Hospital Furniture Question

[eddiemg]

Hi!

I really hope this isn't too unusual or inappropriate for this forum, but I'm a student of product design at the University of Cincinnati, researching hospital furniture for a project, specifically in the patient room, and was wondering if someone here could lend their expertise and briefly explain to me the different functions of a hospital bed vs. a patient chair vs. a recliner for a patient's daily use and recovery, and any examples of how those pieces of furniture are really used? Any other comments about hospital furniture a patient might use would be great too. Thanks so much!

Eddie

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

This is a perfect place to ask...nurses would love to have input into the design of funiture/ patient rooms.

Hospital beds serve different functions are are there are different types of bed for different units.

Beds in the ICU are different from OB (maternity beds) from a regular bed on a med surg floor. Some beds have different functions and will weigh a pateint, have an air mattress feature that will assist in turning or moving a patient. All of them will have a feature that will raise and lower the feet and head part, some will tip the entire bed up at the feet or head (not at the same time, lol)

[eddiemg]

Thanks Michelle! That's really interesting, how does the air mattress help turn or move the patient exactly? Sounds cool! Do you have any information about recliner chairs, and different functions, purposes, features that you find useful or particularly non-useful?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Generally beds are where the patient sleeps. A regular chair might be where they sit to eat or do a craft. They may also pull it up to the sink to get washed up if they're too weak to stand. This is also where company tends to sit. The recliner they usually lay in to nap, read, or watch tv. Some patients also sleep here at night if the bed is too uncomfortable.

Key features for hospital furniture is that it's easy to clean, easily movable, sturdy, and lockable in place. I hate when the locks are in one place on the wheel and always end up under the furniture where you can't reach them. Just one panel you hit with your foot that's reachable from either side to lock or unlock is ideal. Oh, and comfortable is always important too!

[ucfRN]

Hey,

There are tons of different kinds of hospital bends and brands that are specific to certain units/illnesses. Brands like Hill-Rom and Gaymar are dominant in the hospital these days. They allow elevating the head, elevating the feet and rolling from one room to another. They also come with IV poles to hang fluids for a patient. They allow turning and rotating patients by adjusting the head and legs to be flat and then the nurse would assist the patient based on how much dependent/independent the patient is.

Further, as a person should not be in bed all day, the chair in the room helps the patient to dangle their feet or sit in an upright position with their legs elevated. This would assist in circulation as well as preventing bed sores to ensure that the patient is getting "out of bed".

Also in the room would be a tray table, bed side table and IV pole/equipment.

I wrote my thesis on patients' mobility with a focus on hospital equipment in assisting patients with mobility.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Must. be. waterproof. And the waterproofing cannot be easily torn.

Brakes on chairs tend to be in the back, but if you've squeezed the chair into the room you are stuck behind it once the brakes are set. I want brakes in front so I can access and check them just as I'm getting ready to move the patient.

Some COPD patients sleep in their recliners. Visitors use them for sleep too. If they have a "recline" setting and an "almost flat" setting they are more comfortable.

Some recliners have the recline release behind the chair, so people need assistance to get up. Plus I have to crawl over the bed to get behind the stupid chair. I wish recliners had removeable cushions for cleaning after incontinence.

I'd like foldable chairs for visitors, or flip down benches in the rooms, so we can clear things out quickly. On the other hand patient chairs need high backs so people can rest their head, and they tolerate more time up that way. Most patients appreciate width for extra blankets and sturdy arms to push themselves out of the chair. Wheels on large chairs would be nice, instead of having to drag them into place. Maybe on the back so we could tip the chair back and the wheels would touch down. Just for moving the chair, not for a chair and occupant.

I'd like a spiked seat option too. You know, when someone without an armband sits down, they start feeling the hard boards through the cushions after about an hour. Maybe a catapult option with a remote.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I like the catapult option. That would answer another thread on how to discharge people. Just point to the window and catapult them. :)

Chairs have to be designed for BIG people - weight and width. Should be easy to push with someone in it.

[LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN]

Med furniture is not confined to acute care or long term facilities. Because pts are discharged earlier now, patients often use medical equipment at home. Families need as much help as possible and a hospital bed, air matresses, over the bed tables, recliner with lift, hoyer lift, etc. are essential equipment. Sometimes families will buy equipment that goes beyond the hospital standard, i.e., tempurpedic electric beds and matresses.

What I suggest is to go to the various large hopsital equipment manufacturers and sellers--start reading. There is so much info on line about the equipment, the uses, and comments by people who have bought the equipment.

[Nurse1966]

The beds with the air mattresses (turn and assist) have baffles that deflate, so the patient, using gravity, rolls to the side. We also have an option to blow up the mattress to max inflate, which makes it easier to pull the patient up in bed.

I'd like to see bedside tables that actually fit under the bed!

And the idea of a chair with a catapult? genius!