Most Common Medical Equipment in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes house some of the most vulnerable members of the United States populations. Oftentimes, nursing home residents are there due to these facilities’ rapid access to care and strong internal communities. However, some nursing homes treat patients who are battling serious neurodegenerative diseases or are immunocompromised.
The medical equipment industry is innovating faster than many of these homes can keep up. To provide quality medical care, nursing homes are constantly looking to stay up to date, whether that means buying the newest equipment or maintaining a rigorous standard of frequent repair and calibration.
However, quality and quantity go hand in hand; nursing homes require a vast array of different types of medical equipment to stay functioning. These range from PPE to lifts to scales. No matter the complexity, all is vital in keeping those in nursing homes healthy. Below, we’ll list some of the most common types of medical equipment in nursing homes.
Medical Lifts
Medical lifts are devices used to assist patients and residents weakened by illness or age. ‘Lift’ is a vague term and generally can apply to any device used to transfer a patient or resident from a wheelchair, bed, bath or toilet. These devices place maneuverability, comfort, and safety at the center of their design.
There are two primary types of lifts: hydraulic and electric, with the latter being more expensive. Since these devices are used frequently, no matter the initial price they have to be replaced, repaired, or re-calibrated at some point. In fact, the FDA recommends replacing these devices immediately when fraying or wear is detected.
The Hoyer lift is the most common model in the medical lift industry. Companies such as Joerns Healthcare lead the pack, however models such as Lumex, Drive Medical, and Invacare are also highly reputable.
Oxygen Concentrators
As people age, their lungs get weaker. Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are common among the elderly. Furthermore, common issues such as pneumonia or a history of smoking nudge nursing homes to invest in oxygen concentrators.
Oxygen concentrators are normally used at home, but many residentially oriented nursing homes use them as well. These devices help patients to breathe easier over the course of the day by concentrating the oxygen that they filter.
Commonly purchased, reputable brands include Invacare, Dynarex, Devilbliss, Inogen and CAIRE.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) has been at the center of worldwide media coverage. PPE is a blanket term, however it generally applies to face shields, gloves, respirators and gowns.
PPE is vital in ensuring that caretakers and residents do not spread disease among the home.
PPE is typically bought in bulk. While prices jumped over the course of 2020, reputable sellers of PPE are CTI industries, Owens and Minors’, 3M and Honeywell.
Patient Alarms
Nursing homes usually house a large amount of elderly individuals and cannot employ enough staff to keep a constant eye on them. Patient alarms are an important part of the nursing home industry as they alert on-duty staff to the movements of their most vulnerable residents, especially those who are not sound to roam.
Patient alarms are also important for mentally sound patients who are at a risk of falling. These alarms can be worn on the residents’ clothes, arms, or mounted on doors and windows to alert staff if they have been opened.
These devices are incredibly important in ensuring patient safety and wellbeing, and aid in swift staff responses to wandering or debilitating falls. Patient alarm repair, re-calibration, and replacement are vital in staying up to date on a resident’s health.
Common patient alarm systems are those made by Bay Alarm, Cove Security, Drive Medical, Butler Mobility and Safe-t Mate.
Medical Scales
Scales are used constantly in the medical field. Weight is an important benchmark for health, as well as an indicator of disease or illness. Nursing homes use scales to monitor residents’ health and to refer residents to specific diet or exercise plans.
Medical scales have to be frequently re-calibrated and repaired due to constant use and importance. Our website can connect your nursing home or medical practice to professionals who can provide this service.
Common medical scales used in the nursing home industry are chair scales, floor scales and wheelchair scales. A variety of brands produce these, such as Algen, Doran and Welch Allyn.
Vital Monitors
Vital monitors are used everywhere in the healthcare industry, from major hospitals to telecare. Nursing homes are a part of that array. Vital monitors can be used as frequently as throughout the day or only during surgeries depending on the severity of the illness.
Nursing homes rely on wearable and non-wearable vital monitors for the elderly. From patches and needles to simple wristbands, nursing homes constantly try to stay on top of the innovation curve for this device.
Nursing homes invest in vital monitors that come in the form of apps for tablets, such as Welch Allyn or Verustat, or those that come in a more material form such as Mindray or Cardiac Direct monitors. Either way, vital monitors are crucial for tracking a resident's condition.
Patient Beds
Beds in a nursing home may sound common-sense, but this industry is rapidly innovating. Many residents in nursing homes are confined to their beds due to advanced illness or mobility issues. Because of this, these beds are not typically classified as ‘hospital beds’ and are instead called ‘long-term care beds.’ In the 21st century, patient beds have evolved to include ‘smart’ features and usually aim to make the patient and practitioner as comfortable as possible.
Aside from electronic elements, these beds usually have wheels so as to be mobile, and typically can mechanically adjust their position. Due to this, these devices must be frequently repaired.
Common brands of patient beds used in nursing homes are Invacare, PrimeCare and UltraCare.