3 Types of Hospital Beds You Need to Know About

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In 2016, there were more than 35.7 million people who stayed in a U.S. hospital. Among those staying at hospitals were likely many pregnant women. It’s important for hospitals to have beds that can make for suitable birthing beds whenever an expectant mother is going to deliver. There are different options that might be useful to consider. Here are three types of hospital beds that can potentially be used as a birthing bed.

1. Full-electric bed

Full-electric hospital beds are beds that are electronically powered. The head area, the feet area, and the height of the frame can all be adjusted through a remote control or buttons located on the side of the bed. It allows a pregnant woman to be able to adjust the bed herself rather than wait for a hospital employee to do it. Since the height of the bed can be adjusted, it can be lowered enough to make it easier for a pregnant woman to step off of the bed if she needs to. Different brands of electric beds include Stryker hospital beds and Hill Rom patient beds.

2. Manual hospital bed

Manual hospital beds are beds where the position and height are all controlled manually. In most cases, it’s usually through the use of a crank. This type of bed is ideal if it’s unlikely the patient will need or desire constant position changing. Manual hospital beds are typically more affordable than an electric bed. Additionally, because a manual hospital bed does not use any electricity, it also makes it a more eco-friendly option.

3. Semi-electric hospital bed

As the name indicates, semi-electric beds provide the best of both worlds in being partially electronic and partially manual. The parts of the bed that are generally adjusted electronically are the head area and the feet area. The part of the bed that has to be adjusted manually is the height. It’s an ideal birthing bed if you expect a pregnant patient will only desire frequent head and leg repositioning, but not as much changes with the height.

Having a comfortable bed is an important part of taking care of a pregnant woman. It’s helpful to choose a birthing bed that can provide the necessary adjustments that the specific patient will need or desire. Each of these options can be helpful in providing that.

Hospital beds are designed and constructed to provide safety, comfort, and mobility for a broad range of patients with varying conditions and treatment plans. While the adaptability and versatility of hospital beds and related safety devices allow caregivers to meet the diverse needs of their patients; care must be taken to ensure necessary user training, inspection protocols, and routine maintenance and safety checks are followed.

Falls are the most common type of incident associated with hospital beds, however pressure injuries and entrapments are also notable safety concerns. In this article, Christian Mongrain, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Durable Medical Equipment Expert, provides an overview of hospital bed injuries and proper safety.

Hospital Bed Components & Safety - Expert Overview

Hospital beds are the most common type of durable medical equipment. Despite their name, hospital beds are also used beyond the acute hospital; namely in rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and private residences. Given their prolific use, injuries involving hospital beds are not uncommon. These injuries can occur while a patient is positioned in a stationary bed, being transported in a bed, or being transferred into or out of a bed. In this article, the term ‘patient’ refers to a person receiving care at a health care facility or at a residence, such as a private home or nursing home.

The FDA and the HBSW (Hospital Bed Safety Workshop) have released several informative documents providing guidance for hospital bed safety and strategies for mitigating risks. The Department of Health in several states has chosen to incorporate these documents into their protocol for health care providers.

Hospital bed anatomy & safety features

Bed frame features such as height and position adjustments, casters, and adjustable bed rails distinguish hospital beds from standard beds. Modern hospital beds incorporate a range of safety features that are designed to protect against fall and pressure injuries, assist with patient positioning and mobility, and alert caregivers of a potential mishap. The benefits of these safety features can only be realized through proper training of caregivers and reinforcement of safety protocols.

Patient height, weight, ability to move, diagnosis, and comorbidities must be considered when choosing a hospital bed. After identifying a bed that meets the anthropometric and capacity needs of the patient, providers utilize risk assessment tools (such as the Morse Fall Scale and Braden Risk Assessment Tool) to determine if a patient requires a specialized bed with safety features to assist in preventing falls and/or pressure injuries.

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Adjustable settings

Adjustable height settings are a fundamental safety feature of hospital beds. Raising the bed height can reduce the need for patient assistance when standing from a sitting position. Adjusting the bed height can enable a patient to improve balance while seated at the edge of the bed, and lowering the bed height to its lowest height position can reduce the severity of injury in the event of a fall.

Hospital bed frames are usually repositionable in segments. The head of the bed can often be raised independent of the segment of the bed supporting the lower extremities. An additional function enables the knee portion of the bed to be elevated, thereby preventing a patient from sliding into a slouched posture when the head of the bed is elevated. Proper positioning affects the quality of a patient’s respirations and is essential for patients suffering from pulmonary compromise due to disease, illness, or injury. Caution, however, must be used when using the adjustable settings on a hospital bed when seating a patient on the edge of the bed as it can create an uneven surface affecting seated balance.

Hospital bed mattress options

Hospital beds commonly have a standard mattress consisting of foam and springs, encased in a protective impermeable cover. To accommodate specific patient needs, several alternative surface options are available. The most common alternative mattress is known as an “air mattress.” Air mattresses are one intervention commonly assigned to patients having wounds or at risk for pressure injury. Air mattresses are usually powered by external blowers which enable the air pressure within the mattress to be increased or decreased, thereby adjusting the firmness of the mattress. When adjusted appropriately, air mattresses allow a patient to partially ‘sink’ into the mattress accomplishing distribution of pressure over a greater surface area of a patient’s body. When adjusted too firm or too soft, however, the intended benefits of an air mattress can be negated and lead to new or progression of existing pressure injuries.

While air mattresses can offer the patient improved skin protection, they can be more difficult for patient transfer due to surface instability and lower surface friction. Air mattress characteristics and features vary by manufacturer, and should be considered when selecting this intervention to address patient risks.

Settings such as bed height, mattress positioning, and firmness are utilized to maximize comfort and safety for the individual patient’s needs. Some specialty mattresses include options for rotation, oscillation, and percussion to assist with managing respiratory secretions. Alternative bed surfaces can optimize skin protection; however they do require appropriate operator settings and do not replace regular repositioning which would relieve pressure on vulnerable areas.

Hospital bed rails & safety devices

Rails on hospital beds are adjustable and are often used to assist in turning and repositioning patients, providing a secure hold grasp for patients, and reducing the risk of fall injuries. However, rails are also associated with strangulation and entrapment injuries, pressure injuries, and more serious fall incidents if a patient climbs/rolls over the barrier or if the rails are not appropriately positioned. Bed rails are not intended as attachment points for restraints. Assessment by the patient’s health care team is necessary to determine if and how rails should be utilized to keep the patient safe.

Additional safety devices used in conjunction with hospital beds include floor safety mats, alarms, bolsters, and lighting. Floor mats can be used to attenuate impact in the event of a fall and various alarms can be used to notify health care providers if a patient has left the bed or changed positions. Bolsters or wedges are used for positioning to reduce pressure injuries, and can also provide safety against falls. Specialized lighting can be used to reduce patient confusion associated with waking in a dark unlit room. The patient’s care team is responsible for determining the necessary and appropriate hospital bed safety devices that meet the individualized needs of the patient.

Maintenance and inspections

Hospital beds are considered Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and require routine inspection and maintenance. Federal or State laws and regulations (including Life Safety Code requirements adopted as part of Federal regulations) may either require that equipment maintenance (including maintenance, inspection and testing) be performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, or establish other maintenance requirements. Bed manufacturers and the Department of Health and Human Services direct owners to have hospital beds inspected by a qualified professional, such as a clinical or biomedical technician or engineer.

Common areas for inspection and maintenance include:

1. Bed rails for proper positioning and stability
2. Brakes for engagement and ability to prevent unintended motion during transfers
3. Casters for swivel and roll during transport
4. Mattresses for condition and ability to maintain intended position and surface pressures.

All hospital bed incidents must be reported to the bed manufacturer and/or the FDA. The FDA tracks Durable Medical Equipment incidents, issues consumer alerts, and determines if further action is needed (up to and including issuing a recall) based upon the frequency and severity of unintended events.

Investigating Incidents Involving Hospital Beds

Incidents involving hospital beds often occur due to provider error or mechanical failure. An investigation of the hospital bed, care records, and witness reports can help determine the cause of the incident. The health care experts at Robson Forensic can analyze the causation behind hospital bed mishaps and the address the relevant standards of care.

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