For many, the amount of hospital bed choices makes picking one even more challenging. Here is what you want to know to make an informed decision.
Broadly, hospital beds fall into one of two classes: manual and electrical. Manual hospital beds are cheaper but tend to have fewer positioning choices. They are also, of course, more of a burden to the employees to utilise. Powered hospital beds, on the other hand, enable your team to quickly and efficiently bring a patient into place.
Different electric hospital beds have various controls, including hand and foot-operated systems – consider the program to ascertain which is the best selection for your team. Besides standard hospital beds, special equipment is available for geriatric, paediatric and other applications. Here, again, the essence of your facility and the kinds of patient you typically function will play a vital role in assisting you to make a wise option. Keystone Health Services have a wide range of hospital mattresses and beds.
Your budget and your needs will determine whether an electrical or manual hospital bed is the ideal selection for your facility. Beyond this, however different versions offer different feature sets which can significantly improve patient comfort, reduce the risk of complications and help your employees work more efficiently. Some of them include:
- Positioning alternatives: Hospital beds are available with a wide selection of positioning options, such as Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg, Fowler’s position and much more.
- Powered transport: Which reduces the strain on support employees as they transfer patients from room to room. Many beds are outfitted with detachable railings, positioning systems and other features that facilitate greater access.
- Constructed scale: A built-in scale makes it effortless to weigh patients with a minimum amount of disruption.
- Constructed storage: Storage compartments enable you to keep oxygen tanks, IV stands and other significant equipment near.
Storage compartments enable you to keep oxygen tanks, IV stands and other significant equipment nearby.
Besides the bed itself, a mattress is also an important consideration when updating your gear. A growing number of affordable options, such as advanced memory and gel foam models, has abandoned amenities with a broad assortment of alternatives in this area. Consider health equipment rental options, this may assist you in ensuring you have the most up to date health equipment.
Decreasing the risk of pressure ulcers is an integral factor when making a purchase decision. Start looking for a product that’s comfortable, supportive, easy to clean and includes a gap-free layout for maximum patient comfort.
A hospital bed is an important investment — you will need to know you can depend on your buy to deliver years of dependable service. Whether you are buying for clinical or home use, some measures can be taken to prolong the life of your new bed:
Make sure that staff are well trained and in-serviced on the characteristics and functionality of the mattress, to lessen the possibility of damage due to operator error or abuse.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommended program for lubrication, calibration and maintenance. Perform regular inspections on moving parts to confirm they’re working smoothly.
Don’t permit a minor problem to grow into a major one. Investigate the reason for squeaks, creaks and other warning signals, and take corrective actions to halt the issue before it becomes worse.
Only use a mattress for the intended purpose. Pay careful attention to weight limitations and other program guidelines when using your hospital bed.
Store beds correctly when not in use, keeping them away from potential dangers.
If you become aware of your equipment wearing out quicker than normal, consider bringing in an outside consultant. There may be factors inherent to your workflow or other organisational problems which are causing premature wear.
The best way to make sure a hospital bed continues to give comfort to your patients and convenience to your employees is to work with a provider you trust.
