Hospital Transport Chairs / Patient Transport Chair

Benefits of Using Hospital Transport Wheelchairs

Even if a person has a manual wheelchair, it is almost always recommended to use the hospital’s own model when making a hospital visit. While many patients dislike the inconvenience of switching chairs, they often don’t realize that there are many benefits to doing so. Some of these advantages are:

Safety & Comfort

Oftentimes, trying out a new wheelchair can be concerning for users. The truth is, however, that hospital wheelchairs are comfortable, lightweight, and quite stable. They allow for patients to be transported faster than they would be able to if walking alone with assisted walking devices. Patient transfer chairs are also believed to be an easier solution for transporting patients during emergency circumstances, or even during an evacuation.

Time

These wheelchairs can actually expedite doctor exams, since they allow the patient to move about at a faster rate. The wheelchairs are strong and durable, and don’t have the added weight of cumbersome extra features.

It Secures Your Liability

Hospitals are very serious about the state of healthcare they offer. If a patient goes to a doctor and gets hurt in his own wheelchair, the hospital may be liable, but not for damages to the person’s equipment. Therefore, to properly manage hospital and patient liability, it’s important to always use the hospital’s wheelchairs. This way, should anything happen, the hospital is liable for any damages that a tip-over or slip-out may cause. 

Another thing to think about is how the medical system works in general. All patients who are being transported out to their vehicles are still under the hospital’s care until they leave the premises or property of the hospital. This means that until a person is off of the parking lot or is safely in his own personal vehicle, the hospital is liable for any falls or issues that may occur. 

Wear and Tear

While it may be frustrating to some users, the positive experience of using a hospital transfer chair should be weighed. The user doesn’t have to put undue wear and tear on their own manual wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs when not in use. Therefore, it saves time and money for the patient.

Transport Chairs vs. Manual Wheelchairs

Some hospitals do have manual wheelchairs in their facilities to accommodate those who are a bit more independent. Some of the notable features that are included in patient transport chairs for hospitals are:

Smaller Rear Wheels

Most self-propelled wheelchairs have larger rear wheels with rails, and even though they are lightweight, this can be a problem in some hospital settings. If a user is getting transported and his hands get caught in the rails, they can get hurt, causing more problems for both the hospital and the patient.

Foldable Functionality

Just about all wheelchairs made for hospitals have folding capabilities that enable them to be stowed away neatly by the exits or the rooms they are needed in. This makes for more room and also allows for the patients to have more freedom while staying out of hospital technicians’ and nurses’ way. Oftentimes, members of the hospital staff need to walk back and forth a lot, and having a wheelchair in the way can take up room, creating less free area for them to move around.

Lightweight Yet Sturdy

AvaCare Medical’s line of hospital transport chairs is made with the patient’s needs in mind, but these chairs are also meant to provide ultimate security. Therefore, many hospital-grade transport chairs are made with steel frames which allow them to be lightweight, yet still be able to hold much weight.

Hospital transport chairs generally feature a weight capacity that ranges from anywhere between 250 and 300 pounds, but most hospitals have a wider selection so that larger-sized users can fit into a bariatric transport chair.

Comfortable Grip Handles 

Hospital chairs are also designed in a way that allows the person maneuvering it to remain comfortable. The handles aren’t just cold, hard metal rods; actually, many transport chairs designed to be used at hospitals offer ergonomic and comfortable foam or rubber hand grips. This also ensures the patient’s safety. It allows the transporter to have a superb grip on the wheelchair in order to keep the patient from rolling too fast, or rolling away (such as downhill on a ramp).

Safety Brakes

Brakes are just as important on hospital wheelchairs as they are on personal models. Many hospital wheelchairs have locking brakes on the rear wheels to ensure that a patient can be transported safely. This means that when a user needs to stay in one place, he can do so safely. Some hospital chairs even include handbrakes for additional security, which can aid in transporting patients slowly and safely as well.

Adjustable Footrests

All hospital-grade transport chairs are able to provide comfort and security by keeping a patient’s feet off of the ground. This can help to avoid slips or falls, as well as provide safety so that a patient’s feet aren’t dangling on the ground in certain situations. Most rollators, in contrast, don’t have foot rests at all, so this is something to keep in mind.

Universal Comfortable Seats

Hospitals care for many types of patients, so while their wheelchairs may be basic, they must have seats that accommodate multiple sizes of users. Because of this, they often have seats that can be comfortable for various-sized riders. Some hospitals even provide additional accessories when advantageous to the user. For example, a user requiring additional posterior support may require a wheelchair cushion, while another user may end up choosing a wheelchair that is larger in order to support his weight.

At AvaCare Medical, we take pride in knowing that we can help the medical industry and their patients by providing exceptional hospital transport chairs to hospitals and medical facilities nationwide. All of our wheelchairs are reasonably priced, and can be shipped to your door at no size. If you have any questions, you’re interested in placing a bulk order, the customer care team can assist you! Simply call our offices at 1-877-813-7799 or chat with us today!