A gurney, frequently referred to as a medical stretcher, is specialized equipment used to safely transport patients who require lying flat or are unable to walk. Its primary function is the secure movement of individuals within medical facilities, between departments, or during emergency transport in an ambulance. The width of this patient transport device is highly standardized across the healthcare industry. This standardization is necessary for seamless maneuverability within constrained architectural spaces, ensuring gurneys function predictably where patient care is delivered.
Standard Dimensions and Model Variations
The standard width for a professional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) gurney, such as those used in ambulances, measures between 22 and 24 inches across its widest point. This dimension ensures the gurney can be easily loaded into an ambulance and navigated through residential and commercial doorways. General hospital transport stretchers, designed for movement within a facility, are often slightly wider, commonly measuring 26 to 30 inches in overall width.
These dimensions balance patient comfort and stability with the practical constraints of tight spaces. For patients requiring a larger surface area, specialized bariatric gurneys accommodate higher weights and body sizes. These heavy-duty models are significantly wider, often ranging from 32 inches up to 40 inches. This width mandates the use of wider doorways and specialized elevators. Certain specialized models, such as those designed for air transport, may feature even narrower profiles to fit confined vehicle spaces.
Real-World Space Constraints
The standardized 22- to 26-inch width of many gurneys reflects common architectural standards in healthcare settings. Newer hospitals and commercial buildings adhere to codes requiring doorways to have a clear width of at least 36 inches. Some patient-care areas may have openings up to 44 inches wide to facilitate movement of larger equipment. This difference provides necessary clearance for rapid and safe patient movement, even when considering the hands of medical personnel maneuvering the device.
Older buildings, residential homes, and some older elevators present significant logistical challenges. Residential interior doorways can be as narrow as 28 or 30 inches, leaving minimal room for the gurney, especially when factoring in side rails and turning radius. In these tight situations, EMS personnel may need to tilt the gurney or utilize specialized, narrower transfer devices to move the patient. The consistent width of the gurney is a design compromise engineered to maximize patient safety while still allowing access to most environments.