What Air Beds Are Used In Hospitals? And Should You Buy One?

An air bed is an ideal choice for camping trips, occasionally for guests, or for patients at home and in hospitals. When one of your loved ones is suffering from a medical condition, your first goal is to ensure that they are comfortable because this will help with their recovery. Air beds are ideal for post-operative recovery because their firmness can be customized to suit the patient’s needs. In this article, we’ll discuss what air beds are used in hospitals and help you determine how to choose one that would fit your needs. 

Air beds used in hospitals are developed by medical bed manufacturers like Drive Medical, Medical King USA, and Roscoe Medical. They are used to prevent pressure sores, improve blood circulation, assist with temperature regulation, and are convenient to use. It is possible to buy a medical air bed or rent one from a reputable company.

The alternating pressure of a hospital air bed prevents pressure sores and assists with post-operative recovery. Image Source: Amazon.

Why Do Hospitals Use Air Beds? Benefits Of Air Beds For Patients

The restricted blood flow in patients who are bedridden or have lost mobility can cause the breakdown of skin, which causes ulcers. Therefore, an air mattress for a hospital bed is strongly recommended to lower the chances of getting pressure sores and ulcers. 

The alternating pressure regulation of hospital air beds eliminates direct pressure on a patient’s body. This helps to control and prevent bedsores. Other benefits of using medical air beds include improved blood circulation, better temperature regulation, and convenience.

Medical air beds are made up of several inflated air tubes that alternately inflate and deflate, promoting comfort and ensuring there isn’t excessive pressure on any pressure point. For more information on air bed benefits, read our comprehensive guide.

Pressure Sore Prevention

Patients who spend long periods of time in bed are more likely to develop bedsores and pressure sores. This occurs as a result of constant pressure on a particular area of skin. However, the problem can be prevented with an air mattress designed for patients with bedsores. 

Medical air mattresses, like this one, are designed in a way that allows the mattress to alternate pressure points. This prevents prolonged pressure on the same region and inhibits the formation and growth of pressure sores and ulcers.  

Improved Blood Circulation

When there is a lot of pressure on the skin, the blood supply to the skin is cut off. This causes the skin to break down, which results in ulcer formation. By increasing blood flow and circulation, air pressure mattresses assist with pressure sore prevention and treatment. 

Medical air beds consist of several air cylinders placed parallel to each other. The air flows in a succession from one cylinder to the next, stimulating blood flow in regions where pressure ulcers are more likely to form. The deflation of one air chamber causes the inflation of another. This article from Cnki.com explains how the air movement within the pneumatic mattress encourages blood circulation in the patient’s limbs and torso by alternating the pressure on the patient’s body.

Temperature Regulation

Medical air beds use low air loss therapy. This technology allows a tiny amount of air in the mattress to leak out through numerous small perforations underneath the mattress. The gradual release of air from a low air loss medical air bed, like this one, helps lower your body temperature and keeps the surface cool for sleeping. This article from Pubmed evaluates using low-air-loss therapy in the treatment of patients with pressure ulcers. You might also find some helpful information in our related article discussing whether wool mattress toppers keep you cool while you’re sleeping.

Convenience

Patients’ mattresses must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. Air mattresses are lighter and easier to maneuver than other hefty mattress alternatives. They have durable and waterproof outers, which makes them easy and quick to clean. 

What Air Beds Are Used In Hospitals?

Each medical mattress system has its own special characteristics that make it a great support surface for patient therapy and rehabilitation. These medical mattresses are made to relieve pressure points, improve comfort, mobility, and overall well-being. Read our article that discusses whether air beds are good for your back, to learn more about their benefits. 

The most common air beds used in hospitals are created by Medical King, Roscoe Medical, and Drive Medical. Choose a bed manufactured by Medical King for increased circulation and prevention of bedsores, from Roscoe Medical for better blood circulation, and Drive Medical for temperature regulation and pressure point relief.

Brand 1. Medical King 

This Medical King air bed is the best model for patients with bedsores. It is one of the most cost-effective choices on the market, yet it comes with a lot of useful functions. It uses 130 distinct air cells, which inflate and deflate in an alternating sequence. You can also select between different pressure levels for your own customization. The mattress is waterproof, durable, resistant to punctures, and can hold up to 350 pounds. If you want to learn more about the weight capacities of various air bed types, then read our article on air mattress weight limits. You can also learn more about Medical King beds on their website.

This Medical King air mattress is very beneficial for alternating pressure points and preventing bedsores. Image source: Amazon.

Brand 2. Roscoe Medical 

Roscoe Medical is another brand of medical supplies that provides hospitals with medical air beds. The most suitable electric air mattress for hospital beds is the Roscoe Medical Meridian. You can place it on top of any existing mattress if you require blood circulation support, as the mattress uses alternating pressure to improve the blood flow. This model also allows you to customize the firmness to your preferences. It is quiet when in use, ensuring that you get a good night’s sleep.  

This medical air mattress for hospital beds inflates with alternating pressure in order to prevent bedsores and pressure ulcers. Image Source: Amazon.

Brand 3. Drive Medical 

This Drive Medical hospital air bed is a great low-air-loss mattress for hospital beds. It is a sophisticated model that is more expensive than many other alternatives. The dual-purpose mattress serves as both a low-air-loss and an alternating-pressure mattress. Depending on your medical needs, you can have the air cells inflate in tandem or alternately. The mattress includes 20 air bladders, nine of which have laser holes for reduced air loss and increased patient comfort by keeping the afflicted region cool and dry. Read our article on how to replace an air bed bladder for more information about finding and replacing one. The Drive Medical air bed guarantees a quick recovery and a comfortable sleep without sweating, whilst running smoothly and quietly, with no vibrations. 

This air bed from Drive Medical offers both alternating pressure and minimal air loss to ensure pressure redistribution. Image source: Amazon.

Here is a summary of the pros and cons of the three main medical air bed manufacturers:

Air Bed Brand	Pros	Cons
Medical King	The air mattress is extremely cost-effective. It has a greater weight capacity than the norm. You may select from a variety of pressure settings as well as an alternating mode. The mattress is waterproof and puncture-resistant.	The air mattress tends to bunch up at times.
Roscoe Medical	The air mattress is cost-effective. It prevents bedsores by using alternating pressure. It is long-lasting and resistant. It is suitable for usage on top of any mattress. The electric pump is completely silent. You have the option of selecting the inflation firmness.	It vibrates slightly
Drive Medical	This air mattress combines alternating pressure and low air loss. It comes with a static cushion for added comfort. The inflating tubes may be taken apart. The cover is waterproof, abrasion-resistant, and breathable. The motor is efficient, quiet, and vibration-free.	It is more expensive than other options.

Choosing A Medical Air Mattress – What To Consider

There are some things to consider when choosing a medical air mattress. Investing in a good hospital bed air mattress could mean not getting bedsores and staying healthier. As a result, we recommend that you take your time reading reviews and researching thoroughly, before deciding on the ideal model for you. 

When choosing a medical air mattress select one with individual air cells for pressure sores. Select a medical air mattress with electronic adjustability for comfort and recovery, and choose one with low-air loss or thermoregulating cooling features. 

Here are our tips for choosing a medical air bed:

Tip 1. Find A Bed For Pressure Sores

If you’re concerned about pressure points or bedsores, alternating pressure is the way to go. An air bed for bedsores like this provides an alternating pressure sequence which enables the pressure to be constantly displaced. As a result, the pressure and movement of the various mattress components aid in better blood circulation. If you want to read more about pressure sore prevention then take a look at our article on choosing a mattress topper for a hospital bed. 

Tip 2. Opt for Electronically Adjustable Beds

An adjustable air bed is a bed that can move and bends to provide a variety of sitting and sleeping positions. It allows the sleeper to adjust parts of the bed to better accommodate the natural curvature of the spine. It can also be inflated and deflated to achieve the desired firmness for optimal comfort. This adjustable bed is especially useful following surgery or if you have limited mobility.

Tip 3. Select Cooling Beds

Hospital bed air mattresses like these can improve airflow and keep the sleeper cool. They use low-air loss technology, which enables the gradual release of air from the inside of the mattress over a long period. The slow release of air can help to regulate body temperature and keep the sleeping surface comfortable. If you want to learn more about ways to cool down a bed that is too warm, then read our article about how to fix a mattress topper that is too warm.  Similarly, you might find interest in learning how to reduce mattress topper smells as well. This related article might help save you some stress in the long run.

Below is a summary of what to look for in an air bed before making a purchase:

Ailment	What To Look For In An Air Bed	Example from Amazon
Pressure Sores	Alternating pressure feature	Alternating Pressure Medical Air Mattress
Weakness/Fatigue	Multiple individual air cells for better blood circulation	Drive Medical Low Air Loss and Alternating Pressure Air bed
Irregular Temperature	Low-air loss technology	Apex Medical  Low Air Loss Alternating Overlay Pressure Mattress

You may also find interest in our comparison of the air bed vs. sleep number as well as our complete guide to air bed costs, be sure to check out our related articles to find out more.

Hospital Bed Air Mattress Rental Options

It is possible to rent a hospital bed air mattress and keep it for short or long-term use. There are many companies offering medical supply rentals that even have air beds for rent. 

Options to rent a hospital bed air mattress include Agiliti Health, Mobility Hire, or HomePro Medical, for short or long-term use. 

Company 1. Agiliti Health

Agiliti is a company that specializes in hospital bed and therapy mattress rentals. They provide high-quality mattresses with alternating pressure settings and many other features that can have a profound impact on a patient’s health. 

Company 2. Mobility Hire

Mobility Hire provides medical beds and other equipment for rent. They offer both delivery and pick-up services. They also have a variety of air beds with different sizes to suit everyone’s needs. You have the possibility to rent items for one week, two weeks, or a whole month. 

Company 3. HomePro Medical

HomePro Medical is a company that offers medical supplies for sale and for rent. Many of their products are available for short and long-term rentals. They provide alternating pressure mattresses for patients that have bedsores and that need wound treatment. 

Key Takeaways

Hospital Air Bed Benefits

Air beds in hospitals are indispensable for patients, especially post-operative cases, as they promote comfort, aid in preventing pressure sores, and improve blood circulation. Their ability to customize firmness caters to individual patient needs, making them a practical choice for medical settings.

Types of Air Beds Used in Hospitals

Prominent medical bed manufacturers like Drive Medical, Medical King USA, and Roscoe Medical design air beds specifically for hospital use. Their designs focus on alleviating pressure points, enhancing blood circulation, and regulating temperature for the patient’s comfort and quicker recovery.

Choosing the Right Medical Air Bed

When considering a medical air bed, factors such as alternating pressure features for preventing pressure sores, electronic adjustability for tailored comfort, and low-air loss or thermoregulating cooling features for temperature regulation are crucial to ensure the patient’s comfort and health.

Rental Options for Hospital Air Beds

Renting a hospital air bed is a feasible option for short or long-term needs. Companies like Agiliti Health, Mobility Hire, and HomePro Medical offer rental services, providing a variety of air beds to suit different medical requirements, making this option both flexible and cost-effective.