Sensors for Hospital Beds Help Prevent Pressure Ulcers

The US healthcare system is witnessing high demand on existing infrastructure from the expanding aging population. The U.S Census Bureau cited that by 2030, all baby boomers will be at least 65 years old which means one in every five residents will meet the retirement age. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) predicts that our healthcare system is underprepared for the anticipated strain this aging population will impose on current resources[i]. To exacerbate the situation, the healthcare industry continues to suffer from staffing shortages. One study estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. healthcare professionals will leave their positions by 2026 and only 1.9 million will be hired to fill the gap[ii]. At a global level, the World Health Organization predicts a shortage of around 10 million healthcare professionals by 2030.

Like many other industries, staffing shortages may lead to automation and innovation. For the food industry, robotic cooks are helping to fill vacancies within the fast food industry. Automated and robotic cooking equipment can cost less than half a human employee[iii]. The transition to automation may not be as drastic for the healthcare industry since medical services typically involve advanced technology and complicated processes.  Any advancement is likely to happen incrementally with AI leading the way.

A good example is the enhancement of beds in hospitals and senior care facilities. Manufacturers and service providers are equipping beds with monitoring features to reduce workloads on healthcare professionals. Bedsores or pressure ulcer prevention requires periodic patient repositioning every two hours[iv]. Although bedsores are a preventable injury, they still affect more than 2 million people annually. According to the Centers of Disease Control, around 100 thousand people die each year due to adverse wounds or complications[v].

Pressure ulcers cost the health system $26.8 billion a year. This unfortunate illness is being addressed by hospital bed and mattress manufacturers that are integrating monitoring technologies to create smart patient care beds. These beds combine a sensor network, information devices and intelligent control. They can generate waves and signals that increase mobility and blood flow in patients in order to prevent decubitus ulcer and lesions[vi]. Not only can these beds alleviate the number of pressure ulcer cases, they also alert hospital staff when a patient exits the bed. Some systems can even detect respiratory and heart rate to provide care givers additional crucial information.

MinebeaMitsumi provides bed sensing technologies using both our strain gauge system and MEMS pressure sensors to smart beds or mattresses capable of preventing pressure ulcers and unwanted bed exits. We offer a monitoring solution using strain gauge sensing technology that can be easily installed beneath the bed and relays patient information to a PC, tablet, smartphone, or nurse call. We also manufacture highly sensitive MEMS sensors that can be used to detect pressure changes within the pneumatic grid of a smart mattress to monitor the patient mobility including undesired bed exits.

As the U.S. healthcare system grapples with an aging population and staffing shortages, innovations like smart hospital beds are becoming key to improving patient care and easing the pressure on healthcare workers. By integrating AI, sensors, and automation, facilities can not only reduce the strain on staff but also help prevent costly and serious issues like pressure ulcers and falling incidents. Companies like MinebeaMitsumi are leading the way with solutions that make it easier to monitor and care for patients. With these advancements, the healthcare industry can better meet the needs of an aging society, blending technology with human care to create a more efficient and effective system for everyone.

[i] Healthcare on the brink: navigating the challenges of an aging society in the United States – PMC (nih.gov)
[ii] 6 Trends That Could Usher In Future Change For Healthcare Providers (forbes.com)
[iii] Robot Fast Food Cook Costs Less Than Half A Human Worker (forbes.com)
[iv] Bedsores | Johns Hopkins Medicine
[v] Pressure ulcers cost the health system $26.8 billion a year | Healthcare Finance News
[vi] Hospital beds wireless sensor network and reducing decubitus ulcer – PMC (nih.gov)