Transitioning from a hospital to home can be difficult for Patients because they are no longer surrounded by the medical professionals and equipment used to monitor and treat them. At-home hospital-grade medical equipment provides a solution by allowing patients to take some of the same high-quality, medically-orientated healthcare equipment that helped them during their time in the hospital and utilise it in their own homes.
Many Challenges exist when transitioning from a hospital to home. For example:
- limited mobility
- Difficulty rising from bed and sitting down
- increased risk of falling
- Pain when engaging in day-to-day activity
- Challenges related to personal hygiene (bathing, dressing etc.)
- Need for continuous respiratory or circulatory monitoring
- fatigue and physical strain experienced by Caregivers
If the aforementioned Challenges are not resolved, complications, delays in healing, and potential rehospitalization could result.
Hospital grade medical equipment
Hospital grade medical equipment means medical devices made to provide clinical quality support in a non-hospital setting. This type of equipment differs from common household furniture or products due to its focus on patient safety, comfort, and rehabilitation.
Examples of this type of equipment include:
- adjustable hospital beds
- Pressure relief mattresses
- wheel chairs
- rollators/walkers
- patient lifts
- mobility scooters
- bedside commodes
- Shower chairs
- Oxygen concentrators
- cpap/bi-pap machines
- over-bed tables
- many other types of equipment
All of these items enable many of the supportive functions Patients depend on while being treated in the hospital.
Better rest = better recovery
Rest, proper position, and decreased physical exertion are all critical elements in recovery. A variety of devices assist with these factors.
For example:
Hospital beds give Patients the ability to change the angle of their legs and head while resting/sleeping which makes getting up/down easier; sleeping/eating/reading/reclining more enjoyable; and getting out of bed simpler. Pressure relief mattresses help to reduce the risk of developing Pressure ulcers for those Patients confined to bed for extended periods.
More comfortable Patients tend to sleep better; experience less discomfort/Pain; and recover more effectively.
Enhanced home safety
Slips/falls are one of the most frequent reasons Patients recover at home suffer injuries. Much safer environments can be created through the utilization of hospital grade medical equipment at home. Supportive equipment such as walkers/grab bars/transfer aids/patient lifts enhance the stability of recovering Patients and give them the confidence to navigate through their environment with ease. Small accessories like bedside rails/Shower seats greatly decrease the risks associated with slipping/falling in areas where accidents typically happen.
Relieving strain on family members/Caregivers
Often times family members become carers once a loved one leaves the hospital. Even though caring for someone can be very fulfilling, caregiving can also be quite physically demanding. Hospital-grade medical equipment decreases the amount of energy needed to lift/move/clean/feed/bathe Patients. Benefits for Caregivers include:
- reduced back/muscle injury
- easier transfers
- more confidence in providing daily care
- less stress & fatigue
- improved independence of patient
When Caregivers possess the appropriate medical support equipment, they will be able to devote more time focusing on emotional support rather than expending excess energy on strenuous daily tasks.
Empowering Patients to remain independent
Independence has numerous positive effects on emotional well-being throughout the recovery process. Portable mobility equipment enables Patients to safely complete various daily activities without relying on others for assistance. Whether walking short distances using a rollator/walking device or traveling longer distances using a wheelchair, or safely taking showers utilizing special bathroom-related equipment; Patients build trust in themselves as they gradually gain more autonomy over their lives. Often times regaining independence boosts motivation; enhances mental health; and results in an enhanced overall quality of life.
Decreasing risk of rehospitalization
Primary objectives of post-hospital care involve avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions. Hospital-grade medical equipment supports:
- proper recovery positioning
- avoidance of falls/injuries
- appropriate respiratory care
- safe mobility
- reduction in Pressure injuries
- assist with administration/treatment plans of medications
By providing a safe recovery environment for Patients at home; healthcare providers do not have to worry about treating preventable complications, but instead focus on promoting long-term health.
Medical equipment rentals: an affordable option
Almost all recovery processes are temporary and therefore renting hospital-grade medical equipment represents a cost-effective alternative to purchasing. Renting medical equipment presents multiple benefits:
- lower initial cost
- Access to state-of-art medical equipment
- professional equipment assembly and service
- flexible rental duration
- easy upgrade as your recovery advances
- no storage concerns
Renting provides families with medical equipment options that best fit their current needs without requiring them to make a major purchase.
Selecting suitable equipment
Each patient’s recovery process is different, and the choice of what type(s) of medical equipment should be selected is dependent upon multiple factors such as patient age; physical limitations; underlying medical conditions; and recommendations provided by physicians. Healthcare professionals frequently suggest combining multiple types of equipment tailored to each patient’s specific requirements, including:
- adjustable hospital bed with Pressure relief mattress
- walker/wheel chair
- bed-side commode
- Shower chair
- respiratory therapy equipment
- patient lift for limited mobility
- table over bed for meals/daily activity
Additionally, working closely with reputable medical suppliers ensures Patients receive properly fitting, well-maintained equipment, along with guidance on how to safely operate it.