Hospitals are seeing more bariatric patients than ever before. Here’s what clinicians revealed about the most common challenges and strategies to manage them.
Rates of obesity continue to rise. According to the World Health Organization, adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990. In the U.S. alone, 42% of adults are considered obese, and nearly 1 in 10 of them have a BMI of 40 or higher (qualifying as “severe” or “class III” obesity), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This trend means hospitals are treating more patients who may be at higher risk of respiratory distress, pressure injuries, and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD). Many also require specialized equipment, frequent repositioning, and additional staff to assist with mobility. But hospitals often face barriers to providing this care consistently.
Recent research highlights three of the most common challenges.
1
Limited Access to Bariatric Equipment
In a recent survey of nurse managers, three out of four respondents cited lack of specialized equipment as a primary barrier. Beds, mobility aids, and lifts designed for higher weight capacities and wider dimensions are not always available, and when standard equipment is used, the risk of injury increases for both patients and caregivers.
What hospitals are doing:
- Expanding access to width-adjustable beds, therapeutic mattresses, assistive mobility, and safe patient handling equipment designed for bariatric patients.
- Working with medical equipment rental providers to fill gaps when patient demand fluctuates or storage space is limited. With nearly 80% of facilities renting bariatric equipment, rising healthcare demands are setting a new expectation: on-demand delivery and setup of patient-ready equipment.
2
Staffing Shortages
Caring for bariatric patients often requires multiple clinicians, and 65% of nurse managers reported staffing shortages as a significant barrier. Staffing shortages can make it challenging to complete frequent repositioning or skin checks for bariatric patients, while also increasing the physical demands placed on clinicians
What hospitals are doing:
- Incorporating patient lifts and transfer systems that reduce the need for multiple staff during repositioning.
- Relying on low beds and therapeutic support surfaces that provide continuous low air loss and alternating pressure to lower the risk of falls and pressure injuries.
- Using assistive mobility devices to increase patient independence.
3
Gaps in Training and Guidelines
Even when equipment is available, many clinicians report limited training in bariatric care. More than 57% of nurse managers identified training as a barrier, and nearly three-quarters said they did not have bariatric care guidelines in place.
What hospitals are doing:
- Partnering with equipment providers that offer clinical support teams for bedside training and ongoing rounding to help ensure equipment is configured for each patient.
- Developing and adopting standardized bariatric care protocols for safe handling, repositioning, and equipment use.
How do you choose the right bariatric equipment provider?
When evaluating an equipment rental provider, facilities often look for bariatric equipment that includes:
- Low, expandable bed frames and therapeutic mattresses with low-air-loss and pressure redistribution
- Lift and transfer systems for safer handling and reduced staff strain
- Reinforced wheelchairs, commodes, and recliners for higher durability
- Respiratory devices configured for patients with higher BMIs
Additional services can also make a difference, including:
- Continuous clinical support and training on specialty equipment
- Regular rounding to ensure equipment is properly configured
- Easy-to-use online ordering portals and connections to hospital EMR system when possible
- Reliably fast delivery 24/7/365 without extra fees to meet urgent patient needs
Key Takeaway
Bariatric care requires a combination of the right equipment when it’s needed, staffing support, and clinical training. While challenges remain, hospitals are finding practical solutions by expanding access to specialized devices, leveraging reliable rental partnerships, and ongoing clinician support with bedside training and rounding.
You lead in patient care. We manage the equipment that keeps it going.
At US Med-Equip, we help hospitals stay prepared for every patient. We provide:
- On-demand rentals for movable medical equipment, beds, and therapeutic surfaces
- Delivery within two hours plus drive time to ensure equipment arrives when and where it’s needed
- 24/7/365 top-rated, in-house customer service team for continuous support
- Free equipment tracking technology and access to our award-winning customer portal
- Transparent rental terms and billing for easier planning and accountability
Our equipment is maintained by our manufacturer-certified biomedical teams with rigorous safety and quality control processes. Rentals include up-to-date licensed software and proactive preventive maintenance to support compliance and ensure equipment is delivered on time in patient-ready condition.
