Bariatric Beds and The Importance of Adaptability
Bariatric Care Encompasses a Wide Range of Health Conditions
More than 32 million U.S. adults meet the criteria from the National Institute of Health for bariatric surgery.1 However, “bariatric care,” or care for people who are very obese, encompasses more than bariatric surgery. Because those living with obesity are more likely to have comorbidities than people who are not obese, bariatric care includes a wide range of health conditions – and the higher a person's BMI, the higher the risk is of developing multiple comorbidities.2
Comorbidities include type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, to name a few. Obesity is also a risk factor for many types of cancer, with the risk increasing based on the amount of weight gained and how long someone is overweight.3 And regardless of why a person might seek healthcare, whether it be for a routine check-up or an emergency visit to the ER, being obese adds an additional layer of stress to a patient’s experience. Obstacles bariatric patients face when receiving care range from a nurse having trouble placing an IV due to excess fat obscuring the veins, to mobility issues, to psychological distress.
Equipping Healthcare Settings for A Variety of Bariatric Care Needs
As obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., the above obstacles will only become more commonplace and pronounced, which is why healthcare settings must be armed with equipment that helps make bariatric caregivers’ jobs easier and patients’ experiences more tolerable.4 This includes bariatric hospital beds.
Because of the range of conditions bariatric patients might be facing, bariatric beds need to function just as well in an operating room, for a surgery like bariatric surgery, as they do in an ICU, for treatment of a condition like cardiovascular disease. While there’s a big difference between a patient receiving care for cardiovascular issues and a patient receiving care for bariatric surgery, both scenarios must prioritize patient comfort and care. Depending on its build, a bariatric bed could either hinder or enhance a nurse’s ability to properly care for a bariatric patient. For example, if a nurse in a busy unit is handling several patients with varying complex needs, a bariatric bed with a conveniently accessible drive system, like the VersaTech Bariatric Bed’s VersaDrive system, simplifies the nurse’s ability to efficiently move the patient. What’s more, VersaDrive’s commands placement on the footboard allows the nurse to maintain visual contact with a patient while moving the bed – a unique feature among bariatric beds in today’s market.
How the VersaTech Bariatric Bed Pulls Its Weight Across Conditions and Settings
The VersaTech Bariatric Bed checks the boxes across a variety of caregiving scenarios through efficient design, reliability, responsiveness, and optimum value.
From cardiovascular to bariatric surgery care, the VersaTech Bariatric Bed accommodates a variety of patient and caregiver needs through the following features:
Lowest Bed height:
- At its lowest setting, the bed is only 8 inches from the ground.
Superior Adaptability:
- Load capacity of up to 1100lbs
- Deck width of 36'', 39'', 42'' or 48''
- Deck length of 80'', 84'' or 88''
- Backrest/headrest range of 0-70°
Intuitive Maneuverability:
- At only 539 lbs with the drive assist system, the VersaTech Bariatric Bed is the lightest bariatric bed on the market
- Lock and Steer Anti-Static Double 5'' Casters
- The VersaDrive system allows caregivers the ability to face patients during transport
With a range of weight, width, and length settings, Rotec’s VersaTech Bariatric Bed can be customized to fit a variety of patient sizes and needs as patients seek care for conditions that could temporarily limit their mobility, or necessitate more customized support from caregivers. Likewise, the bed’s intuitive drive assist system gives caregivers the ability to safely move the bed between settings, potentially avoiding unnecessary transport injuries.
Is Your Facility Ready?
U.S. healthcare facilities must be ready with equipment that meets the challenges of caregiving today. Providing high-quality bariatric care across settings and conditions is one of those challenges. The VersaTech Bariatric Bed not only equips caregivers to provide that care, but it improves the patient care experience through features such as a variety of size and weight settings, superior maneuverability, and a user-friendly control panel at the foot of the bed. At your facility, these features could mean the difference between frustration and comfort.
About Rotec
With over 40 years of dedication to applying industry best practices in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, our beds consistently meet the highest standards of care. We firmly believe that patients and their families deserve nothing but the best care, maximum comfort, autonomy, and dignity. We understand that nurses and caregivers rely on equipment that gives them the confidence and security to deliver optimum patient well-being. Contact us to learn more about how our patented innovations are a testament to our unwavering dedication and expertise.
Sources
- Gasoyan, H., Soans, R., Ibrahim, J. K., Aaronson, W. E., & Sarwer, D. B. (2020). Do Insurance-mandated Precertification Criteria and Insurance Plan Type Determine the Utilization of Bariatric Surgery Among Individuals With Private Insurance? Medical Care, 58(11), 952–957. https://doi.org/10.1097/mlr.0000000000001358
- Liu, N., Birstler, J., Venkatesh, M., Hanrahan, L., Chen, G., & Funk, L. (2021). Obesity and BMI Cut Points for Associated Comorbidities: Electronic Health Record Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(8), e24017. https://doi.org/10.2196/24017
- National Cancer Institute. (2015, April 29). Risk Factors: Obesity - National Cancer Institute. Www.cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity
- Reierson, B. (2022, July 15). Rising Obesity Rates in America; A Public Health Crisis. Obesity Medicine Association. https://obesitymedicine.org/blog/rising-obesity-rates-in-america-a-public-health-crisis/
- Driscoll, A., & Gregory, E. (2020). Key findings Data from the National Vital Statistics System. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db392-H.pdf