SURGICAL/CRITICAL CARE
SURGICAL/CRITICAL CARE Horizon-scanning next-generation
surgical beds, tables, exam chairs Could patients be in the recline, ride of their lives? by Rick Dana Barlow
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hether you’re an inpatient or out- patient at a hospital or ambu- latory surgery center, meeting
with your doctor or surgeon at a clinic or physician’s offi ce, chances are high that you as a patient have draped your body onto a surgical bed or table or folded your frame into an exam or procedure/ treatment chair. Although classifi ed as medical/surgical equipment, these beds, tables and chairs represent a trio of patient-centric work- horses seeing as how the patient likely spends the most of his or her time on any of them during an appointment or stay of any length.
Yet over the decades this trio has under-
gone a wealth of updates and upgrades – both technological and mechanical – so that to borrow and adapt a refrain from an old car commercial, they are not your father’s surgical beds and tables and exam and procedure/treatment chairs anymore. As a result, Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN) tapped the foresight of executives within several of the leading manufacturers of this medical/surgical equipment as a creative glimpse ahead of “what could- what might-what should” be in a future view of this foundational equipment in inpatient and outpatient settings. Disclaimer: HPN explicitly advised sources
not to share any trade secrets, upcoming design revelations or product manufacturing plans
in their responses. HPN just asked them to “imagine what if” to tickle the possibilities. As a result, none of what is shared represents any indication or intent of product design/manu- facturing direction. The goal was to motivate ideation and open-mindedness that is enter- taining, informative and maybe just a little bit profound.
What providers need Surgical beds and tables and exam and procedure/treatment chairs may seem like bread-and-butter, meat-and-potatoes med- ical/surgical equipment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean providers cannot get creative and fl exible in making effective and effi cient use of them for workfl ow and patient benefi ts. August Boehnlein, asso- ciate marketing manager, Midmark, chuckles at the thought and waxes philosophical.
“With so much focus on
wants and needs for the future of healthcare, this made me think of an anon-
August Boehnlein
ymous inspirational quote, ‘Focus on what you want, but never forget to be grateful for what you already have,’” he indicated. “How can we as healthcare manufacturers, providers and even patients utilize what we already have, to create a better healthcare environment in the future?”
14 December 2023 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
Then Boehnlein migrates to the meta- physical to put things in perspective. “At Midmark, we do not just manufac-
ture exam and procedure chairs, we design fully integrated healthcare ecosystems that help improve the clinician’s ability to work in a more effective and effi cient workfl ow that not only save the provider time but can also improve the overall experience and outcomes for the patient,” he noted. “When designing an exam room that promotes a more effective and effi cient workfl ow, we focus on the needs of both the patient and the provider. Both need an exam chair that is not just comfortable but is also easy for the patient to transfer on and off, and easy for the provider to position the patient, especially when a patient has a mobility challenge.” Boehnlein refers to the “Next-Generation Surgical Beds & Tables, Exam & Procedure/ Treatment Chairs Grid” as showcasing use- ful capabilities and features that share a common goal – to create a more effective and effi cient workfl ow by decreasing the workload on the clinical staff. “One way to accomplish this goal is to have an exam chair that allows the patient to transfer on and off without help,” he explained. “This allows the patient to feel more independent while also reducing the burden on the staff. Having an exam chair with a powered base and backrest that allows the provider to easily position
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