What Should You Look for When Choosing a Hospital Whiteboard?

A hospital whiteboard needs to fit the way information is written, updated, viewed, and maintained in a clinical environment. Unlike a board selected for occasional office use, it may be cleaned frequently and used by multiple people throughout the day.

Surface type, construction, layout, customization, magnetic functionality, and maintenance requirements can all affect whether a board is suitable for its intended setting.

This guide covers the main factors to consider when choosing a whiteboard for a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility.

What Makes a Hospital Whiteboard Different From a Standard Whiteboard?

A hospital whiteboard may be used more frequently and cleaned more often than a board intended for occasional office use. This makes surface, construction, maintenance, and layout important considerations.

When evaluating hospital whiteboards, consider:

• How frequently the board will be updated.
• How often the surface will be cleaned.
• How much information needs to remain visible.
• Whether some information should be permanently printed.
• Whether users need magnetic functionality.
• How far away the board will be viewed.
• How much wall space is available.

The goal is to select a board based on its intended use rather than simply choosing a standard office whiteboard.

If you're comparing options for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings, see our healthcare whiteboards for hospital facilities for an overview of available solutions and applications.

Why Can Office-Grade Whiteboards Be Problematic in Clinical Settings?

A whiteboard designed for occasional office use may not be suited to an environment where it is frequently cleaned, written on, and erased.

Before choosing a board for a clinical setting, consider whether its surface and construction are appropriate for:

• Frequent cleaning and disinfecting.
• Repeated writing and erasing.
• Exposure to the cleaning products used in the facility.
• Long-term daily use.
• Easy cleaning around edges and mounting points.

Surface deterioration, ghosting, staining, or damage from unsuitable cleaning products can affect how clearly information is displayed over time.

Healthcare facilities should review the manufacturer's specifications for the board material, recommended cleaning methods, and intended environment before selecting a product.

Which Whiteboard Surface is Best for Clinical Use?

There is no single surface that suits every healthcare application. The right choice depends on cleaning requirements, frequency of use, desired appearance, and whether additional functionality is needed.

• Glass Whiteboards: Glass boards provide a smooth, non-porous writing surface and can be a practical option for facilities looking for a professional writing surface that is easy to maintain.
• Printed Dry Erase Boards: Printed dry erase boards combine a reusable writing surface with permanent visual elements. They can include headings, grids, labels, or designated writing areas while leaving space for information that changes regularly.
• Specialized Board Surfaces: Some healthcare environments may have specific cleaning or durability requirements. Review the manufacturer's material specifications and recommended care instructions before selecting a board for a particular setting.

When Should You Choose a Custom Hospital Whiteboard?

A custom hospital whiteboard can be useful when a blank board does not provide enough structure for the information being recorded.

Customization allows organizations to create a consistent layout with features such as:

• Permanently printed headings
• Designated writing areas
• Tables and grids
• Checklists
• Scheduling fields
• Department-specific labels
• Branded or color-coded sections

Custom layouts are particularly useful when staff repeatedly record the same types of information or when multiple users need to follow a consistent format.

For facilities that need a board built around a specific workflow, custom printed dry erase boards can combine permanent layouts with writable areas.

What Should You Consider When Designing a Custom Healthcare Whiteboard?

A useful custom layout should make information easy to locate, update, and understand. Before finalizing a design, consider how the board will be used rather than simply adding as many fields as possible.

• Information Hierarchy: Determine which information needs to be noticed first and give important sections enough space to remain easy to read.
• Writable Areas: Leave sufficient room for information that changes regularly. Permanent printing should organize the board without taking up more writing space than necessary.
• Viewing Distance: Make text and labels large enough to read from the locations where the board will normally be viewed.
• Information Structure: Organize permanent and writable areas so users can quickly locate and update information without overcrowding the board.

Should You Choose a Magnetic or Non-Magnetic Hospital Whiteboard?

Magnetic functionality is useful when users need to display materials alongside handwritten information. A magnetic board can be used to attach:

• Printed documents
• Reference cards
• Reusable labels
• Schedules
• Magnetic accessories

A non-magnetic board may be sufficient when the surface will primarily be used for writing and erasing.

For custom applications that require magnetic functionality, custom magnetic dry erase boards can combine a writable surface with space for magnetic materials.

The decision should be based on how the board will actually be used rather than treating magnetic functionality as a requirement for every healthcare setting.

How Do You Choose the Right Size and Layout?

The largest available board is not necessarily the most useful. Size should be based on the amount of information, viewing distance, available wall space, and number of people using it.

Before choosing a size, consider:

• Wall space: Measure the available installation area.
• Viewing distance: Make sure information can be read from the intended viewing positions.
• Amount of information: Avoid overcrowding a smaller board with too many fields.
• Number of users: Collaborative boards may require more writable space.
• Orientation: Choose landscape or portrait based on the information being displayed.

If a board contains permanent printing, account for both the printed sections and writable areas when determining the required size.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a hospital whiteboard comes down to matching the board to its intended use. Surface type, cleaning requirements, size, layout, customization, and magnetic functionality should all be considered before ordering.

A standard board may be sufficient for straightforward writing needs, while a custom printed or magnetic configuration can provide additional structure when the workflow requires it.

The right choice is one that provides enough writing space and organization while fitting the maintenance requirements of the intended environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can hospital whiteboards include both printed and writable areas?

Yes. Custom printed whiteboards can combine permanent headings, labels, grids, or other fixed information with designated areas for dry erase writing. This allows frequently changing information to be updated without recreating the overall board structure.

Can hospital whiteboards be made in a custom size?

Yes. Custom whiteboards can be produced in different sizes and layouts depending on the available installation space and the information the board needs to display.

Are glass whiteboards available with custom printing?

Yes. Glass boards can be configured with printed information for applications where a permanent visual layout is useful. Specific printing and construction options depend on the product.

How long does a hospital whiteboard typically last?

Lifespan varies based on the board material, frequency of use, cleaning practices, installation, and maintenance. Following the manufacturer's care recommendations can help preserve the writing surface.

Can a hospital whiteboard be replaced without changing the wall layout?

It depends on the instalation and board dimensions. When replacing an existing board, measuring the available wall space and reviewing mounting requirements beforehand can help determine compatible options.