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A multifunctional medical bed helps staff care for patients with limited mobility while supporting the patient’s comfort. Depending on the model, it may have adjustable sections, side rails, castors and removable components. The right combination depends on the person’s care needs and the setting in which the bed will be used.
Construction and adjustable sections
Profiling beds can have relatively complex mechanisms. The original article groups mattress platforms by their number of sections:
- Two-section beds.
- Three-section beds.
- Four-section beds.
In a typical two-section design, the upper section rises to support positioning for feeding and other care. A three-section arrangement can adjust the upper-body and leg areas, which may help people with musculoskeletal problems. Four-section designs offer additional profiling options and can support care for people who spend prolonged periods in bed. Section counts do not establish clinical suitability by themselves: check the available movements, patient needs and manufacturer’s specifications.
Adjustment mechanisms and materials
Sectional medical beds may use one or more types of adjustment mechanism:
- Electric.
- Hydraulic.
- Pneumatic.
- Mechanical.
Electric and pneumatic mechanisms can provide smooth adjustment where specified. Manual mechanisms may operate individual sections, and fully manual beds are also available. Ease of use and reliability depend on the particular design and its maintenance, rather than the mechanism’s name alone. Some powered beds have a backup battery; check whether it is included, which functions it supports and its charging and operating limits.
Materials can be grouped as wood, metal, plastic or a combination of these. Many designs combine a metal structure with plastic components. Beds intended for home care may have wooden headboards and footboards for a less institutional appearance. Only use manufacturer-approved interchangeable components; replacing plastic boards with improvised wooden parts can affect compatibility and safety.
Metal and plastic can provide durable, cleanable surfaces, while powder-coated metalwork is used on some designs. Hygiene and resistance to cleaning agents depend on the actual finish and the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Some beds have radiolucent sections for imaging, but this is a model-specific feature. Wood-finished models with metal structural components can offer another option for a domestic interior when suitable for the intended care.
Check the maximum patient weight, the bed’s safe working load and each accessory’s limit separately. The total load may include the mattress and other equipment. Arjo’s Enterprise 5000X specifications, for example, distinguish maximum patient weight from safe working load. The applicable figures and allowed component combinations are those for the exact model being purchased.
Additional features and accessories
Side rails may be fixed, folding or removable, depending on the design. They are not automatically appropriate for every patient, and their removal or replacement must follow the instructions. MHRA guidance on bed-rail management calls for an individual assessment of benefits and risks, including falls and entrapment, and compatibility between the bed, rails and mattress. Review that assessment when the person or equipment changes.
Suitable overbed tables can give patients a surface for writing, reading or using a laptop. People with limited mobility also need assessment for pressure damage and an appropriate pressure-redistributing mattress. Options include passive surfaces and active systems, such as mattresses with alternating air-filled cells. No single tubular or active design is the most effective option for everyone.
NICE pressure-ulcer recommendations describe assessment, repositioning and appropriate support surfaces. They recommend high-specification foam for specified adult groups and consideration of a dynamic surface when foam is insufficient for an adult with a pressure ulcer. Select the mattress for the patient’s needs and ensure that its dimensions and height remain compatible with the bed and rails.
Other accessories can include IV poles, grab handles, bottle holders and towel holders. Some are optional rather than supplied as standard. Check approved attachment points and accessory load ratings, and keep equipment clear of moving sections. A bed should be selected for the actual ward or care environment, balancing patient comfort with safe operation and the work staff need to carry out.
