Budgeting for Quality: Balancing Cost and Features When Buying an Exam Table

Medical office equipment like exam tables can greatly improve patient experience and speed up clinical processes. But they can also be expensive.

Many facilities have a hard time balancing costs and features when choosing an exam table. However, there are ways to find a solution that fits your budget while still improving quality.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Designs

Buying sustainable medical equipment for your facility helps to reduce waste for patients, staff, and the environment. Exam tables are no different. When considering which ones to purchase, consider your patients and the type of medical field your facility operates. Choosing specific characteristics that directly support the functions of your medical practice, like ergonomic designs, storage space, and tilting/reclining options, will help you determine the best table for you. Also, reducing single-use items such as plastic cutlery in the breakroom or disposable Keurig cups can greatly improve sustainability in your facility.

Multi-Functional

Exam tables are vital equipment in the healthcare industry and must be properly maintained to ensure they work effectively. The good news is that there are plenty of captivating models to choose from when shopping for a new treatment table, but it’s important to consider your medical field along with what equipment will best support your clinical needs before deciding on one.

Whether you’re looking for a standard exam table or a bariatric model, the right medical equipment can help you meet your patient’s specific needs during treatment sessions at hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Quality treatment tables can support a wide range of diagnostic and treatment procedures, including physical examinations, gynecological exams, and minor surgical procedures. They can also accommodate various specialized attachments and accessories, such as orthopedic attachments for joint assessments, ophthalmic extensions for eye evaluations, and dermatology-focused components for skin evaluations.

Many multi-functional exam tables also include collaboration features that streamline information sharing and decision-making among healthcare teams. This helps them achieve more efficient and comprehensive patient care by ensuring that all relevant information is always available. This includes integrated video conferencing capabilities that allow healthcare professionals to conduct virtual consultations with specialists and other experts.

Some multi-functional exam tables are designed to be accessible for disabled patients. This means that they have a lower platform height and can be easily adjusted, allowing patients in wheelchairs to get on or off the table more quickly. Some even have a pull-out step to facilitate this process, helping disabled patients easily access the table.

If you’re looking for an exam table that can handle a large patient population, look for a powered model with an adjustable pneumatic backrest and bolstered stirrups. This type of table can be customized to suit your practice with multiple color options for frame laminate, doors/drawers laminate, and handle pulls. It’s an ideal option for high-volume therapy and sports medicine practices, facilitating practitioner access to patients of all sizes while optimizing patient comfort. It also comes with a 60-watt drawer heater to warm towels and instruments, allowing your team to provide more comfortable, attentive treatment for every patient.

Height Adjustable

Exam tables come with many enticing features, but they can sometimes be over-priced. If you’re looking to furnish your clinic or practice with an affordable medical exam table, focus on what you need rather than a list of fancy extras. You’ll find that a high-quality exam table is surprisingly affordable.

When purchasing a new medical exam table, look for ADA-compliant features to accommodate people with disabilities. These include a chair-like seating position that can help individuals transfer from a wheelchair or other mobility device onto the table. Some models also feature integrated grab bars that allow patients to safely and easily get on and off the exam table.

The ability to tilt and adjust the headrest and foot section of an exam table is important for people with disabilities, as well. Some models have adjustable stirrups, a foot section with a welded-steel track that moves in and out of the way. Others are equipped with a convenient storage drawer that can hold extra supplies, like paper rolls and cutters.

Some exam tables are also available in a bariatric version for heavier patients. These can handle up to 500 pounds and provide lumbar extension, flexion, and postural traction. They’re ideal for patients with severe back and neck pain, musculoskeletal problems, and a range of other conditions.

Besides ADA-compliant features, a patient-friendly exam table should be comfortable for both the patient and the provider. Often, providers are responsible for lifting patients from the chair or stretcher to the table, which can be risky. A power exam table that automatically lowers to a 17” to 19” height at the touch of a button can minimize physical lifting and help prevent injuries to both patients and providers.

Other patient-friendly features include an adjustable pneumatic backrest that adds comfort and helps patients feel at ease during an examination. You may also want to consider an ADA-compliant exam table that allows for the Trendelenburg, Supine, or Lithotomy position. Whether you’re looking for a basic manual exam table or a more advanced power model, Gumbo Medical LLC offers a variety of used hospital equipment that keeps the needs of both the patient and the provider in mind.

Storage Space

Medical exam tables must support various procedures and accommodate different patient populations. Medical professionals rely on specific table features like height adjustment, storage space, tilting, and reclining to do so.

As a result, there is an expansive selection of medical exam tables to meet the unique demands of a healthcare facility. This includes tables designed for X-rays, imaging, minor medical procedures, specialty treatment, and storage tables.

Box tables are the most common type of exam table. These resemble standard hospital beds with a built-in seat that raises and lowers electrically or pneumatically. In addition to their basic functionality, these types of exam tables typically include storage drawers to help keep supplies neatly organized and accessible. They also often have a heavy-duty step to assist patients in entering the chair and may feature special accessories and additions like stirrups or drop windows.

A treatment table is the simplest form of an exam table and is commonly found in physical therapy facilities and other medical areas where similar treatments are performed. These padded tables are typically upholstered in easy-to-clean, antimicrobial vinyl and have a storage compartment to hold supplies. Some treatment tables also have a lift to help patients get on and off the table.

Depending on your facility’s needs, you can choose from a variety of manual and powered medical exam tables that offer an array of add-on options to increase their utility. For example, you can find tables with reversible sides and front storage drawers to fit in any room configuration as well as a reversible top to provide additional positioning flexibility. You can also find a wide range of adjustable arm extensions and a portable rolling base to provide additional stability during use.

A great choice for a budget-conscious healthcare setting is the Brewer Basic Exam Table. A pneumatic cylinder powers this affordable model and offers the largest storage capacity available. Additionally, this durable table is backed by a 5-year warranty and is compliant with all applicable US and Canadian electrical and medical industry codes and regulations.