How to Choose The Right Hospital Bed for Your Healthcare Facility?

by Shreya Mehta Executive

Can you imagine a hospital with a fixed wooden bed? Impossible, right, unless it only features a resting area. By this sentence, the importance of hospital beds is evident. In this article, let us explore the actual meaning and types of hospital beds, along with their selection guide.

What are hospital beds?

Hospital beds, a type of medical equipment, are specially and carefully made to fulfill the patient care requirements of any medical or healthcare facility. They provide a comfortable and safe space to patients recovering from an injury or a disease.

These beds differ from normal beds in terms of features and functionalities. Most hospital beds have adjustable height, headboard, footboard, side rails, and the ability to lift the head or feet section of the bed. Hospital beds are available in several sizes and types to meet the varying needs of patients, units, and hospitals. Let us explore different types of hospital beds.

What are the different types of hospital beds?

Out of the several types of hospital beds, some of them are:

Standard hospital beds: These beds are designed to fulfill general surgical and medical purposes. You can use various models with electric or manually adjustable height, footrest, and headrest features.

Bariatric hospital bed: These beds are specially designed with wider frames for heavy-weight patients and have more weight-bearing capacity than any standard bed.

Low hospital bed: The height of this bed is low, which allows patients to get in and out of the bed easily and on their own. Patients with mobility concerns or risk of falling are allocated these beds.

Pediatric hospital beds: These beds are for children and are made with enhanced safety measures. They have side rails, adjustable height, and smaller dimensions.

Trendelenburg bed: These beds can be adjusted to positions with feet up and head down or vice versa, allowing professionals to perform certain medical procedures requiring that procedure or give treatment in some cases like hypertension or shock. The Trendelenburg position is often available in ICU beds.

ICU bed: The ICU bed is designed with multiple features and attachments to cater to the health needs of severely ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Their range of features often includes Trendelenburg position, removable head and foot boards, CPR release, nurse controls, IV poles with hooks, and more.

What to consider when choosing a hospital bed?

When selecting a hospital bed for your facility, make sure to consider features and functions that will best suit their health condition. Some things to consider or tips are:

Type of bed: There are different hospital beds with varying features and functions. Some are manual, and some electric. So, choose one that best suits your facility’s and patient’s needs.

Bed size: choose beds with wide frames and suitable lengths to accommodate patients with different heights, sizes, and weights.

Features/functions: Please check whether the hospital beds have the necessary adjustable, mobility, and other features or functions to help you provide unparalleled quality treatment to the patients.

Cost: The cost of hospital beds varies according to their model, features, and types. So, select the bed you want and compare the pricing with multiple sources in the market to try and stay within the budget.

Wrapping up

Hospital bed plays an important role in providing quality care and comfort to the patient. Be it a general ward bed or a special ICU bed, make sure to consider everything and then purchase the type or model according to the requirement.