Is the
hospital bed a normal bed?
No. Hospital beds have added features, such as side rails to prevent
patients from falling out of the bed and the ability to move
patients in ways a normal bed cannot. Also, the doctors and nurses
often ask for a specialty bed depending upon the needs of a
particular patient. Specialty beds provide a variety of options
including special mattresses and the ability to turn patients
automatically.
Is the bed comfortable?
We hope so. Tell the ICU staff, if the bed is uncomfortable. The
manufacturers of the beds invest a lot of time and money designing
these beds to make them comfortable and effective.
Is a special bed needed when the patient
goes home?
Not usually. This is a question to ask the doctors and nurses.
Does the hospital bed mattress prevent
bedsores?
Bedsores (also called decubitus ulcers) are chronic open sores that
develop in patients confined to bed or otherwise immobilized. They
are caused by constant pressure of the person's weight on the skin.
They are usually located below a bone, such as the area of the
buttocks above the tailbone or beneath the hips. The mattress alone
does not prevent bedsores. Patients still need good nutrition and
frequent turning. The ICU staff turns the patient if the patient is
unable to turn effectively. In patients at high risk for bedsores,
nurses often place another mattress, called an overlay, on top of
the bed mattress. This helps avoid the development of bedsores. Even
with the best of care and special beds/mattresses, patients may
still develop bedsores.
When does a patient need a bed that turns
automatically?
Automatically turning beds are useful under certain circumstances.
The decision to use one of these specialty beds involves certain
risks and benefits to the patient and should be left up to the ICU
team caring for the patient. An automatically turning bed is used to
improve lung recovery, prevent skin breakdown and prevent lung
infections. These beds often turn at sharp angles and may make the
patient uncomfortable if the angle is too sharp. The nurses will
closely watch to make sure the bed does not cause discomfort.
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Special air bed |
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Automatic turning bed |
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Hospital Beds and Mattresses 
