ICU Bed: Guidelines and Features

Posted on 15 September, 2023

Hospital beds or ICU beds are a crucial part of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU), or Critical Care Unit (CCU), designed to care for critically ill patients till they are declared safe by doctors.

The importance of hospital beds in delivering exceptional care to patients is not unknown, and ICU beds are as important as other life-supporting equipment installed in the ICU. However, they differ from standard hospital beds. As a prominent hospital bed manufacturer, we are responsible for educating you about the basic guidelines for ICU beds, their functions and features. Thus, this blog.

ICU Beds Guidelines

ICU beds are special healthcare equipment that differs from all the beds in the hospital. They are made from antimicrobial material to make sure that patients stay safe from dangerous microbes.

For a hospital bed to be termed an ICU bed, it should meet a minimum of three guidelines mentioned below.

• Should be Electric: The caregivers should be able to operate the ICU bed by using a control panel or remote rather than repositioning it manually.
• Must have Trendelenburg Positioning Functions and Cardiac Chair: These features facilitate circulation and respiration to ensure the smooth functioning of bodily functions.
• Should Accommodate a Soft, Pressure-Relieving, and Flexible Mattress: Replacement or foam air mattresses provide comfort to bedridden patients; thus, ICU beds should have appropriate dimensions.

Features of ICU beds

Prana – our motorized ICU bed has all the necessary features an ICU bed should have to assist critically ill patients. They are.

CPR Release

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR Release is an important feature that hospitals demand in the ICU bed. In case of emergencies that are likely to take place in an ICU, this feature of ICU bed allows caregivers to flatten the ICU bed and give CPR to the critically ill immediately.

IV (Intravenous) Poles with Hooks

Prana features an IV pole with multiple hooks to help patients in need of multiple IV supplies simultaneously. The intravenous pole connected to the ICU bed makes it easy for the caregivers to move patients in case of emergency without moving different medical equipment. Moreover, it significantly lowers the risk of damage to the IV line and supply.

Staff Controls

It is understood that patients admitted to the ICU ward generally depend on caregivers to help them. When caring for the critically ill, the ICU staff and nurses need electric functions to control the positioning of the bed and certain functions without needing to adjust the bed manually. These functions usually come with remote controls on the headboard or a handset.

Trendelenburg Position and Cardiac Chair

The Trendelenburg position function in the ICU bed allows medical professionals to access pelvic organs, which is extremely helpful in procedures like gynecological, genitourinary, and colorectal surgery. Moreover, medical experts also use it in hypovolemic shock treatment to increase and improve blood circulation along with cardiac output.

The cardiac chair position helps in improving circulation and aids the ill to come to a sitting position without damaging the back or causing a strain.

Removable Footboards and Headboards

Hospitals often prefer beds with removable footboards and headboards for the ICU units. The primary benefits of removable beds are:

• Patients with breathing difficulties can be easily adjusted in the prone position.
• The headboard can be detached easily in case of emergency and when the doctor needs to take position behind the headboard.

 Wrapping Up

None can ignore the importance of electric ICU bed in delivering quality healthcare to severely ill patients. If you are looking for a quality ICU bed for your healthcare facility, contact Gita Mediquip!