| Admissions | Ambassadors | Accreditation | A to Z Degree Fields | Books | Catalog | Colleges | Contact Us | Continents/States | Construction | Contracts | Distance Education | Emergency | Emergency Medicine | Examinations | English Editing Service | Forms | Faculty | Governor | Grants | Hostels | Honorary Doctorate degree | Human Services | Human Resources | Internet | Investment | Instructors | Internship | Login | Lecture | Librarians | Languages | Manufacturing | Membership | Observers | Publication | Professional Examinations | Programs | Professions | Progress Report | Recommendations | Ration food and supplies | Research Grants | Researchers | Students login | School | Search | Software | Seminar | Study Center/Centre | Sponsorship | Tutoring | Thesis | Universities | Work counseling |
Types of Hospital Wards A hospital ward may be referred to as a section, unit, or even a floor of the hospital. The wards are typed according to the patients within the ward and their specific needs, diseases, or even their ages. The types of wards in one hospital may be entirely different from the wards in a hospital just a few miles away. Types of Hospital Beds There are many different types of beds used in a hospital. The ones you see when visiting someone at the hospital are not the only ones used throughout the facility. Different types of beds are used for different types of situations and patients' conditions and they serve different purposes of treatments. What Kind of Mattress Is on a Hospital Bed? Hospital beds may have inner spring, foam or air mattresses. If you've recently had to be admitted into the hospital, you may be acquainted with the comfort of hospital beds. These are not the stiff cots commonly found in emergency rooms, but rather fully adjustable, incredibly comfortable beds. However, while comfort and flexibility is always a must in a hospital bed mattress, different hospitals use different types of mattresses on their beds. Function A standard bed mattress won't bend with an adjustable bed, as a hospital bed must. Hospital bed mattresses are made to conform not only to different laying and sitting positions, but also to long-term use. After all, some patients may be confined to their hospital beds for weeks and even months at a time. Thus, mattresses have to be thin enough to bend with the adjustable bed frame, but also thick enough to provide adequate support and padding. Composition Many hospital bed mattresses are either inner-spring or foam mattresses. When money is a limiting factor, inner spring mattresses are usually chosen because they are the least expensive. People who rent hospital beds often use these types of mattresses, which are the least comfortable, according to Preferred Health Choice, a medical supply vendor. Yet foam mattresses are not that much more expensive and provide much more comfort, according to the PHC website. Another type of mattress often found on hospital beds is the air mattress. This is the most expensive type of mattress but provides the most customization, as patients can adjust the amount of air in the mattress to make the mattress just the right consistency for them. Capacity Hospitals usually look at a mattress' weight capacity when deciding on a model for their beds. Inner spring mattresses are often rated to support 250 lbs. of pressure, while foam mattresses often have weight capacities between 275 and 400 lbs. Specialty bariatric mattresses are made to support people above this weight. Usually, they are foam or air mattresses, or a combination of the two. A hospital that has mostly innerspring mattresses on its beds will likely have some beds with high-capacity mattresses to accommodate obese patients. Overlays People who need hospital beds in their home and expect to be bedridden for long periods of time may find that investing in a quality hospital bed mattress can greatly reduce the risk of getting bed sores and waking up with aches and pains. However, when money is an object, mattress overlays can be purchased. These overlays are like mattress pads for regular beds. |