Patient positioning equipment may not be the flashiest category on an equipment list, but it has a way of becoming very important the moment it is missing, incompatible, or stored somewhere no one can find it.
Healthcare facilities use a wide range of positioning products, from pads, wedges, and head positioners to arm boards, straps, stirrups, table accessories, and transfer aids. The right mix depends on the patient population, procedure types, existing equipment, cleaning requirements, storage space, and how the clinical team actually works.
That means choosing positioning equipment is less about checking a box and more about making sure the products fit the real-world environment they are going into. A good decision should account for compatibility, usability, standardization, availability, and long-term cost, not just the price on the quote.
This blog post will help answer these questions related to positioning equipment:
Patient positioning equipment refers to products and accessories used to help maintain an intended patient position during:
The exact equipment needed depends on the care setting and procedure. For example, operating rooms may require table pads, head positioners, arm boards, straps, leg holders, stirrups, and specialty positioning systems.
Imaging teams may use cushions, wedges, immobilization products, or modality-specific accessories.
Examination and treatment areas may depend on bolsters, cushions, adjustable surfaces, and other positioning aids.
The important point to remember is that positioning equipment is not necessarily interchangeable. Table design, patient population, procedure type, cleaning requirements, and department workflow can all affect which product is appropriate.
Healthcare facilities may use dozens of positioning products across different departments. Here are some common examples:
|
Equipment Type |
Common Purpose |
Purchasing Considerations |
|
Positioning pads and cushions |
Help maintain patient position and accommodate pressure-sensitive areas |
Size, material, cleanability, durability |
|
Wedges and bolsters |
Help achieve or maintain specific positioning angles |
Dimensions, firmness, storage |
|
Head positioners |
Help maintain head and neck position during certain procedures |
Procedure type, compatibility, cleaning |
|
Arm boards and arm supports |
Help position and stabilize the arm |
Table compatibility, adjustability, mounting hardware |
|
Straps and securing accessories |
Help maintain the intended patient position |
Attachment method, materials, replacement needs |
|
Stirrup and leg positioning systems |
Used in procedures requiring leg positioning |
Adjustment range, weight limits, mounting compatibility |
|
Table accessories |
Extend or modify table positioning capabilities |
Rail type, adapters, clamps, manufacturer compatibility |
|
Transfer and repositioning aids |
Help teams move or reposition patients |
Workflow, staffing, patient characteristics, storage |
|
Specialty positioning systems |
Designed for specific procedures or clinical applications |
Training, procedure volume, replacement components |
This list is not exhaustive, but it does show why evaluating positioning equipment should begin with clinical application rather than the price tag.
A good product evaluation should address more than price and availability.
Consider clinical use, compatibility, cleaning, storage, standardization, staff familiarity, replacement needs, and long-term cost.
Here’s a closer look at these important considerations:
Start with where the equipment will be used.
A high-volume operating room has different requirements from an outpatient examination area or imaging department. Orthopedics, bariatric care, neurology, labor and delivery, and other specialties may also require different equipment configurations.
Questions to consider include:
Clinical stakeholders should be involved early enough to identify workflow requirements before purchasing decisions are finalized.
Compatibility problems can create unnecessary cost and delays.
Some positioning equipment can be considered an accessory that attaches to operating tables, stretchers, imaging platforms, procedure tables, examination tables, or specialty equipment. Before purchasing positioning accessories separate from the manufacturer, facilities should verify that products are compatible with the exact equipment models currently in use.
Important questions include:
Compatibility is especially important for health systems with multiple facilities or several generations of equipment.
As with all equipment used in healthcare, positioning devices will need to be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Facilities should review manufacturer instructions for cleaning and disinfection as part of the evaluation process.
Pay attention to:
A product that is difficult to clean can add unnecessary work to room turnover and equipment reprocessing.
Infection prevention stakeholders can help evaluate whether a product's instructions align with facility practices.
Positioning equipment is only useful when staff can find it.
High-use products may need to remain close to procedure rooms. Less frequently used accessories may work well in centralized storage if retrieval is reliable.
Storage planning should address:
A product that spends half its life missing from the department creates an operational problem regardless of how well it performs.
Initial price is only one part of the purchasing decision.
Healthcare facilities should consider:
A lower-priced product may cost more over time if components wear quickly or replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
Facilities should also determine whether individual pads, straps, covers, or accessories can be replaced without replacing the entire system.
Healthcare systems often accumulate positioning products one purchase at a time.
One department selects a wedge from one manufacturer. Another uses a different model. Several procedure rooms may have different accessories that perform similar functions.
Some variation is necessary. Too much variation can make inventory, training, stocking, and replacement more complicated.
Standardization may help healthcare facilities:
The goal should not be to make every department use the same product.
A better approach is intentional standardization. Keep variation when it is tied to a real clinical or operational need. Consolidate when multiple products serve the same purpose without adding meaningful value.
Storage deserves more attention than it usually gets during product evaluation.
Positioning equipment can be bulky, procedure-specific, or used only occasionally. That makes it easy for accessories to migrate between rooms or disappear into central storage.
Frequently used products should generally be easy to access.
Specialty equipment can be stored centrally when there is a clear process for locating and retrieving it.
Facilities should also make sure storage protects the equipment itself.
Pads should not be crushed beneath heavier items.
Accessories should not be stacked in ways that damage mounting hardware.
Components that belong together should be stored together whenever practical.
Small operational details like these can affect product life and staff efficiency.
Positioning accessories are easy to overlook during larger equipment purchases.
A facility may purchase new operating tables or procedure equipment and discover later that existing accessories do not fit.
That can lead to unplanned expenses, delayed room readiness, or last-minute sourcing.
When replacing tables or opening new rooms, create an accessory list at the same time as the primary equipment list.
Identify:
Including these details early produces a more complete budget and can reduce surprises closer to installation or go-live.
Healthcare procurement teams can learn a great deal by asking practical questions before selecting a product.
Ask:
These questions make it easier to compare products based on long-term usability rather than purchase price alone.
Patient positioning equipment may represent a relatively small portion of a healthcare facility's overall equipment budget, but managing product options, compatibility requirements, manufacturers, replacement needs, and delivery can still take time.
CME account managers work with healthcare organizations to simplify equipment acquisition and help ensure you are purchasing the best product for the needs of the patient, staff, workflow, and budget.
Our teams can help identify critical equipment features, source products from established manufacturers, review opportunities for standardization, and coordinate the acquisition of healthcare equipment from quote to direct-to-site delivery.
Click CHAT to start the conversation about your positioning equipment needs.
What is patient positioning equipment used for?
Patient positioning equipment is used to help maintain or achieve an intended patient position during surgery, examinations, imaging, procedures, treatment, transport, or recovery. Products can include cushions, wedges, straps, arm boards, head positioners, leg supports, table accessories, and specialty systems.
What should healthcare facilities consider when buying patient positioning equipment?
Facilities should consider the clinical application, patient population, equipment compatibility, weight and dimensional limits, cleaning requirements, storage, staff workflow, product availability, replacement parts, and total cost of ownership.
Why is equipment compatibility important?
Many positioning accessories attach directly to operating tables, stretchers, procedure tables, imaging equipment, or other platforms. An incompatible accessory may require additional adapters or may not be usable at all, which can increase cost and complicate workflows.
Can patient positioning equipment be standardized across a health system?
Some positioning products can be standardized across departments or facilities, especially when several products perform the same function. Specialty procedures may still require unique equipment. The best approach is to reduce unnecessary variation while preserving clinically meaningful differences.
Should positioning accessories be included in capital equipment planning?
Yes. Accessories should be evaluated when planning new tables, procedure rooms, renovations, or department expansions. Including them early helps facilities identify compatibility issues, quantity needs, storage requirements, and budget implications before installation.
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier specialty distributor of healthcare, laboratory, and imaging equipment. We partner with over 2,000 manufacturers to offer more than 2 million products. In addition to an extensive product portfolio, we also offer project management, CAD-based layout, design and 3d modeling, warehousing, assembly, staging, consolidated, need-by-date direct-to-site delivery, and biomedical and technical services, all staffed by CME employees. Our mission, to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment acquisition, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate, or expand on schedule, is supported by service locations strategically located across the country.