The Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW) is a collaborative government and industry initiative established by the FDA in 1999.  Its purpose has been to develop guidelines that are intended to help improve bed safety and hospital bed design with a specific focus on the risk of patient entrapment. KCI has been an actively involved member of the HBSW since 2002. 

Since its inception the HBSW has produced three documents. The first document was “A Guide to Bed Safety”.  The second document, “Clinical Guidance for the Assessment and Implementation of Bed Rails in Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities and Home Care Settings”, was a more detailed effort intended to increase caregiver awareness and sharpen the focus of clinical protocols in hospitals and nursing homes regarding the need to balance bed selection and patient risk factors.

The third document entitled Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment - Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff" reviews entrapment and related issues potentially associated with hospital bed systems and the like. It provides recommendations for manufacturers of new hospital beds systems, although the recommendations may also be useful in evaluating pre-existing bed systems. 

IMPORTANT:  Letter to KCI Customers - Use of Side Rails and Potential Risks

Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW) Quicklinks:

• JCAHO Sentinel Event Alert #27: “Bed rail-related entrapment deaths”, September 6, 2002.
• CMS/FDA Letter regarding Physical Restraint Definition, August 1, 2000
• FDA Safety Alert: “Entrapment Hazards with Hospital Bed Side Rails”, CDRH, August 23, 1995.
• Heath Canada Advisory/Warning: “Hazard with Hospital Bed Split Side rails”, August 10, 1995.

• FDA Public Health Notification: Safety Tips for Preventing Hospital Bed Fires

• KCI Customer Letter - Natural Rubber/Latex Product Component Inquiries

• Wound Care Surfaces Product Precautions and Safety Information
• Bariatric Product Precautions and Safety Information
• Critical Care Product Precautions and Safety Information