What are the recommended features for a hospital bed?

Hospital Bed Requirements and Recommendations

Hospital beds should have a CPR mode that increases mattress stiffness, provide pressure redistribution to prevent skin breakdown, allow for height adjustment, include sturdy side rails for mobility assistance, and accommodate caregivers for pediatric patients. 1

Core Requirements for Hospital Beds

Safety Features

• CPR Mode: When a bed has a CPR mode that increases mattress stiffness, it should be activated during in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) 1
• Height Adjustment: Beds should be adjustable to lower positions after treatments to prevent falls, particularly for high-risk patients 2
• Side Rails: Should be available but used judiciously - they don't reduce falls and may increase fall severity, but are helpful for patient mobility 1, 3
• Firm Surface: Mattress compression can be as high as 57% of total compression depth during CPR, affecting resuscitation quality 1

Comfort and Pressure Injury Prevention

• Pressure-Redistributing Mattresses: Extra thick/soft mattresses decrease skin breakdown and decubitus ulcer formation 1
• Moisture-Proof Upholstery: Should be soft yet impervious to protect fragile skin while allowing for proper cleaning 1
• Surface Materials: Should be nonporous, smooth, with no surface joints or seams to reduce healthcare-associated infections 1

Mobility Considerations

• Ergonomic Design: Beds should facilitate patient movement (ingress, in-bed mobility, and egress) 3
• Sturdy Armrests: Help patients rise more easily for safe transferring 1
• Bed Frame Design: Should minimize patient migration during bed articulation, which can cause shear forces (pressure ulcer risk) and require staff repositioning 4

Special Population Considerations

Geriatric Patients

• Fall Prevention: Low beds should be used for patients at high risk of falling 2
• Lighting: Beds should include shielding of illuminating fixtures at levels that allow patients to rise safely 1
• Bed Rails: Should be available but used selectively, as they may increase fall severity rather than prevent falls 1

Pediatric Patients

• Safety Features: Pediatric beds must allow for bed rails to be raised 1
• Space Requirements: Rooms should have enough space to accommodate caregivers who stay with children 1
• Caregiver Accommodation: Sleeping space for at least one caregiver should be available 1
• Crib Safety: Cribs should be equipped with overhead safety devices and covered mechanical/electrical controls 1

Cardiac Arrest Considerations

• Do not move patients from bed to floor during in-hospital cardiac arrest to improve chest compression depth 1
• Backboards: Either a backboard or no-backboard strategy is acceptable during CPR 1
• Air-filled mattresses should be deflated when performing CPR 1

Implementation Pitfalls to Avoid

• Bed Height Management: Failure to return beds to low position after treatments increases fall risk 2
• Overreliance on Side Rails: Side rails don't prevent falls and may increase injury severity if falls occur 1
• One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Single deck height settings are not optimal for all patients 3
• Ignoring Bed Design Impact: Different bed designs can influence patient migration by up to 115%, affecting both patient comfort and staff injury risk 4

Hospital beds are fundamental to patient care, affecting safety, comfort, and clinical outcomes. Their design should balance the needs of both patients and healthcare staff while considering specific requirements for different patient populations and clinical scenarios.