Depending on the care and requirements needed, hospital bed costs range from $4,000 to $40,000.

"The biggest trend has been the focus on patient safety," Rieth explains, "avoiding pressure ulcers, bed sores or injuries from patients falling out of their hospital beds. All of these issues are very expensive to deal with."


Hill-Rom created its own software, Navicare Patient Safety Solutions, to interconnect its beds' computers with the hospital mainframe computers. On a Hill-Rom bed, when a railing comes down or a patient or bed shifts or moves, such change is noted, so that hospitals can track who was on duty and who responded.

Stryker Beds, one of 13 different divisions within the medical equipment company founded in 1941, prides itself on similar abilities, while including scales built into its bed frames, to weigh and measure any patient moves.

"Stryker was the first to come out with a touch screen monitor for each bed," notes Craig Brookes, product associate, Stryker. "This allows the bed to be monitored for height, brakes, while notifying the nursing staff of any changes (in patient or bed movement)."

Stryker literature describes the company as "The undisputed leader in patient handling and equipment. We are also innovators in creating products that are easier on caregivers by enhancing our designs with smart ergonomic and advanced mobility features."

Brad Schelling of Piedmont Medical, certainly agrees.

"Before Stryker became a viable player in the hospital bed market, 12-13 years ago, Hill-Rom dominated. Now, (the two) share the vast majority of the hospital bed market," Schelling says, adding, "At Piedmont Medical, we offer practical alternatives to expensive, new bed purchases. We provide the same product, warranty and more-for a sharply reduced price."

One boon for hospital bed buying and refurbishing has been a recent surge in construction of new medical centers and hospitals.

"I estimate that 15% of our total revenue was generated by new construction
this year," notes Ray Carter, manager, I.T./internet sales, Hospital Equipment 4U based in Salisbury, NC. "But that number may be more if you consider expansion of existing facilities. That's up approximately 50 percent over last year, taking into account international customers as well."

Damon Dembkowski, VP/sales, Beta Medical, reports that while most of his customers are small surgical centers, clinics and doctors' offices, "we have supplied stretchers to at least 10 new facilities this year which is more than any other year." Miami-based Beta deals in remanufactured, refurbished and used Hill-Rom and Stryker beds.

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