Healthcare facilities see many patients daily, so treatment surfaces such as hospital mattresses and stretchers are in high demand. Frequently touched treatment surfaces are known to play a significant role in the transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)1 so, to minimize the risk of HAIs, these surfaces must be thoroughly disinfected. Punctured or torn surfaces, however, are impossible to properly disinfect until the damage has been addressed.
Case studies show that 20% to 40% of hospital mattresses are damaged2. Rigorous clinical use and exposure to harsh cleaning agents compromise the surface of the mattress, increasing the risk of HAIs among patients and staff. To minimize this risk, damaged mattresses are often replaced which can be costly and time-consuming.
A case study performed at a Canadian regional repair facility found that out of 950 serviced beds and stretchers, 73 had damaged mattress covers3. Depending on the manufacturer and bed model, the average cost to replace a mattress is approximately $616, so the cost to replace all 73 damaged mattresses would be substantial.
As an alternative to replacement, damaged mattresses can be successfully repaired. Surface repair technologies enable healthcare facilities to extend the service life of their equipment, significantly reducing costs when compared with mattress replacement.
Instead of replacing damaged mattresses, healthcare facilities can quickly and easily repair punctures and tears using CleanPatch. CleanPatch is an FDA and Health Canada registered Class 1 medical device that repairs damaged hospital mattress covers, exam and surgical tables, stretchers, and more. CleanPatch is easily applied to 95% of patient surfaces and restores them to a fully cleanable state to protect patient and staff safety by minimizing HAI transmission.
In the previous case study, 50 out of the 73 damages reported were deemed repairable with CleanPatch3 and the total cost to repair the damage was $1,012. If they were not repaired, the cost to replace these mattresses would have been $30,806. Altogether, the case study determined that the projected cost savings were nearly $30,000 over the course of six months (Table 1).
Mattress damage rates vary among healthcare facilities, but damage is inevitable. Implementing surface repair technology poses significant cost-saving opportunities for healthcare facilities by avoiding the lengthy and costly procurement process.
- Otter, J.A., Yezli, S., French, G. The Role Played by Contaminated Surfaces in the Transmission of Nosocomial Pathogens. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. July 2011. Vol. 32, No.7, pp. 687-99
- Bradbury, SL. et al. Potential bloodborne pathogen exposure from occult mattress damage. American Journal of Infection Control. 2014, 1-2
- Surface Medical Inc. A leading Canadian Health Region realizes significant cost savings from the use of CleanPatch® while improving the integrity and safety of patient mattresses. February 2016. https://cleanpatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CleanPatch-Case-Study_Cost-Savings-from-Mattress-Repair-Program-FINAL.pdf