From intelligent bed to atmospheric medicine cabinets and privacy screens

The Zorg & facility trade fair in Jaarbeurs Utrecht is behind us again. At Medifix's booth, the public was able to get acquainted with several firsts, ranging from the intelligent out-of-bed detection system SensiCare to Pharmasafe®'s atmospheric medicine cabinets and Silentia's durable and hygienic privacy screens. We spoke to Peter van Driel, appointed general manager at Medifix and its sister company Malsch Netherlands since February 1, 2024, about these latest developments as well as his ambitions.

Van Driel has a long track record in the medical field and does not hide his enthusiasm for Medifix. "The company has a unique proposition and can think along with the daily practice of healthcare from its areas of expertise. In addition to our own product line Pharmasafe®, together with our distributors we can mean a lot as a total supplier for specific issues in medical furniture. From the storage and distribution of medication and the furnishing of treatment rooms to nursing home beds in various flavors. And all with the goal of creating a pleasant environment for both the patient and the healthcare professional." 

One of the most recent innovations is the alarm system for nursing home beds. "Unlike traditional systems, the SensiCare out-of-bed detection system is not integrated into the mattress, but rather into the undercarriage. The system can be integrated on any bed and assumes a measurement at the center of the body," Van Driel explains. "That way, you can be 100% sure that the patient leaves his bed and false alarms caused by turning over or waving an arm are no longer an issue. The sensors are linked to a software system in which you can create a complete patient profile. The system ensures that the care professional can work even more efficiently and stress-free." The applications of SensiCare go much further, by the way, because the system can also be linked to lighting, for example. "For example, you could choose to turn on the lighting the moment a patient leaves his bed."

Medifix's Pharmasafe® line adds a more homey touch to traditional medicine cabinets and carts. "This line is extremely popular and provides a less clinical setting in a nursing home setting," says Van Driel. "It integrates seamlessly into any living room. For an even better match, it is even possible to wrap the medicine cabinets with a specific or self-selected print." The trend toward personalization also touches Silentia's privacy screens. "They are a durable and hygienic alternative to traditional bed curtains and can also be fully customized (to your own) taste with a self-selected print or special images to make it more personal and especially less clinical. The screens are easy to clean and last an incredibly long time. Studies have shown that they are a much more durable alternative to bed curtains that also require periodic washing. In Scandinavian countries, these screens are even mandatory and bed curtains are no longer allowed."

So Medifix is making the difference in medical furniture and will soon be demonstrating it at its own Experience Center in Udenhout. "Visitors here can discover and experience not only our product lines for the hospital and care environment, but also the possibilities for the fit senior with an eye to the future," says Van Driel. "We are the party with knowledge, experience and expertise that likes to think along in a suitable furnishing." He still has plenty of ambitions. "For example, with Medifix we want to focus expressly on the Belgian market in 2024 and we are working on interesting developments, such as Malsch Individual, aimed at care for the future. In short, there is still plenty to do. We have ambitious plans and are pushing hard."