Chair scales are the most common weighing scales used in care environments. However, these may not suit every need. With the many different types of patient weighing scales in the market, consider the following, when choosing scales for your care setting:
1. The needs of your patient or service user.
Consider the mobility of your service user and the dependencies they have. Can they sit in a chair or stand up? How dependent are they on others to move around? Are there any other disabilities or challenges you need to consider when weighing someone? It is also good to consider the largest capacity the scale is likely to need.
2. The needs of the care setting.
How many patients or service users will the weighing scales be used for? Will it be just a few with specific needs or for as many users as possible? You should also consider the equipment already used in the care setting. If considering a hoist weighing scale option, you must make sure it is compatible with the equipment you currently have.
3. What will the weighing scales be used for?
A person’s body weight is measured for a variety of needs both on admission to the care setting and in regular intervals throughout their stay. This includes:
- Monitoring nutritional status. Many weighing scales now provide many recording functions including Body Mass Index and Body Surface Area. If this is important, make sure you choose a weighing scale with these benefits.
- Calculate safe doses of medication. If you are using a weighing scale for this purpose, you must ensure it is MDD and Class III approved which means it has been built, tested, verified, and calibrated to meet certain standards
- Helping to select supportive equipment such as patient lifting hoists, patient slings, or pressure-relieving mattresses. If you know the weight of the individual, you can ensure you choose any additional equipment required, with the relevant safe working load.
Different types of patient weighing scales.
There are several types of weighing scales that are used in care settings such as care homes, hospitals, and hospices.
These include:
Chair Scales
Chair scales or sit on scales are an excellent solution to weigh patients who have limited mobility when standing but can hold themselves up when seated. They can be positioned directly next to the user to avoid any unnecessary effort during the weighing process.
The Marsden M-210 is perfect for weighing in hospitals and care homes and Medaco’s most popular chair scale.
Hoist Scales (integrated and attachments)
Hoist scale attachments fit onto mobile hoists and ceiling hoists for weighing people who are less mobile. Some are designed to be used on multiple different hoists, such as the Marsden M-600. Whereas others are designed specifically for one manufacturer or hoist models. Integrated hoist scales are compact and easy to use. They eliminate the need for additional equipment and unnecessary transfers. With inline low profiles, the integrated hoist scales also ensure that lift height is not compromised. These hoist scales can be found on the Molift Partner 255 or the Oxford mobile hoists Pro and Classic range.
Check out this video on how to use hoist weighing attachment scales correctly
Wheelchair Scales
Wheelchair scales work with a ramped platform on the floor. A wheelchair can be wheeled onto the platform to weigh the patient or service user. Products such as the SECA 675 wheelchair scale comes with a generously sized platform. Suitable for heavier patients, those in a wheelchair throughout the day and patients with circulatory trouble. Wheelchair weighing scales are also useful for patients undergoing dialysis or similar treatment.
Bariatric Hoist Weighing Scales
The Oxford Calibre Bariatric Mobile Hoist comes with an integrated weighing scale which eliminates the need for additional equipment. Sturdy and robust, the Calibre has a safe working load of 385 kg / 60 stone.
Medaco offer a range of different products to aid in weighing patients.
If you need help or advice on the different options for patient weighing scales, get in touch with our product team through the live chat, email or give us call.
