More than 35.7 million people stayed in a U.S. hospital in 2016 alone. For this reason, your hospital beds must have several critical features. But how can you tell whether you’re making the right choice when purchasing new equipment for your facility? Here are the essential aspects to look for when replacing your hospital beds.
1. Adjustable Settings
One of the safety features of hospital beds is having adjustable settings. With these movable settings, you can raise the height of the bed. With adjustable beds:
- A patient can stand from a sitting position on their own
- The beds can improve the balance of the patient when they are seated on the edge of the bed
- Injury risk of patients is minimized when you lower the height of the bed to its lowest level
Ultimately, hospital beds with adjustable settings represent the industry standard. They allow for more control and comfort within the patient experience, as well as improved safety.
2. Bed Rails and Safety Devices
Rails on hospital beds are essential as they also reduce injury risk associated with falls. Other safety features that hospital beds must have include:
- Floor safety mats
- Alarms
- Bolsters
- Lighting
Detachable rails and positioning mechanisms are other crucial aspects that make the beds accessible
3. Built-In Scale
With a built-in scale, it becomes easy to weigh patients without causing significant disturbance. Having hospital beds with built-in scales allow medical staff to assess any new or existing health concerns related to weight loss or gain, all without requiring the patient to step on a traditional scale.
4. Built-In Storage
Built-in storage enables you to store IV stands, oxygen tanks, and other critical pieces of equipment. This makes the job of hospital staff even easier and can make a room less cluttered, allowing for better safety and organization.
5. Versatile Positioning
You can choose beds with a wide variety of positions, namely:
- Trendelenburg
- Reverse Trendelenburg
- Fowler designs
Being able to choose from a variety of positions can allow for greater comfort and speedier patient recovery. Different positions are suited for different conditions, so being able to accommodate all kinds of patients with just one bed will stretch your hospital’s budget further while improving the overall patient experience.
6. Powered Transport
Some brands, such as Hill Rom, Styler, and others, are equipped with powered transport systems. They make it easy for your support staff to move their sufferers from one room to another with little effort.
7. Bed Mattress
Another crucial element to consider is the bed mattress. You have many choices ranging from memory foam models to sophisticated gel and air mattresses. An air mattress has external blowers that pump air pressure into the mattress to increase or decrease it. As a result, you can spread the pressure of the patient evenly over a greater surface area.
In summary, your hospital beds should have safety aspects to…
- Protect the patient against falling and injuries caused by pressure
- Facilitate the positioning and mobility of your patients
- Warn caregivers of any possible accidents
- Improve patient comfort
- Lessen the risk of complications
- Enable your staff to work effortlessly
For more on how we can help improve your selection of hospital beds, please contact us today.
Recent Comments