The Complete Guide to Healthcare Sleepers

Most hospitals provide an area in each patient room specifically designated as a family zone, wherein family members and friends are permitted to stay, whether it be for a few hours or overnight. The family zone of a patient room is located farthest away from the door and usually includes comfortable furniture to keep guests content when they need to be in the room for long periods. Sleeper chairs are often supplied so that friends and family can rest at the hospital when watching over their loved ones.

Types of Sleeper Chairs

Several styles of sleeper chairs and sofas are available.

Pull-Out Sleepers

Pull-out sleeper chairs look similar to club chairs and have a seat that pulls forward to extend into a bed. The benefit to this type of sleeping chair is that it has a small initial footprint and is usually portable for easy cleaning. However, be sure your patient rooms have enough space for this type of sleeper to pull out all the way without impeding caregivers while they work. Because the clearance for these convertible chairs is much greater extended than when it’s closed up, you’ll need to make sure that healthcare providers can move around the sleeper while it’s pulled out in bed form.

Side-Opening Sleepers

Side-opening sofa beds look similar to loveseats and contain a mattress that pulls out from the side, hence the name. Like pull-out sleepers in chair form, side-opening loveseat sleepers have a small initial footprint, but the room must accommodate the larger footprint that the unit takes up when used as a bed.

Daybed Sleepers

Daybed sleepers look like sofas. This type of sleeper couch takes up no additional space in a room when used as a bed because it works via a flip-down back that is folded on top of the seat and then laid on.

Double Sleepers

Most commonly used in pediatric hospitals, double sleepers are provided for parents who want to stay in the hospital with their child. This type of hospital sofa bed is usually pull-out style but twice the size of the average sleeper.

Questions to Ask Before Selecting Sleeper Sofas and Chairs

What will the room truly accommodate? Be honest about how much space you have to work in your patient rooms. You may prefer a pull-out sleeper, but if there isn’t enough clearance between the wall and the patient bed, a daybed sleeper could be a better option.

Are the walls protected? Many people don’t account for wall protection when selecting new furniture. Because they’re used for long hours at a time by hospital guests, sleepers can get moved around in a rough manner. To prevent scuffs on your patient room walls, opt for a sleeper with a wall-saver backrest design.

How will it be cleaned? When it comes to furniture, there are few things in a healthcare facility that are more important than cleanliness. Most sleeper couches are upholstered in healthcare-grade vinyl, which is antimicrobial and a breeze to keep clean. You may also want to look for a unit with a lot of replaceable parts, as these can be disassembled for more thorough cleaning. Make sure that the space where guests sit is separate from the space where guests will rest their heads to sleep.

Is storage needed? Caregivers can use storage underneath the sleeper to store pillows and blankets. It can also be a safe space for guests to keep personal belongings. Some patient rooms may already have space for these purposes, but if yours don’t, then choosing sleepers with built-in storage is probably the best option.

Healthcare Guides

The Complete Guide to Healthcare Recliners

If your medical facility is looking to purchase new recliners, you may be overwhelmed by the options. How are you supposed to know the difference from one to the next? This guide is a great starting point.

Treatment Recliners

Treatment recliners have a simple, functional design and are meant to be used for short periods during exams or clinical use. This type of chair is often used for dialysis, oncology, and geriatric situations where the patient will not need to be seated in the chair for more than a couple of hours. Treatment recliners are the most basic form of healthcare recliner and are designed for function above style.

Senior Living and Long-Term Care Recliners

Long-term care recliners are designed for senior living and nursing homes. They feature a more residential look than treatment recliners and usually include rocking or gliding functionality. These seating options are typically smaller than most healthcare recliners, making it easier for senior citizens to get out of the seat. These recliners typically have limited customizable features, so what you see is what you get.

Patient Room Recliners

Patient room recliners are made with commercial-grade durability and are heavy-duty for continuous use. Most include replaceable parts so that if a backrest, seat, or other portion of the chair breaks or tears, you can simply replace that one part rather than having to purchase a completely new recliner.

When it comes to customization, patient room recliners have plenty to choose from. You can choose how you want the chair to recline, how mobile you want it to be, and what accessories you need. Common recliner accessories include footrests and IV holders. There are even patient room recliners with heated seats. Drop and fold-down transfer arm options are also available for patients who need to be transferred from a wheelchair.

When it comes to transportation of the unit, you can choose from small wheels that are good simply for moving the unit out of the way for cleaning or bigger wheels for actually moving patients from place to place in the recliners.

Specialty Recliners

Specialty recliners come in a wide variety and are designed for very specific purposes.

Trendelenburg recliners are used when a patient’s position needs to be moved to a negative recline as quickly as possible. For example, if a patient were to pass out while in the recliner, the Trendelenburg tilt allows caregivers to tilt the bed backward to keep the patient’s feet higher than the head.

Bariatric recliners can support 750 pounds or more. Ideal for larger patients, these recliners have much wider seats than standard options and limited recline for the safety of both the user and caregivers.

Pediatric recliners are designed to accommodate children comfortably. As you might expect, this type of recliner is typically built smaller than average for use in the children’s wing. Many options are equipped to support gaming systems so that the patient can stay busy during what may otherwise be an uncomfortable or even frightening visit to the doctor.

The Complete Guide to Overbed Tables

Does your healthcare facility need new overbed tables? There’s more to these little bed trays than you may think. From the shape of the base to the weight capacity, options vary based on the application for which you will use the overbed table. Here’s what you need to know.

Senior Living and Home Health Overbed Tables

Senior living and home health overbed tables are light duty and designed without any bells or whistles. This type of overbed table is the most inexpensive option. However, be aware that they are designed for use with a regular bed, not a hospital bed. Most of these tables are adjustable in height but do not have much additional functionality. Color options are also limited.

Tip: Senior living overbed tables usually do not include accessories, so make sure your patients do not require special features if you’re thinking of this option.

Inpatient Overbed Tables

Inpatient overbed tables are designed for use in clinical and acute care facilities. Multiple base styles, including H-, U-, and C-shaped bases, are available to ensure your choice will fit under and over your hospital beds. These options are more heavy-duty than senior living tables, and they can usually support more than 100 pounds at a time.

Many options are equipped to work with technology to perform duties such as rising and lowering at the same time as a hospital bed. Other features may include cupholders, spill guards, and vanity kits. Sometimes drawers are provided for holding small items the patient would like to keep nearby. Dual surface trays are also available to offer twice the surface space without taking up much additional room.

Tip: Make sure you know what type of base will fit best under your hospital beds before you start your search for overbed tables. Your tables won’t work if they can’t fit under the beds in your facility.

Bariatric Overbed Tables

Bariatric overbed tables are similar to inpatient units in functionality and construction, but they are designed with an elongated table top to reach out to larger individuals lying in bed.

Tip: Every clinical and acute care facility should offer bariatric seating and overbed tables to ensure that every patient feels as comfortable as possible during their stay.

The Complete Guide to Exam Tables

Need new exam tables for your healthcare facility? From keeping patients and caregivers safe to meeting health codes and sticking to your budget, choosing the right tables for your hospital or private practice can be challenging. We’re breaking down the different types of exam tables along with their benefits so you can have a comprehensive look at what to expect before you start shopping.

Treatment Tables

Treatment tables are the simplest form of exam table, and they are commonly found in physical therapy facilities and other medical areas where similar treatments are performed. These tables are padded for comfort and upholstered in healthcare-grade vinyl for easy cleaning. Some have a shelf or storage drawers underneath the seated area, but treatment tables are generally quite simple and meant only to provide basic functions needed in an exam area.

Box Tables

Standard box tables are found in most exam rooms. These feature the same padded vinyl seats as treatment tables, but the backrest of the chair moves up and down either pneumatically or electrically so you can easily reposition the patient as needed. Box tables typically include a heavy-duty step to assist patients in getting onto the table, which is raised high off the ground so that the exam can take place. Storage is often included within this type of healthcare table so you can keep that hospital gowns and paper rolls nearby.

Tip: Choose a box table with dual access drawers when outfitting a small exam room. This ensures that healthcare providers can get to the contents of the drawers easily, no matter the location of the exam table.

ADA Exam Tables

If your facility sees many patients that might have trouble getting up into a box table (including the elderly and individuals with disabilities), then consider equipping your exam rooms with ADA exam tables. These tables have an electric lift that the patient can simply step or be placed onto that then rises and brings them up to the seat. Not only does this make doctor visits easier and safer for patients and caregivers, but it also provides a more dignified experience for the patient, ensuring they will always feel comfortable during their appointments.

Tip: If you’re considering adding ADA exam tables to your healthcare facility but are deterred by the high cost, know that tax credits are often available to lower the cost of ADA tables closer to that of the average box table.

Procedure Tables

Procedure tables are designed for use while medical professionals perform minor procedures. Most of these have an adjustable height feature and preset positions to make performing these procedures easier. Like treatment and box tables, they often include storage and are upholstered in easy-to-clean, antimicrobial vinyl.

Specialty Exam Tables

Specialty tables are used in specialty medical exam areas such as radiology or imaging rooms. Accessories and special features like stirrups and drop windows help healthcare providers provide the best care in these settings.

Mobile Exam Tables

Mobile exam tables are movable via integrated lockable casters. This feature allows caretakers and cleaning crews to easily move the tables to clean or rearrange the room as needed.

Pediatric Exam Tables

If you work in a pediatric care facility, then these tables are just what you and your patients need. Pediatric tables are smaller than standard treatment tables, typically sized appropriately for children of various ages. Most importantly, they’re designed with fun art and bright colors that help make children feel more at ease when visiting the doctor—an experience that can be scary for young ones.

Exam Table Accessories

Most exam room tables are compatible with a multitude of accessories which you can usually order along with your table. These accessories include but are not limited to stirrups with or without warming capabilities, drainage trays, and movable armrests.

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