Most of us, at one time or another in our lives, experience periods of time when we are bedridden due to illness or injury. When we lay in one position for too long, our bodies instinctively shift positions to prevent stiff muscles or soreness. Those who have limited mobility such as the elderly, those with spinal cord injuries or comatose patients, however, cannot easily shift positions while in bed. These patients are at serious risk for bedsores or pressure ulcers which, if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications and even death.

Fortunately for these patients, there are mattress systems offered by Rehabmart that are especially designed to prevent and help treat bedsores. This line of mattresses is distributed by Prius Healthcare USA, a company that specializes in hospital bed frames, therapeutic support surfaces, and intermittent and sequential compression devices.

 
For those who have a low to medium risk of bedsores, the Prius Enhance Mattress Overlay System is the right choice to give comfort to patients and peace of mind to their caregivers. The Enhance Mattress Overly System can also be used for patients with stage 1, 2 or 3 pressure ulcers and is used as part of the pressure area management plan of the healthcare facility. The overlay is placed on an existing mattress and provides constant low pressure by redistributing pressure points over a greater area than a traditional hospital bed. The Enhance system comes with a control panel dial that provides ten levels of comfort, depending on what level is recommended by the health care provider.

There is also an alternating air cycle switch that changes from static to alternating pressure to ensure maximum protection for the patient. For added safety, the control panel is equipped with an alarm that alerts caregivers when the air pressure falls below the default setup and a quick release system that deflates the mattress in 20 seconds in case of a CPR emergency or patient transfer. The Enhance Overly System is manufactured with a low slip cover to prevent patient slippage and its specially designed micro fabric cover is low moisture to prevent bacteria growth.

  

The Prius Rhythm Multi Pressure Relief Mattress System is designed for patients with medium to high risk of pressure ulcers or who have an existing stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 pressure ulcer. This mattress is meant to replace an existing hospital mattress and its ergonomic design will conform to almost any existing bed frame for maximum flexibility. The control panel has a setting that provides 30 seconds of a comforting, pulsating massage to soothe sore areas in cycles ranging from 3 to 95 minutes. The control panel also has a patient lock-out feature that will prevent patients from changing their own settings as well as visual and audio alarms that alert caregivers in the event of low pressure or power failure.

Because heels are especially vulnerable to bed sores, the Rhythm Mattress is equipped with a "happy heel" section of soft comfort at the end of the bed to cushion sore heels. Like the Enhance System, the Rhythm mattress is designed to be easily cleaned and prevent bacterial growth. The special cell-in-cell design provides added protection to the vulnerable areas of the upper torso and sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms part of the pelvis) during power outages. The Rhythm mattress comes in standard and bariatric sizes that can hold patients up to 600 lbs.

For bedridden patients that have pulmonary complications, the Prius Rhythm Turn Mattress System can provide continual lateral rotation therapy to mobilize secretions and other bodily fluids. The Rhythm Turn Mattress System provides all the features of the Rhythm Multi Pressure Relief Mattress with the addition of lateral rotation with side perimeter and static therapy. All Prius Mattress systems are PVC-free, latex-free and waterproof.

No one wants to be stuck in a hospital bed for long periods of time. But if they are, it's reassuring to know that products like Prius Mattress Systems are available to prevent serious problems like pressure ulcers and bedsores from occurring. These mattresses give both the caregiver and the patient a little peace of mind which can play an important role in getting patients whole and healthy and back to fully living and enjoying their lives once more.

Rachel Huber,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO