The Catalyst®

This bed is a game-changer, especially when working with PT. Verticalization helps maintain strength in the lower extremities, keeps muscles strong.

We would like to thank Kreg for their exceptional bed. My son started Verticalization Therapy after his ECMO machine was installed. Yes, basically life support for weeks. With this bed my son was able to stand up and walk within days of getting out of bed. First two times was with a walker, then he put that to the side and walked the whole hallway so fast the nurses could not keep up. It was remarkable, all the nurses were astounded. Literally an ECMO machine walking the hallways. This was incredible due to this bed inclining him and exercising his body while being unable to get out of bed. It was a miracle to watch him. God bless Kreg developers. We hope plenty others can benefit from this Kreg bed. Ronnie says thank you for everything.

The features on these beds are second to none. Alina, our bed rep is always available to assist and so good to work with. She is passionate about her beds and proud of what they can do. Patients have decreased pressure injuries, especially in the sacral/coccyx due to offloading pressure when patients are being verticalized. The nurses love the bedside hands-on demos that Alina provides when she’s on-site. This has helped immensely with nurse ability to use Kreg beds with confidence.

Only recently have we begun to utilize the Catalyst bed in the medical intensive care unit at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, but it has already proven to expedite recovery times for our critically ill patients. I am eager to incorporate Verticalization Therapy® earlier and in a wider patient ICU population to maximize the therapeutic benefits and improve patient outcomes.

I have worked in the cardiac ICU at Rush for over 28 years. As a bedside nurse my voice has always been heard and changes in patient care come from evidence based practices including nursing input. When I first saw the Kreg Catalyst bed I knew the potential it had in our very sick patient population. I’ve had the privilege to watch the magic of this bed positively impact many patient outcomes time and time again.

Prior to the Covid outbreak in 2020 we used verticalization therapy in certain critically ill patient populations and saw reduced length of stay in direct correlation with use of the Kreg catalyst bed. March of 2020 brought bigger challenges with the Covid-19 arrival in the US. Rush carried the largest load of Illinois sickest patients accepting transfers from all over the state. During this pandemic surge we utilized ECMO in last ditch efforts to save many lives. We realized early on in the pandemic that Verticalization Therapy® used in conjunction with ECMO proved to be a game changer. During the height of the pandemic we had at times 15 patients on ECMO utilizing the Kreg Catalyst bed at different stages of their illness and each time the bed played a huge part in their successful outcomes. Many ECMO centers around the world are scratching their heads trying to figure out how Rush’s Covid ECMO survival rate was greater than 85%, with most of these patients discharging straight home without any supplemental oxygen or LTAC stays.

I am convinced that the Kreg Catalyst bed played a key role in the success and I am proud to have been a part of it.