Patients and staff are benefiting from the latest technology for comfort and safety, including warnings that project onto the floor. Photo: Hillrom
Patients are sleeping better, thanks to new beds that not only benefit them but also help staff do their jobs. Manufactured by HillromTM, the Centrella® Smart+ model beds positively impact patient safety, patient comfort and caregiver responsibilities.
“This important investment will help us further minimize hospital-acquired injuries,” said Karl Stark, MD, FACS, vascular surgeon, past-president of the Midwest Aortic & Vascular Institute, and medical director of NKCH’s Wound Healing Center.
For example, the beds help prevent wounds by providing continuous full-body pressure redistribution. The mattress automatically adjusts the air system to allow for changes in weight distribution. They accommodate patients 70-500 pounds.
The most common areas for wounds are at the heel and sacrum, but other areas can be injured, including the back of the head and elbows.
“Pressure wounds can happen in a short amount of time, especially in patients who have poor nutrition, are immobilized or paralyzed, have neurological problems, or are critically ill on ventilators,” Dr. Stark said. “These beds along with staff education, review of at-risk patients and other measures, show how NKCH is determined to increase awareness about preventing pressure wounds.”
By the end of September, NKCH will have changed 467 beds to Centrella® Smart+ models in the hospital and Pavilion. The features include:
Patient Safety
- At-a-glance floor image projections of the bed’s safety status
- Enhanced three-mode bed exit includes silence, auto reset and visual/audible safety prompts
- Audible safety prompts in five languages
- Motion-activated night light illuminates path for patients to get to and from bed
Patient Comfort
- USB charging port for personal electronic devices
- Storage areas for belongings
- Nurse call light
- Caregivers
- Intuitive, easy-to-use graphical screen
- Smart-bed technology with 37 data points, including weight measurements
- Foley limit setting to prevent Foley catheter bag from touching floor
Karl Stark, MD, FACS
Dr. Stark earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He completed his residency in general surgery at Truman Medical Center and a fellowship in vascular surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.