for everyone.

Don’t Forget About Design

Healthcare facilities are beginning to move away from the cold, institutional designs of the past. Instead, there’s a growing emphasis on creating spaces that feel warm, welcoming, and even homelike — and the restroom is no exception.

At the same time, sensor-operated products enhance usability and style, also working to contribute to a comfortable and visually appealing healthcare environment. Additionally, sensor-operated products also support ease of operation for elderly patients and individuals with arthritis.

But there’s more to restroom design than aesthetics. Inclusivity is another crucial factor that must be considered.

Healthcare environments serve a diverse range of people — patients with physical disabilities, healthcare professionals, and visitors. That’s why inclusive design needs to prioritize safe, accessible, and welcoming restroom spaces for everyone.

ADA-compliant fixtures are a necessity, with elements including enhanced reach sinks and touch-free products to provide intuitive, easy-to-use solutions for all users. For example, an angled enclosure at the sink with sturdy grab bars around the toilet offers enhanced accessibility, providing essential support for individuals with mobility challenges.

Healthcare’s Increasing Need For More Outpatient Buildings

Two-height sinks are an important consideration as well, as they cater to users of varying heights. Open-front designs allow for enhanced reach, and sinks with rounded fronts feature soft edges that make for good options in healthcare environments. Patients may be dealing with limited use of their hands, wrists, and arms or be in a wheelchair, and open-front designs are well-suited for them as well.

Privacy and comfort are prerequisites in any commercial restroom but need to be especially factored into healthcare spaces where patients have space for themselves. 

Designs with elevated partitions and multi-user layouts create an inviting space for all, whether in pediatric or elderly care facilities.

Phelps is Sloan’s Strategic Accounts Manager and Healthcare Leader with over 40 years of experience in the commercial restroom sector. Sloan has been providing innovation in water-saving fixtures for 119 years.

Do you have a comment? Share your thoughts in an e-mail to the Editor at jen@groupc.com.