What standards should hospital wheelchairs consider?
Trolleys used in hospitals: What standards should be considered?
Standards for hospital trolleys enhance efficiency and safety.
Trolleys used in hospitals must meet standards and safety requirements in terms of both usability and hygiene. To meet the standards of the Hospital and Medical Practice Department, which requires providers to receive high-quality, standardized services, hospital trolleys have different usage characteristics. Sometimes there is a risk of contamination and widespread transmission of pathogens, leading to danger. Therefore, hospitals must carefully select trolleys to ensure the safety of hospital staff and users, especially patient trolleys, which must meet the TIS standard to guarantee quality. Other types of trolleys, such as injection trolleys, dressing trolleys, medical trolleys, or patient chart trolleys, are medical equipment with specific details and characteristics. Hospitals generally consider the following points when purchasing them:
Factors to Consider When Purchasing Hospital Trolleys
Materials Used in Trolley Manufacturing The materials used in trolley manufacturing are very important because they are mostly used to produce the trolley structure and various components. Two types of materials are commonly used to manufacture hospital trolleys:1.1 Stainless Steel Most hospital trolleys are made of stainless steel, a material with safe usability properties. Because stainless steel is highly inert, it does not absorb substances that may be harmful to users. Furthermore, stainless steel trolleys can withstand high and low temperatures, are durable, strong, and corrosion-resistant (e.g., acids, alkalis, solutions). Importantly, they do not rust and are easy to clean, making them suitable for use in hospitals where safety is crucial to reduce pathogen contamination that may harm users or patients receiving items transported by the trolley. The type of stainless steel commonly used for manufacturing hospital trolleys is 304. 1.2 Steel This is a strong, durable, and flexible material. The type of steel commonly used for trolley manufacturing is stainless steel or coated steel, such as chromium plating. Because of its corrosion resistance, it prevents rust. Stainless steel or coated steel is often used to manufacture patient trolleys. It is advisable to purchase trolleys that meet the TIS standard for quality assurance, such as TIS 702-2551.
Trolley Wheels Hospital trolley wheels should not leave marks on the floor to maintain cleanliness, be quiet during movement, be strong, durable, and flexible, and not get stuck, especially for patient trolleys that require quick movement. Most trolleys have 4 or more wheels, depending on the usage and wheel type. Three types of trolley wheels are suitable for hospital trolleys. 2.1 Natural Rubber Wheels Made from natural rubber, these wheels are soft and flexible, quiet, and do not mark the floor. They are suitable for frequent movement of goods and work well on tile, wood, ceramic, marble, and concrete floors. Commonly used natural rubber wheels are black and gray, with the choice depending on the characteristics of each hospital's use. 2.2 Urethane Wheels These wheels do not leave marks on the floor, are quiet, strong, durable, do not tear easily, do not collapse under load when the trolley is stationary, and roll well on smooth surfaces such as tiles, wood, concrete, or marble. 2.3 Polyurethane Wheels These have the same properties as urethane wheels, but with increased strength. They are resistant to chemicals and corrosives, can be used on oily floors, withstand temperatures from -40°C to 100°C, are abrasion-resistant, do not tear easily, are quiet, do not leave marks, and can be used on all surface types.
Functionality The functionality of a trolley depends on the type of hospital trolley. Hospital trolleys come in many types, such as patient trolleys, dressing trolleys, injection trolleys, medicine trolleys, soiled linen trolleys, or even patient chart trolleys. Functionality varies according to the trolley's purpose. For example, patient trolleys should meet the TIS 702-2551 standard, having a body support system, drive system, wheels, structure, wheel housing, screws, and supplementary equipment that meet safety standards and do not pose safety risks to users and caregivers; medical equipment trolleys should have drawers, a smooth, edged surface, handles, wheels, and never have been used before, etc.
Warranty from the Supplier This is another important factor to consider, as it indicates the product's quality and the supplier's responsibility. The supplier's warranty should cover one year of replacement or repair in case of damage or malfunction. The trolleys sold must never have been used before and must come with instructions for proper use.
These four points are criteria that hospitals often use to make purchasing decisions, enabling them to choose trolleys from reputable and standardized suppliers. This ensures efficient, safe, and hygienic trolleys that enhance medical work. Let's look at examples of the characteristics and standards of different types of hospital trolleys used by hospitals.
Examples of Hospital Trolley Types
Trolleys for Patients These are essential for moving patients and come in two types: sitting and lying patient trolleys. Both types should meet the TIS 702-2551 standard, e.g., having a structure made of stainless steel, chromium-plated steel; the quality should meet the SUS 304 L, JIS G 4305, AISI 304 standard, or equivalent; and the chemical composition analysis should meet ASTM E 353 or equivalent. All four wheels should rotate freely, but the freely rotating wheels should be solid rubber wheels. The front wheel locking mechanism should be easy to use. Both types must have side rails and a locking system. The structure and components must not tilt, bend, or twist, and must not have sharp edges, unless designed for specific use. They should have a mount for inserting poles for medical fluid delivery, and should include details such as product name according to standards, model, manufacturing date, manufacturer's name and factory, or registered trademark.
Trolleys for General Medical Use These are used for medical equipment or pharmaceuticals. For example, a general-purpose medical trolley has a structure made entirely of polished 304-grade stainless steel. It has specially designed drawers without handles that can be opened and closed easily by pulling the bottom edge. The drawers have a soft-close system, and come in 2- or 3-tier models with an edge to prevent falls. They have 4-inch threaded rubber wheels.
Trolleys for Charts These are for storing patient files. For example, a chart trolley is made entirely of polished 304-grade stainless steel, with a thickness of 1 inch and 1.5 mm. It has 3 tiers, no less than 1.2 mm thick, and is formed with high edges on each tier to prevent falls. It has handles on both sides for pushing, 4 black swivel rubber wheels, each no less than 5 inches in diameter and with a maximum load capacity of 200 kg.
Injection Trolleys These are for storing injection equipment and other medical supplies. For example, an injection trolley made of 304-grade stainless steel has drawers with handles, no less than 0.9 mm thick and easy to open and close. It has 2-3 tiers, 1.2 mm thick. It has safety rails on three sides, except for the drawer side. It has a space to secure medicine bottles, and handles for pushing, at least 1.2 mm thick. It has 4 rubber wheels, each no less than 3 inches in diameter. Any welds must be smooth. The trolley is unused and has a 1-year warranty.
Dressing Trolleys These are for storing dressing supplies and medical equipment for patient care. For example, a dressing trolley has a structure made of 304-grade stainless steel, including a covered container, a round basin, and a covered stainless steel tray. All are attached to hooks on the trolley that can be removed. The top is a flat surface, with hooks for securing liquids and placing cotton containers. It has drawers with handles, safety rails on both sides, 2-3 shelves depending on the needs, handles for pushing, and 4 black rubber wheels, no less than 3 inches in diameter. Welds are smooth. The trolley is unused and has a 1-year warranty.
The details of these five types of hospital trolleys are based on legal requirements, such as the TIS standard for patient trolleys, or hospital-specified details for general-purpose medical trolleys, chart trolleys, injection trolleys, and dressing trolleys. There may be minor differences in detail, but the main points remain the same. These are the criteria most hospitals use when choosing hospital trolleys to ensure safe and standardized operation of trolleys.
Jenstore by Jenbunjerd supplies hospital trolleys such as stainless steel medical trolleys, dressing trolleys, injection trolleys, and offers custom trolley manufacturing from stainless steel and sourcing to meet specific needs. We offer after-sales service and a quality guarantee to ensure your satisfaction.
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2023-09-25