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Kinetic Beds for Patients at Risk of Complications due to Immobility

Last updated on January 22, 2019

Health Technology Assessment Committee Recommendations

The Health Technology Assessment Committee concluded that health authorities are utilizing kinetic beds within BC’s health system appropriately and that there is no obvious case for broader adoption of kinetic beds.

Health Technology Assessment Committee Findings

 Recommendations were based on the following Committee findings:

  1. There is no compelling evidence that kinetic beds have utility for the treatment or prevention of pressure ulcers.
  2. Kinetic beds may be effective in reducing the odds of acquiring nosocomial and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in adults, but do not seem to have an effect on mortality.
  3. Kinetic Beds may improve oxygenation outcomes in ventilated children.
  4. It is unclear whether kinetic beds have an effect on duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, infectious outcomes or development of atelectasis (i.e. lung collapse).
  5. Cost-effectiveness of kinetic beds is uncertain.  CADTH was unable to identify any relevant cost-effectiveness studies in their evidence review.
  6. Kinetic beds need to be licensed by Health Canada as a medical device to be eligible for use in BC health authorities.
  7. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) address the issue of support surfaces (e.g. includes mattresses, integrated bed systems, and mattress overlays etc.) and pressure ulcers, but no CPGs identified reference kinetic beds, and most indicate existing evidence does not support any explicit recommendation regarding the choice of one high-tech solution versus another. 
  8. Overall, the CPGs imply a stepped approach to support surfaces with low-tech, low-cost options being widely available and high-tech, high-cost options more restricted. All health authorities (HA) in British Columbia are known to have kinetic beds and in at least some HAs they are the default option for critical care units. This level of dissemination aligns with the evidence suggesting kinetic beds may have utility for ventilated patients.