Attachment B.doc

SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS: IN PATIENT BEDS

· Must at least have a length of 96 inches when extended to accommodate patients who are 88 inches long to provide safe zone and space for the caregivers to maneuver, move, reposition, and adjust the patients while being cared for while on the bed. Space is needed while the patient is on the bed to handle the patient and be able to apply and utilize existing safe patient handling technology on the patients to provide them medical care, repositioning assistance, early mobility, patient fall prevention, and skin integrity protection.

· Bed must have a deck to floor low height of at least 11 inches from the floor for patient’s feet to be securely flat on the floor to prevent patients from falls with injuries or reduce the severity of injuries if a patient falls from bed.

· Must have at least 5.25 inches under bed clearance to be compatible with the existing safe patient handling equipment like the Golvo, Sabina, and Sara Stedy.

· Bed must allow patient weight capacity of 500 pounds with a 550-pound safe working load.

· Bed must have a motorized drive for transport/patient transport purposes from patient room or within the hospital facility.

· Must have a wireless technology to provide alerts even in a remote location within VA Long Beach and communicate with patients and hospital staff specifically with the existing Vocera system that is used throughout the Long Beach Healthcare System.

· Bed must have a cable free nurse call solution using both Bluetooth and infrared connection to provide continuous and uninterrupted connection to the bed exit alarm, the nurse’s station, the existing Vocera badge, and the bed location monitor and for continuous communication to provide alerts in a remote location within VA Long Beach.

· Must have continuous secure bed alarm or fall prevention monitoring system and nurse call functions to alert nursing station or call unit which cannot be unplugged by the patient or visitors.

· Must be a plug and play compatible with existing Rauland Responder call system.

· Caregivers must be able to adjust the bed’s exit alarm zone that will trigger the sensitivity level which helps reduce alarm fatigue; alarm must be triggered only if 50% of patient’s body weight is off the designated zone, or when the patient approaches the siderail or the foot end of the bed.

· Must be FIPS and Enterprise Risk Analysis (ERA) approved as required by the VA Directive 6550

· Technology must be consistent with VA policies and standards, including, but not limited to, VA Directives 6550; and the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Users must ensure sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations.

· Must have a battery backup that allows for full product performance during power failure or when disconnected from power.

· Must have a foot end touch screen controls to be reachable and for easy access especially in a tight four-patient room; foot end touch screen controls provide efficiency to workflow for nurses and prevent disruption by allowing nurses to access touch screen controls without having to need to move patient’s belongings.

· Must have the capability to weigh the patient in bed scale system to take weight easily without lifting the patient.

· Must have optimum ergonomic three position intermediate siderail coverage that provides accessible two grab points that serve as a patient aid to facilitate mobility tasks, such as supine to sit and sit to stand; promoting fall prevention initiative of VA Long Beach and the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility practices for both the patient and the caregiver which is the initiative of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

· Bed must have gel surface bedding or technology for patients needing prevention of pressure injuries and shear, needing pressure redistribution and microclimate, and needing heel support and protection.

· Bed must have electric brakes to prevent staff fatigue and reduce risks for workplace injuries.