Medical cots are designed to provide patients with a healing environment and recovery while offering comfort, safety, and stability. However, the requirements of individuals are different, and a single hospital bed cannot suit various patients.
There’s a variety of hospital bed types and styles, some of which are even portable. The largest part of portable medical cots features a folding design and lightweight frame. Have a look at the different types of medical cots.
Portable medical cots
These medical cots are the best solution for hospitals in need of extra capacity or medical organizations that provide temporary accommodation to injured or ill people. These beds make sure patients are at the right height for healthcare professionals to work comfortably when faced with emergency scenarios.
The most incredible aspect of portable medical cots is their folding design, which enables easy storage. This piece of equipment can be broken down and stored away along with the safety rails. As far as deployment is concerned, these portable cots can be deployed in no longer than two minutes.
Apart from providing space for individuals to lie down in emergency response situations, portable medical cots can be used for active patient care as well. Some of the best models in the market come with an aluminum frame, which is resistant to rust, along with a soil-resistant, waterproof, and antimicrobial mattress. Check out fourteen types of mattresses you should know about.
Manual
A manual bed doesn’t rely on electric means to allow patients and healthcare workers to adjust its position. It has a hand crack located near the head of the bed, which is used for position adjustment. These models are unquestionably the most budget-friendly medical cots due to the offer of limited positioning options.
Manual hospital beds are suitable for patients who don’t require frequent position adjustments. Unless the user is capable of operating the hand crank, a caregiver must be assigned to perform the adjustments.
Semi-electric
Another type of hospital bed is the semi-electric variant. These models provide users with both manual and electric position adjustments. The height of the cot is usually adjusted manually with the help of a hand crack. In contrast, the adjustments of the head and feet can be performed with the touch of a button.
Despite height adjustments, patients can adjust their heads and feet themselves without any assistance. These models provide excellent comfort and support to patients, although their price is much lower compared to fully electric models. Semi-electric cots are suitable for users not being physically able to operate a manual bed.
Electric
Electric hospital beds provide the best convenience, support level, and comfort for users. Every single element of the medical cot is motorized, meaning almost no effort is required from patients or caregivers for operating it. Head, foot, and height adjustments are all operated with a button click. Electric models come with additional positions to provide greater comfort to users.
For instance, the Trendelburg position is when the bed platform is raised to an angle of fifteen to thirty degrees in order for the feet of the patient to be above its head. Such a position is recommended in patients who need to improve their blood circulation. The following link, https://www.webmd.com/dvt/ss/slideshow-dvt-improve-circulation, includes some tips for improving your circulation.
In contrast, the reverse Trendelenburg position is entirely opposite of the one we just mentioned. In this position, the head of the patent is supposed to be on a higher level than his/her feet. It helps individuals breathe better and relieves their pressure. Conversely, the cardiac chair positon is suitable for patients who have undergone heart surgery, as they’re believed to recover faster by sitting in an upright position.
Therefore, most electric hospital beds have a cardiac chair position integrated into their design. By using the buttons on the cot, patients can switch from a lying position to a cardiac chair position without making any major movements. On the negative side, electric models are the costliest to purchase and might stop working completely as a result of equipment failure.
Medical cots for specific purposes
There are hospital beds designed for specific purposes to cater to patients with special needs. For instance, bariatric medical cots are usually stronger and larger than regular hospital beds, as they are manufactured to accommodate bariatric patients. Their sleeping surface is larger, and these models can support individuals who weigh no more than 1200 pounds.
Furthermore, low beds, as the name implies, are low almost to the ground. Some models are operated manually, whereas others are fully electric. They are specially designed for individuals with a risk of falling off the cot, such as those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Also, low beds are helpful to patients with mobility constraints who face difficulties getting on and off the cot.
Gatch beds are mainly used in rural medical outposts and hospitals in locations experiencing financial hardship. These models are popular for their cost-effectiveness, reliability, and durability. They feature three movable sections that support the feet, head, and knee. Spring mechanisms are used to make these sections movable.
The design of these medical cots strives to elevate the body in order to provide relief of respiratory condition symptoms, such as asthma and pneumonia symptoms. By elevating the bodies of individuals into a sitting position, the fluid is more easily freed from the chest and lungs. On the negative side, the manual operation of Gatch models requires assistance from a caregiver or family member.
Fluidized air beds are used by medical facilities to provide comfort to patients with wounds whose healing process goes slowly. The weight of individuals is distributed evenly over the mattress. The pressure on the body of individuals is minimized owing to the holes through which air is released. The environment provided by fluidized air beds is ideal for wound recovery, as they control body pressure, temperature, friction, and moisture.
Final thoughts
Each type of medical cot is designed to suit individuals with specific needs!
