Technological Improvement Stimulates the U.S. Specialty Bed and Support Surface Market

June 08, 2006

Palo Alto, Calif. —— Novel technologies and lower costs for mattress replacements are shifting consumers from specialty bed systems and overlays. In an effort to provide more therapeutic value to the end users at an affordable cost, mattress replacements are becoming more technologically advanced. Mattress replacements are increasingly designed to fit the needs of most frames in all healthcare settings including acute, long term and home care.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com) finds that U.S. Specialty Bed and Support Surface Market for Wound Management earned revenues of $1,625.0 million in 2005 and estimates to reach $2,917.4 million in 2012.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the U.S. Specialty Bed and Support Surface Market for Wound Management, then send an e-mail to Melina Trevino, Corporate Communications at melina.trevino@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. The brochure will be e-mailed to you upon receipt of this information.

The growing demand for highly functional and less expensive products is creating a cost-driven market, compelling manufacturers to lower prices. Due to an aging population that is prone to developing pressure sores and an increasing number of obese patients, specialty beds and support surfaces with advanced technologies are expecting to dominate the market.

Additionally, the market is likely to grow due to an increasing prevalence of pressure ulcers and costs associated with treatment and prevention. Pressure ulcers affect a significant number of patients, approximately 1 million pressure ulcers occur in the U.S., generating an estimate of hospital annual costs at $1.3 billion annually. Due to high incidence rates of acquiring pressure ulcers during hospitals stays, hospitals desire pressure relief equipment that assists in reducing incidence rates, costs and morbidity.

Hospitals pushing for shorter hospital stays are driving demand for advanced technologies in specialty bed and support surface equipment for alternate care settings. Associations such as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) have developed stringent guidelines for clinicians handling pressure ulcers for at-risk patients including prevention, assessing, identifying, and early treatment. With the increased awareness of the legal liabilities involved with the formation of ulcers in care centers, there is a higher demand for prevention products.

“Increasing number of patients with pressure ulcers boosts demand for preventative therapy. Products with a greater focus on prevention are likely to experience a significant increase in sales,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sheila Ewing.

Due to increasing cost containment pressures exerted on healthcare facilities, clinicians expect manufacturers to provide documented proof that higher costs are offset by improved clinical outcomes. Products must clearly show decreased healing time or reduce the nursing time required to care for the patient in order to justify their use.

However, it is expensive and difficult to design studies that clearly demonstrate cost savings. Large, randomized trials with an ample number of patients are expensive and may not always yield the intended result despite a significant capital outlay. Manufacturers are faced with proving this data nonetheless.

“Without conclusive clinical evidence, physicians are reluctant to prescribe certain therapies to their patients,” explains Ewing. “Clinicians are unwilling to try new methods without clinical evidence from trials or medical professional endorsement.”

Manufacturers must provide long-term clinical evidence for advancement of a treatment. Clinical results are not only important to gain approval by clinicians, but are necessary to maintain or garner market share.

U.S. Specialty Bed and Support Surface Market for Wound Management is part of the Medical Devices subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: U.S. Carotid and Intracranial Vascular Devices Markets, U.S. Endoscopes Markets, U.S. Congestive Heart Failure Device Markets, U.S. Cardiac Rhythm Management Markets. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.

U.S. Specialty Bed and Support Surface Market for Wound Management
F733-54

Contacts:
Melina Trevino
Corporate Communications – North America
P: 210.247.2440
F: 210.348.1003
E: melina.trevino@frost.com

Radhika Menon Theodore
Corporate Communications
P: +91 (044) 42044541
E: rmtheodore@frost.com

Jasminder Kaur
Corporate Communications – Asia Pacific
P: 65.6890.0937
F: 65.6890.0988
E: jasminder.kaur@frost.com

Surbhi Dedhia
Corporate Communications – India
P: +91 22 2832 4705 Ext: 131
E: sdedhia@frost.com

Contact Information

Melina Trevino

Corporate Communications – North America

Frost & Sullivan

Contact via E-mail