Hospital stretchers are used all over the world, especially in regions such as the United States, Singapore, and Italy. The variety of hospital stretchers available today has resulted in a more complicated and demanding job for hospital staff. With patients ranging from slightly overweight to severely obese, hospital stretchers must be able to adapt to the patient's specifications. Hospital staff must not only be able to carry out the hospital stretchers move independently, but also with minimal disturbance to the patients. To ensure the highest level of quality, hospital stretchers are required to be as mobile as possible. Most hospital stretchers must contain a bed mattress that is suitable for all patients and includes an additional rail for support when stabilizing on the floor.
While transporting a patient via an ambulance, hospital stretchers can be either hard stretchers or soft medical equipment. This will usually be decided by the type of patient involved. A soft hospital stretcher can be used if the person has not had time to acclimate themselves to their new position in the hospital, and can be easily transitioning from one platform to another. However, there may be times when the hard hospital stretchers are needed for transporting a patient that has not been properly acclimated to their new position. If the hard hospital stretchers are needed, many companies offer reconditioning services so that hospitals can return to using their previous bedding, and have their patients back in bed within a few hours. Increasing prevalence of hospitals in regions such as the United States, the requirements for hospital stretchers have also increased. For instance, according to American Hospital Association, there are around 6090 hospitals in the U.S. region.
A hospital stretcher that has a reclining back will allow the person being transported to lay flat on the ground. The stretcher will then be fitted with a chin-up apparatus that will hold the patient upright. Patients who are experiencing breathing issues will find that this type of hospital stretcher will work well for them. When transporting someone through an airport, it is recommended that they use hospital stretchers instead of a plane bed. Air beds have not only lost their appeal for transporting someone through an airport but also at sea. The problem with using an air bed in a sea vehicle is that it will mold around the shape of the person’s body.