How Glass Keeps Healthcare Healthy
Glass has helped healthcare spaces stay clean for over a century—yet not all accept it as gospel. Many older facilities still rely on fabrics, woods, and plastics, where pathogens can easily lurk. Newer builds (especially after COVID) often come standard with glass partitions, privacy glass—and more recently, glass whiteboards, walls of glass, desks with glass surfaces, and more. The reasons why are clear.
Glass is cleaner
Unlike drywall or fabric, glass is naturally non-porous, never harboring germs. That makes it easy to clean, which can help mitigate healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). One study in 2024 found that 31.6% of samples from hospital rooms harbored at least one unwanted microorganism. “It is not yet possible to eliminate pathogens from the hospital environment, but it can be minimized by education intervention, standardizing disinfecting processes, and monitoring by the infection control committee,” the study contends. Why not add glass to that list? After all, it withstands hospital-grade cleaners and won’t degrade even after decades of use. That’s a critical upgrade, and one I think we’d all prefer.
Glass is more durable
High-quality glass is tempered, which strengthens it fivefold. That helps it endure impacts and thermal stress without shattering—perfect for bustling, high-traffic areas. If it does shatter, it crumbles into rounded pellets instead of sharp shards, reducing the risk of injury.
But durability isn’t just strength—it’s also about longevity. Where plastics might yellow, and wood may warp, glass remains clear and structurally sound for decades. It resists corrosion, won’t fade under UV light, and maintains its smooth surface even after years of exposure to hospital-grade disinfectants. Glass is a solid long-term investment that rarely has to be replaced, upgraded, or repaired.
Glass keeps communication clear
Whiteboard stains aren’t just unsightly—they risk patient confidentiality. In medical settings, doctors convey critical numbers, statistics, and recommendations on these melamine boards. When information becomes stained even after cleaning, it violates patient privacy.
In contrast, glass surfaces can be wiped clean, ensuring a pristine surface every time. With glass, charts, questionnaires, patient boards, and schedules can be used and written on over and over without any degradation or loss of clarity. This helps spaces remain sterile while also protecting patient confidentiality.
Glass elevates your design
Glass promotes better mental health, too. It can be customized in near-infinite combinations to bring life to healthcare design. After all, studies show that just adding color to patient rooms can improve healing outcomes. Glass inherently looks impressive, sleek, and high quality already, so adding strategic designs takes it to a new level. Designs are printed on the back of the glass, forever shielding it from the daily bustle of hospitals and clinics. And it can be added anywhere. Elevator banks, reception desks, hallway art installations, cafeteria menu boards, restroom signage, staff break rooms, pharmacy counters, executive offices—this list goes on.
Glass is more than a great bang for the buck. It gives healthcare spaces what they need most. Cleanliness, a durable surface, custom design, architecturally sound structures, stunning design, and a material that can be relied on for decades. Hopefully, this testimony, along with its long, successful history in the healthcare space since the 1800s, will incline more healthcare decision-makers to add it to their buildings for years to come.
