Exam tables are crucial pieces of medical equipment in any healthcare clinic. They offer comfort to patients and make it easier for healthcare professionals to examine and treat them.
There are several different types of medical exam tables available with varying features. Choosing the right one depends on the type of care provided in your practice.
Patient Comfort
The medical exam table is a staple piece of equipment in every healthcare facility, whether it’s a hospital, emergency room, health clinic, or private practice. Because your patients will spend most of their time on this piece of equipment, choosing one that offers a comfortable experience is important. Depending on your procedure needs, you can find a wide variety of exam tables available. These include flat and treatment exam tables and powered and manual exam tables with articulation options.
Regardless of the type of table you select, there are many features that you should look for to ensure patient comfort. For example, some exam tables can be lowered to 18 inches from the floor to make it easy for pregnant, post-op, and disabled patients to get on and off without putting too much strain on them or your staff. This feature can also reduce the risk of back injury for staff who must lift patients onto the table and from the chair.
Another feature to look for is a built-in step stool that easily slides in and out of the table for safe and stable access. Other patient tables offer a chair-to-table recline function that keeps patients comfortable throughout an exam and extra storage space for supplies such as gowns and gloves. Some table surfaces even have a bacteria-resistant coating that makes sterilization easier.
You may also want to consider a power exam table that allows you to easily transition your patients into the positions needed for exams with just the touch of a button. This feature can increase your efficiency by eliminating the need to move patients and allowing you to perform procedures more precisely. Many of these types of tables also have built-in storage compartments that can be used to store supplies such as medical records, kinesiology tapes, and massage tools.
Choosing an exam table that can be adjusted by hand is also a great option, especially if you’re working with older patients who aren’t able to use or control a motorized mechanism. Some manual exam tables can be adjusted to accommodate a range of body sizes, from petite to obese.
Easy Cleaning
Exam tables in a healthcare facility help staff reach areas that might otherwise be difficult to clean. As a result, medical staff can more easily clean equipment and eliminate germs from the surfaces used to treat patients. This prevents HAIs from developing and saves the facility time and money in the long run.
While medical exam tables come in many forms, it is important for a healthcare practice to choose the right one to meet its needs. For example, a smaller clinic may benefit from an all-in-one consultation and examination table that converts from sitting to supine in a single unit. This saves space in a small exam room and helps improve patient comfort.
Medical facilities also need exam tables with convenient storage spaces to keep supplies like test and examination devices, gloves, gowns, paper rolls, and medical records close by. Most power exam tables include storage compartments that can be accessed by caregivers during an exam, which helps make the process more efficient. Some storage spaces even feature lockable compartments to protect sensitive supplies from unauthorized access.
A standard box table typically features a padded seat and backrest that moves pneumatically or electrically to adjust the position of the patient. This allows healthcare professionals to quickly change positions to address a patient’s unique medical needs. These tables are also upholstered in easy-to-clean, antimicrobial vinyl and can be fitted with accessories like stirrups and drainage trays.
Procedure tables are specifically designed for medical professionals to use while performing minor procedures in a clinical setting. They usually have a variety of storage spaces for storing tools, supplies, and documents, as well as a height adjustment feature for changing the patient’s position. Some even have preset positions that healthcare professionals can set beforehand to save time and energy during an appointment.
A pediatric exam table is a specific type of treatment table designed for use with children. These tables often have fun graphics or bright colors to put young patients at ease. Most of these tables have a step built-in to assist patients with getting on the table and offer adjustable headrests and leg rests.
Ease of Movement
The medical exam table might seem like a minor part of your patient’s appointment, but it’s actually one of the most important. Choosing the right tables for your facility can make all the difference when it comes to ensuring patients are comfortable during their examination, helping them feel more confident, and even waiving any potential anxieties they might have about visiting a doctor.
While fixed-height exam tables can be useful for many medical professionals, they are often not the best choice for every practice. In fact, they might prevent a health-care professional from being able to examine a patient fully or put them in an uncomfortable position which could lead to injury.
This is especially true if the healthcare provider has to repeatedly bend or reach down to assist the patient in moving or changing positions. Depending on the type of work they do, this can lead to fatigue or even occupational cumulative trauma disorder. A medical treatment table with adjustable back and foot features will eliminate this problem for practitioners.
In addition, using an electric treatment table can reduce the need to bend and stretch to operate the controls. This can help reduce strain on the back, shoulders, and knees for healthcare providers and improve overall workplace health and safety.
Power exam tables are also often better suited to the needs of older patients or those with mobility limitations, as they allow for easier transfer on and off the table. Some models even offer a power-adjustable seat, back, and foot features for the ultimate flexibility. Most power tables have higher weight limits and can accommodate bariatric patients.
Another benefit of electric treatment tables is the ease with which they can be sanitized. Unlike standard flat exam tables, they can be easily wiped down to ensure that all areas of the table are disinfected after each use. This is essential for maintaining high hygiene standards in medical facilities.
If you are looking for an electric treatment table that can offer you the ultimate flexibility in your patient’s experience, consider the Hausmann 7703 Mammoth 3: 3-Section Hi-Lo Examination Table. This durable table has a heavy-duty steel frame and can withstand up to 550 pounds, making it ideal for most medical practitioners. It also takes up less operational space than other electric treatment tables on the market, which can benefit practices with limited square footage.
Safety
Exam tables are a critical piece of equipment for your clinic. They keep patients comfortable and safe while reducing their stress levels, which can have positive effects on their recovery. Medical exam tables are available in a variety of designs and features, so it’s important to select the one that will work best for your practice.
For example, if your clinic serves heavier patients, consider choosing a heavy-duty treatment table with a sturdier build and better movement controls to handle up to 500 pounds. These tables are designed to optimize patient comfort with features like a pelvic tilt, adjustable extendable stirrups, and a pneumatic back. You can also find models with a drawer heater for warming towels and instruments, which improves patient comfort and ease of treatment.
In addition, medical exam tables often come with built-in storage compartments to hold supplies and prevent them from being misplaced during procedures. Caregivers can store small test and examination tools, gloves, exam gowns, and charts in these areas. Physiotherapy clinics also need medical exam tables with storage spaces to conveniently store commonly used physical therapy supplies like massage tools, kinesiology tapes, and ointments.
Another safety feature to look for on an exam table is a cutoff sensor that instantly stops the table from moving when it detects an obstruction. This can prevent your staff members from hurting themselves while transferring patients onto the seat or cleaning the table.
You may also want to choose an electric exam table with a convenient foot pedal that lets you move it up and down from the side without a caregiver bending over to operate it manually. This makes it easier for pregnant, disabled, or elderly patients to get on and off the table, while reducing strain on themselves, you, and your staff.
When selecting the right medical exam tables for your clinic, think about how they can be used to perform a wide variety of procedures in different locations. For instance, a mobile exam table with an adjustable leg section is ideal for use in obstetrics, gynecology, and internal medicine procedures. It can also be moved into a consultation position for treatments in dermatology, orthopedics, and other specialty medical fields.
