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Jan 10, 2024
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Choosing the right ICU bed supplier is of utmost importance for hospitals as it directly impacts patient care and overall operational efficiency. ICU beds are specifically designed to provide critical care and support to patients with severe medical conditions, requiring constant monitoring and specialized treatment. Therefore, hospitals must carefully evaluate and select a supplier that can meet their unique needs and requirements.
First and foremost, the quality and reliability of ICU beds are crucial factors to consider. Hospitals need beds that are durable, safe, and can withstand the demands of continuous use. The supplier should be able to provide beds that are made of high-quality materials, equipped with advanced features, and compliant with all relevant safety standards and regulations.
In addition to quality, hospitals must also assess the supplier’s ability to provide timely and efficient support services. ICU beds may require periodic maintenance, repairs, or replacements, and having a reliable supplier can ensure minimal downtime and uninterrupted patient care. It is essential to choose a supplier that has a robust customer service system in place, with readily available technicians and spare parts, to address any issues that may arise promptly.
Furthermore, hospitals should consider the supplier’s track record and reputation in the industry. A supplier with a proven history of delivering exceptional ICU beds and reliable customer service can instill confidence in hospitals, knowing that they are partnering with a trusted and reputable provider. Checking references, reading reviews, and seeking recommendations from other healthcare professionals can help hospitals make informed decisions.
Selecting the right ICU bed supplier is a crucial decision for hospitals. The quality and reliability of ICU beds directly impact patient care and outcomes. To make an informed decision, hospitals must carefully consider several factors.
Firstly, it is essential to evaluate the supplier’s reputation and experience in the industry. Hospitals should opt for suppliers with a proven track record of providing high-quality ICU beds and exceptional customer service. Checking references and reading reviews from other hospitals can provide valuable insights into the supplier’s reliability and performance.
Secondly, hospitals should assess the range of ICU beds offered by the supplier. Each hospital has unique requirements, so it is important to choose a supplier that offers a diverse selection of ICU beds to suit different patient needs. Whether it’s electric beds, manual beds, or specialized beds for bariatric patients or pediatric cases, the supplier should have a comprehensive range to cater to all requirements.
Another crucial factor to consider is the quality and safety features of the ICU beds. Hospitals must ensure that the beds meet all necessary regulations and standards, such as electrical safety certifications and infection control measures. The supplier should provide detailed specifications and certifications for their beds, allowing hospitals to make an informed decision about the safety and reliability of the products.
When it comes to choosing the best ICU bed supplier, hospitals understand the critical importance of assessing the quality and reliability of the beds. The well-being and safety of patients heavily depend on the functionality and durability of these beds.
One of the key factors to consider is the construction and materials used in the ICU beds. High-quality beds are typically made from sturdy and durable materials that can withstand the daily demands of a hospital environment. They should be able to support patients of various weights and sizes without compromising their comfort or safety.
Reliability is another crucial aspect to evaluate. ICU beds should be equipped with advanced features and mechanisms that allow for easy adjustment and positioning. This ensures that healthcare professionals can provide optimal care and meet the specific needs of each patient. Beds with malfunctioning or unreliable mechanisms can lead to delays in treatment and compromise patient outcomes.
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Furthermore, it is essential to assess the bed’s ease of use and maintenance. Hospitals prefer beds that are user-friendly, with intuitive controls and clear instructions. This enables healthcare staff to quickly and efficiently operate and adjust the beds as needed. Additionally, beds that are easy to clean and maintain contribute to a hygienic and infection-free environment, which is crucial in ICU settings.
When it comes to choosing the best ICU bed supplier for hospitals, evaluating the supplier’s reputation and experience is a crucial step in making an informed decision. The reputation of a supplier speaks volumes about their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
One way to assess a supplier’s reputation is by conducting thorough research. Look for online reviews and testimonials from other hospitals or healthcare providers who have worked with the supplier in the past. Pay attention to any recurring themes or concerns mentioned by multiple sources. This will give you a good indication of the supplier’s track record and the level of satisfaction among their clients.
Experience is another critical factor to consider. An experienced supplier will have a deep understanding of the unique requirements and challenges hospitals face when it comes to ICU beds. They will have likely encountered various scenarios and have developed effective solutions to meet the specific needs of healthcare facilities. Look for a supplier that has been operating in the industry for a substantial period, as this demonstrates their ability to adapt and deliver reliable products and services consistently.
Additionally, consider the supplier’s certifications and affiliations. A reputable ICU bed supplier should comply with industry standards and regulations. Certifications such as ISO 9001:2015 ensure that the supplier follows stringent quality management practices. Affiliations with reputable healthcare organizations or associations can also indicate the supplier’s commitment to staying updated with industry trends and advancements.
Several medical manufacturers have made huge amounts of money by renting or selling specialized beds that provide continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT) to prevent complications of immobility associated with bed rest such as atelectasis, lower respiratory tract infection, and pneumonia. Manufacturers say these beds improve outcomes in critically ill patients and their claims appear to be substantiated by research to some degree.
Using former ICU nurses in their marketing force has undoubtedly helped companies convince ICU nursing staffs that critically ill patients need these special and expensive beds. Paula Jurewicz, RN, MS, Nurse Manager for the Intensive Care Unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital, acknowledges that ICU nurses were indeed the driving force behind the hospital’s purchase of 96 TotalCare SpO2RT Pulmonary Therapy System beds earlier this year. The beds, manufactured by Hill-Rom of Indiana, provide continuous lateral rotation therapy, feature percussion and vibration therapy and have a turn-assist feature that makes it easier for nursing staff to position patients for back care, linen changes, and routine nursing procedures.
Eighty-six of Yale—New Haven’s special beds are in the adult ICU, with the remaining 10 are on floors with pulmonary patients.
Jurewicz says the primary reason for the purchase was not advocacy by the nursing staff, but simply that the hospital’s ICU beds were old and needed to be replaced, "We knew we had to upgrade our beds and we wanted to reduce rental costs," Jurewicz says. "Sometimes we’ve had as many as 80 rental therapy beds on our floors at one time. "We felt by purchasing the Hill-Rom units we’d be reducing operating expenses by using a capital cost."
Buying special beds may indeed be more cost-effective in the long run than renting them, but the initial outlay is steep. The beds purchased by Yale-New Haven cost about $36,000 when fitted with the three modules that provide the various therapies. Hill-Rom declined to provide specific price information to anyone other than actual purchasers and a spokesperson said that hospitals belonging to a general purchasing group can get a better deal.
However, staff at Yale-New Haven, a 944-bed primary teaching hospital for the Yale University School of Medicine, appear pleased with the new equipment. Michael Parisi, PT, operations director for rehabilitation services and respiratory care, says he’s happy with the beds thus far. One of the biggest advantages Parisi sees is that the beds convert easily into chairs, making it much easier for patients to get to their feet.
"The nursing staff don’t have to have a special lifting team and can mobilize patients easily, and can fulfill physicians’ "out-of-bed" patient orders by pushing a button," Parisi says.
Nancy Price, senior product manager of pulmonary and ICU therapy for special bed manufacturer Kinetic Concepts, Inc., in San Antonio, TX, says that the body of evidence supports her company’s claims that special beds improve outcomes. More than 50 studies have been done on rotational therapy, and most of these involved rotating the patient laterally to greater than 40°, the minimum angle defined by the CDC as necessary to achieve a positive pulmonary outcome, she says.
Price’s company manufactures a special bed originally developed in the mid-1960s by Francis Keane, MD, an Irish physician who liked to tinker and wanted to find a way to reduce patients’ pressure ulcers. Keane believed a very slow angular rotation redistributed pressure. Jim Liniger, an entrepreneurial emergency room physician now at Kinetic Concepts, became a distributor for Keane and later purchased the U.S. distribution rights for the product.
However, some research on rotational therapy raises questions about outcomes improvement between patients manually rotated and those on rotating beds. One study showed that nursing staff provided more respiratory care to patients who had pneumonia and were on the oscillating bed than they did to patients with pneumonia who received standard care.1
One possible explanation for the disparity in nursing attention is that the oscillating bed enabled patients to loosen mucus more frequently, which in turn required nurses to provide more suction to remove it.
Another study2 found that 22% of the 51 patients treated on the standard ICU bed acquired pneumonia as compared to only 6% of patients treated with continuous oscillation.
A study3 that used KCI therapy beds and prone positioning to test oxygenation and hemodynamics in patients with ARDS found both the beds and the prone positioning improved PaO2/FiO2 and intrapulmonary shunt fraction after patients received inhaled nitric oxide, and after the first 72 hours of positioning therapy.
Weighing the cost of CLRT against benefits to patient outcomes has also been studied.4 In one example that used Kinetic Concept beds, the authors found the cost of bed rental was offset by shortened ICU stay. Researchers suggested that patients who received CLRT for one to four days had decreased duration of both mechanical ventilation and ICU stay compared to patients on standard beds.
The researchers also reported that patients treated with CLRT needed fewer antibiotics and experienced much lower rates of lower respiratory infection. However, the study authors also said such results may not be generalizable to other patient populations and suggested that future studies stratify subjects by underlying disease or degree of dysfunction.
For more information, contact Paula Jurewicz at (203) 688-2406; Michael Parisi at (203) 688-2251; Nancy Price at (210) 255-6037; and Hill-Rom at (800) 445-3730.
1. Traver G, et al. Continuous oscillation: Outcome in critically ill patients. J Crit Care. 1995;10:97-103.
2. deBoisblanc BP, et al. Chest. 1993;103:1543-1547.
3. Staudinger T, et al. Crit Care Med. 2001;29(1):51-56.
4. Whiteman K, et al. Effects of continuous lateral rotation therapy on pulmonary complications. Am J Crit Care. 1995;4:133-139.
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