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Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting pressure-zone, inflation, Max-Inflate, rotation, percussion, vibration, or other surface therapy faults caused by setup, connections, positioning, or surface problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Ensure Patient Safety First
Do not troubleshoot an unreliable surface or therapy function while it is supporting an active patient.
- Notify the responsible clinical staff.
- Transfer the patient to another appropriate bed or support surface when pressure redistribution or pulmonary therapy is required.
- Follow facility procedures for protecting the patient during transfer.
- Do not leave a high-risk patient on a surface with visibly deflated or uneven pressure zones.
Expected outcome: The patient is safely supported without relying on the affected surface.
If the surface cannot maintain appropriate inflation, remove the bed from clinical use.
2. Confirm the Exact Fault
Record the complete message displayed on the Graphical Caregiver Interface and determine whether the complaint involves:
- One pressure zone appearing soft or deflated.
- The entire surface failing to inflate.
- Max-Inflate failing to activate or remain active.
- Continuous lateral rotation therapy not starting.
- Percussion or vibration therapy not starting.
- A therapy stopping unexpectedly.
- A surface mode being unavailable or grayed out.
- Repeated surface or therapy fault messages.
The Progressa may be equipped with prevention, pulmonary, or therapy surface configurations, so available functions can vary by bed.
Expected outcome: The affected function and surface configuration are clearly identified.
3. Check AC Power and Bed Status
Verify that:
- The power cord is fully connected to the bed.
- The cord is connected directly to a verified hospital-grade outlet.
- The bed indicates that external AC power is present.
- The outlet operates correctly when tested with an approved device or receptacle tester.
- The bed is not relying solely on battery power during therapy testing.
Surface inflation and powered therapy functions require reliable electrical power.
Expected outcome: The bed remains powered without interruptions or power-related messages.
If restoring AC power resolves the fault, perform a functional check and stop troubleshooting.
4. Allow the Surface to Complete Initialization
If the bed was recently powered on, transported, disconnected, or placed into CPR deflation:
- Confirm the CPR release is fully reset.
- Allow the surface time to reinflate and stabilize.
- Do not repeatedly select different therapy modes during initialization.
- Observe whether the displayed pressure-zone indicators return to normal.
Expected outcome: All surface zones inflate evenly and the selected surface mode becomes available.
If the surface initializes normally and maintains pressure, verify operation and stop.
5. Inspect the Surface Externally
Remove linens only as necessary and inspect for:
- A surface that is folded, bunched, shifted, or incorrectly positioned.
- Linens, transfer devices, or accessories compressing the surface.
- Visible cuts, punctures, tears, abrasion, or fluid intrusion.
- A section that remains noticeably softer than adjacent sections.
- Patient-positioning equipment interfering with inflation.
- An incorrect or incompatible surface installed on the bed.
Do not probe punctures, patch the surface, or open the surface assembly unless specifically authorized by Hillrom service documentation.
Expected outcome: The surface is correctly positioned, unobstructed, and free of visible damage.
If visible damage is found, remove the bed from service and arrange surface replacement or repair.
6. Inspect Accessible Surface Connections
With the patient removed and the bed safely powered down when appropriate:
- Locate the externally accessible surface hose and connector area.
- Verify each connector is fully seated and locked.
- Check for pinched, sharply bent, stretched, twisted, or disconnected hoses.
- Inspect connectors for contamination, damaged seals, bent fittings, or broken retaining features.
- Confirm the surface connection has not loosened during transport or cleaning.
Do not remove covers or access internal pneumatic components.
Expected outcome: All accessible pneumatic connections are secure and undamaged.
If reseating an accessible connection resolves the fault, restart the bed and complete a functional test.
7. Confirm Bed and Surface Positioning
Place the bed in a safe, neutral position and verify:
- The frame is not against a wall or equipment.
- The surface is aligned with the frame.
- The foot section is adjusted appropriately.
- The siderails and frame sections are not trapping the surface or hoses.
- No equipment is resting on or pulling against the mattress assembly.
Some therapy functions may be restricted by bed position, patient position, surface configuration, or an active safety condition.
Expected outcome: The bed permits the requested surface or therapy function without a positioning-related message.
8. Verify Patient Weight Information
Confirm that:
- The patient’s weight is within the bed and installed surface limits.
- The scale has been zeroed according to facility practice when appropriate.
- The displayed weight is reasonable.
- Excess equipment has not been added after the bed was zeroed.
- The surface is not attempting to regulate around an obviously incorrect weight value.
The Progressa surface uses bed and patient information to support pressure redistribution and therapy operation.
Expected outcome: The displayed weight is plausible and the surface pressure zones stabilize.
If correcting the weight setup resolves the issue, test the surface again and stop.
9. Test a Basic Surface Function
With no patient on the bed, or with an approved test load when required by facility procedures:
- Select the standard pressure-redistribution mode.
- Observe whether all zones inflate.
- Activate Max-Inflate if available.
- Confirm that the surface becomes uniformly firm.
- Cancel Max-Inflate and verify that the surface returns to its normal operating mode.
- Listen for continuous air leakage, repeated valve cycling, or abnormal compressor noise.
Expected outcome: The surface changes modes, inflates evenly, and maintains pressure without a fault.
If a specific zone remains deflated or the pump runs continuously, suspect a leak, valve problem, sensor problem, or internal pneumatic failure.
10. Test the Reported Therapy Mode
Only when safe and when the installed surface supports the function:
- Select the reported therapy mode.
- Confirm all required settings are entered.
- Verify that no incompatible bed position or mode is active.
- Start the therapy and observe the display.
- Confirm the therapy begins and progresses through the expected sequence.
- Stop the therapy using the normal control.
Progressa configurations may support continuous lateral rotation therapy and, on applicable surfaces, percussion and vibration therapy.
Expected outcome: The therapy starts, operates, and stops without a fault.
If the therapy repeatedly stops or faults under correct conditions, discontinue testing and escalate.
11. Perform a Controlled Restart
After the patient has been removed and clinical staff have approved:
- Record the fault message before restarting.
- Turn the bed off using the normal procedure.
- Disconnect AC power briefly according to facility policy.
- Reconnect the bed to verified AC power.
- Allow the bed and surface to initialize completely.
- Retest the standard surface mode before testing advanced therapies.
Do not repeatedly power-cycle a bed that continues to display the same fault.
Expected outcome: The surface completes initialization and operates normally.
If the fault returns, treat it as a persistent failure.
12. Verify Operation Before Returning the Bed to Service
Before releasing the bed:
- Confirm all surface zones remain inflated.
- Verify the standard pressure-redistribution mode.
- Verify Max-Inflate, if equipped.
- Test the originally reported therapy function.
- Confirm there are no active surface fault messages.
- Inspect for unusual sounds, heat, odor, or continuous air leakage.
- Allow the bed to operate long enough to confirm the fault does not immediately return.
Expected outcome: The surface maintains pressure and all applicable therapy functions operate reliably.
If the Problem Persists
If the fault remains after external power, surface position, hose connections, patient-weight information, settings, and accessible surface components have been checked, common external causes have been ruled out.
The problem may involve an internal blower, valve manifold, pressure sensor, control board, wiring connection, pneumatic leak, or damaged surface component.
The bed should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for bench evaluation or Hillrom-authorized repair.
- Evaluated using the applicable service documentation and approved test equipment.
Do not continue repeatedly operating a surface that cannot maintain pressure or reliably complete prescribed therapies. Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot a Progressa pressure-zone or therapy failure while a vulnerable patient remains dependent on the surface. Transfer the patient before testing inflation, disconnecting hoses, restarting the bed, or activating therapy modes.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the Progressa displayed a surface pressure-zone fault and would not start continuous lateral rotation therapy."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Inspection found the accessible surface air connector partially disengaged, preventing the surface from maintaining pressure in the affected zone."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the bed from patient use, reseated and secured the surface connector, restarted the bed, and verified normal inflation, Max-Inflate, and rotation therapy operation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Complete displayed fault message
- Installed surface type
- Therapy mode affected
- AC outlet tested
- AC power indicator status
- CPR release reset
- Surface and linens inspected
- Accessible hoses and connectors checked
- Patient weight reading verified
- Max-Inflate tested
- Rotation, percussion, or vibration tested
- Uneven or deflated pressure zone identified
- Air leakage or unusual compressor noise
- Unusual heat or smell
- Fault returned after restart
- Final device status
Final Thought
Surface and therapy faults can directly affect pressure-injury prevention, pulmonary treatment, and patient safety. Begin with safe patient transfer and logical external checks, then escalate when the surface cannot maintain pressure or therapy operation. Clear CCR documentation helps the repair team reproduce the failure and return the bed to service safely.
That is successful troubleshooting.