In 2017, the registered number of hospital beds in the United Stated totaled at approximately 931,000. With nearly one million hospital beds currently in circulation and over 36 million hospital admissions, you may ask, “How much do hospitals actually spend on beds? Is there a way to save money?” In the content below, we explain the approximate values of each hospital bed type and explore any opportunities to save money.
Hospital Bed Components
Understanding individual components of a hospital bed helps understand the total cost. Though manufactures create different models and accessories, we explore the three most essential aspects to a hospital bed: the bed frame, frame customizations, and the mattress.
Bed Frames
Bed frames are the most customizable components of the hospital bed. With traditional inpatient use and bed frames suitable for ICU and bariatric applications, the average cost of a hospital bed frame derives from its intended use and overall incorporation of advanced features.
Standard Bed Frame
Many manufacturers customize hospital bed frames in a variety of ways, depending on intended application. Therefore, the price of a bed frame greatly draws from its level of advancement. On average, a standard bed frame without any customizations usually costs between $4,500 and $7,000. However, once you begin adding specialized features and alterations to the standard design, expect the cost to rise upwards of $15,000.
ICU and Bariatric Bed Frames
If looking to purchase a bed for your ICU units, know that a standard model tends to range from $25,000 to $30,000, significantly more than standard medical bed frames. However, ICU beds are less expensive than bariatric beds, often costing between $35,000 and $40,000.
Home Hospital Bed Frames
Though used in a patient’s home in lieu of the hospital, the associated costs with these hospital bed frames directly correlate to features. Ranging in price from $500 to $10,000, home hospital bed frames are manufactured in manual and electric models, offering various bed frame dimensions. However, a patient can opt to purchase a used home hospital bed and pay as low as $300. As a result, patients can determine which home hospital bed frame suits their needs and adheres to their financial wherewithal. Another cost to keep in mind pertains to the hospital bed sheets – standard home sheets cost around $50 a set.
Bed Frame Customizations
In addition to the purchase of either a standard or specialized bed frame, consider the expenses for any add-ons your medical facility may need in a bed frame. As prices vary based on the bed frame model and manufacturer, assess how many customizations are necessary for your hospital bed applications. Below are some of the most common bed frame add-ons:
- Defibrillator Tray
- Bed Exit Alarm
- IV Poles
- O2 Bottle Holder
- Hand Control
- Bed Extender with Pad
- Pump Holder
- CPR Board & Bracket
- Rails
- Trapeze Bars
- Call Cords
Mattress and Mattress Pad
Hospital mattresses and mattress pads range from materials of standard foam to integrated gel and air. Granted that basic foam mattresses cost between $400 and $1,000, the price advances quickly when made of more advanced composition designs and materials. If purchasing a mattress made of integrated gel or air, costs often range between $1,200 and $4,000 respectively.
Money-Saving Strategies
According to the 2018 AHA Annual Survey, the total expense for all hospitals in the United States totaled at $1,112,207,387,000 and has risen exponentially since then. With a trillion-dollar industry, you may wonder how hospitals can save money. Though you could purchase standard hospital bed frames to reduce initial purchase costs, as time accumulates, you will have to purchase other accessories to properly service patients. As a result, we recommend finding ways to reduce hospital expenses in alternative avenues. Below, we explore two tangible money-saving strategies your medical facility can implement immediately.
Coffee Pot Timers
Assess all unnecessary appliances that draw energy every hour of the day that can be powered down from time to time. Are your coffee pots running around the clock? In 2013, one hospital’s staff explored out-of-the-ordinary ways in which they could reduce operating expenses. They soon discovered that setting timers on their 110 commercial-sized coffee machines resulted in saving the Beaumont hospital $34,000 per year. If your medical facility caters to your employees’ caffeine needs, consider adjusting coffeepot timers to the start and end of their shifts.
Remove and Reduce Excess Lighting
On average, lighting costs are 16% of a hospital’s total energy consumption. Therefore, implementing alternative lighting can annually save your healthcare facility thousands of dollars. If your medical facility has yet to invest in energy efficient lighting and fixtures, this could be an easy way to reduce operating expenses. Though you may feel hesitant due to the initial replacement expenses, long-term savings will greatly reduce your electric bill.
While updating your fixtures with energy efficient bulbs, consider where you can reduce the number of bulbs in multiple-light fixtures to eliminate unnecessary lighting. For example, inspect the lighting near your chart racks. With most models including digitized lighting, could you reduce the lighting surrounding the area? Are there any areas in your medical facility that could operate with light switches and motion-sensing lighting as opposed to continuous lighting?
Protect Your Hospital Bed Investments with SVI Medical
Regardless of the hospital beds in your facility, protecting them is of the utmost importance. Therefore, securing reliable lifting equipment for servicing your hospital equipment must be a great consideration. At SVI Medical, we are dedicated to providing the safest and most efficient mechanical lifting equipment for your lifting needs. While we are confident our hospital bed liftsare a great product, we can also customize our lifts to meet your unique manufacturing or service needs! In addition to hospital and surgical beds, our adapters allow you to use our lifts for different types of medical equipment. Contact us to place an order or inquire about how we can provide a solution to meet your specific needs!