Therapy bed promises high quality wound care

"Across the care continuum, pressure injuries are quite common, cause serious concerns both to patients and their caregivers, and create financial burdens for the healthcare system. The Envella bed's differentiated technology provides an ideal healing environment for the prevention and treatment of advanced pressure injuries."

In designing the Envella bed, Hill-Rom pursued the singular goal of elevating the standard of wound care, designing every aspect of the bedframe and therapeutic surface to drive superior outcomes and a higher quality of care for a broader range of complex patients.

From increased bead depth, adjustable air flow and sensing technologies, to advanced weight-based pressure distribution and an integrated scale, the Envella bed is designed to make air fluidised therapy (AFT) more comfortable and safer for patients, and easier for caregivers to use.

Pressure injuries are extremely prevalent. In fact, one in 10 patients have pressure injuries and one in 20 patients experience a facility-acquired pressure injury during their stay in the hospital.

Beyond the clinical challenges, the financial burdens are also significant. Pressure injury patients have a 57% longer average length of stay, have a three-times higher mortality rate, are 22% more likely to be re-admitted within 30 days, and carry with them an average of $10,000 in cost for the additional care they require.

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services place air fluidised therapy in a surface category all its own because of the uniqueness of the therapy. AFT pushes air flow through a bed of millions of tiny beads, creating a fluid-like environment that results in a sensation that feels similar to floating in water.

The Hill-Rom Envella Air Fluidized Therapy Bed maximises immersion and envelopment, minimises shear and pressure, and effectively regulates the skin's microclimate. This differentiated technology leads to better outcomes for patients with complex and advanced wounds and more cost-effective care for a range of patient acuities, like flaps/grafts and stage 3-4 pressure injuries.

In a study relating to high-risk post-op ICU patients, 25 patients were placed on standard surfaces and 27 were placed on AFT surfaces. Only one of the 27 patients developed a pressure injury while on AFT compared to 40 injuries on the standard surfaces. Use of AFT was estimated by the authors of the study to reduce costs by 88%.

For patients who already have a pressure injury, Air Fluidized Therapy drastically outperforms in terms of pressure injury healing. In a comprehensive study of 664 nursing home patients, AFT healed wounds at a 4.4 times faster rate than powered air surfaces. Subsequent studies and cost models estimate that this healing rate brings a 77% reduction in overall healing time and a 66% reduction in the total cost.