Hospital Beds – The Basic Types
January 31, 2024

Hospital beds are undoubtedly a necessity in the hospital setting. Formerly, hospital beds never came with a range of options, but in recent times, variety is available. Picking which one is best for you depends on the purpose.

Manual Hospital Beds

Manual hospital beds are commonly found in healthcare facilities that are long-existing. Although they provide comfort for the patient, they are not as versatile as their modern counterparts, which are easier to control and can be adjusted into different positions.

The manual beds stand to be a great choice in places where the power supply is not totally reliable.

This type of bed requires the caregiver to be constantly available because, without them, the patient might just be stuck in a position, thereby being uncomfortable till they get help.

Manual hospital beds are durable and do not require much maintenance, unlike the other options. It is also cost-effective compared to others.

Semi-Electric Hospital Beds

As the name indicates, this type of hospital bed is partially manual and partially electric. There is only a slight difference between it and the fully electric bed. The electric features include adjusting the head part up and down and the foot end at the knee.

To adjust the height of the bed, the manual crank is used. This bed type is less stressful to operate when compared with the fully manual hospital beds.

The semi-electric hospital bed, because of its features, is a top pick in a setting where the height of the mattress does not require frequent adjustment.

Fully Electric Hospital Beds

The fully electric bed may be a little pricey, but its versatility is worth it. This bed allows you to adjust the head part up and down electrically, the feet part up and down, and the height.

One advantage of this type of bed is that it can be adjusted in the absence of a caregiver providing comfort to the patient at any point in time without stress. Another pro of the fully electric hospital bed is that it gives an accurate position placement with ease.

The downside to this bed is that it must be used with a stable supply of power, although some come with a battery pack. Another problem related to the electric bed is that electrical issues and problems with the remote may occur from time to time, requiring high maintenance.

There are several other types of hospital beds based on their functionality, size, and uses. Some are Bariatric Hospital beds, Gatch Beds, Fluid-Air Beds, Freedom Beds, Hospital cribs.

Hospital beds top the list of essential medical equipment in any hospital because they are used for patient examination, bed rest for recovering patients on admission, and even in homes with in-house patients.

When purchasing hospital beds, it is vital to consider the type of patients that will make use of it, caregivers, location, among other things.