Innerspring Mattresses Vs. Foam for a Hospital Bed

Innerspring mattresses are among the most common mattresses found in American households and hotel beds, and while some patients may find that an innerspring mattress on their hospital bed provides the comfort of their own home, spring coil mattresses may not be the ideal choice for all patients. The decision of whether to use innerspring or foam mattresses for hospital beds may depend on a number of factors, including cost, composition and patient condition.
  1. Composition

    • Foam mattresses for hospital beds are composed of high-density foam, and are typically made from neoprene, polyurethane or a similar foam compound. Innerspring mattresses use a system of coil springs to support a cushioned shell. Innerspring mattresses may have a quilted or pillow-top covering, but a nylon covering is common among mattresses designed for institutional use because it allows for easy cleaning and fluid resistance.

    Pressure

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, foam mattresses---along with air or water mattresses---are recommended for helping to prevent bedsores among patients confined to a bed for an extended period of time. Foam mattresses are recommended because they have more flexibility than innerspring mattresses and exert less pressure on individual areas of the body. A foam mattress alone is not sufficient to prevent bedsores from developing, however, and must be paired with regular supervised shifting of a patient's body position.

    Patient Condition

    • Innerspring mattresses provide adequate support and comfort for patients who are in an ambulatory condition, meaning they are able to get up out of their hospital bed for short walks down the hall or around the hospital. Ambulatory patients can be expected to adjust their own position while lying down if certain areas of their body become fatigued from the pressure of the innerspring coils. Patients who are immobile, or who are not able to reposition their bodies without assistance, should not use innerspring mattresses.

    Cost

    • Foam mattresses for hospital beds are more expensive than innerspring mattresses, although both can be found at a reduced institutional-grade cost. Foam overlays are a cost-effective choice for adding some of the benefits of foam to an innerspring mattress without replacing the entire mattress. Polyester densified mattresses provide another alternative to foam mattresses, made of a different synthetic material that functions like foam but can be produced at a lower cost.

    Features

    • Foam mattresses for hospital beds are typically treated for flame resistance. Both foam mattresses and innerspring mattresses can be found in hypoallergenic materials, an important quality for hospital beds, although innerspring mattresses may require chemical treatment to keep out mites and other allergens. Foam mattresses typically have a maximum weight capacity that is lower than the weight capacity of innerspring mattresses, and using the bed with a patient that exceeds the weight capacity can negate the product performance warranty.

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