Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.3.2.1 Transfer Sides Recommendation for Stretchers

On stretchers, the transfer surface is oriented along the long dimension of the surface on which patients are in the supine, prone, or side-lying position (see Figure 5.4.1.1).

For stretchers, the Committee recommends the transfer surface be located to provide the ability to transfer from a mobility device onto both long sides of the surface.

Rationale for the recommendation

This recommendation recognizes the configuration and use of stretchers. The configuration of stretchers typically does not allow access to a transfer surface on either end. As a result, with current stretcher design, a patient will access the long side of the transfer surface and the short side will be inaccessible. The location of the transfer side is on the patient right or left roughly midway between the two ends (head and foot). This transfer location places the patient at a desirable location along the length of the stretcher side so that when the transfer is complete, the patient is in the proper location as the backrest articulates.