Bariatric care providers should be aware that preventable injuries and deaths occur due to the malfunction of electric bariatric hospital beds; these malfunctions include beds catching fire, side rail failure, high mattresses that allow the patient to fall to the floor, and patient entrapment involving bed, side rails, and/or mattresses. Facilities and care providers need to be aware of the tested level of safety of their electric hospital beds and ensure that their beds meet or exceed minimum standards for patient and caregiver safety. This article will discuss current electric hospital bed standards and current regulatory processes in the United States and provide a guide for selecting bariatric hospital beds and implications for future research.
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