Hillrom Progressa

Asset Type

Hospital Bed

Manufacturer

Hillrom

Model

Progressa

What This Guide Helps With

Troubleshooting unavailable, incomplete, uneven, or interrupted Turn Assist and Continuous Lateral Rotation caused by positioning, controls, surface setup, or external obstruction.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure Patient Safety First

Do not troubleshoot rotation or Turn Assist while the feature is moving an unattended patient.

• Notify the responsible clinical staff.
• Stop the active therapy using the touchscreen controls.
• Return the surface to Normal mode.
• Reposition or transfer the patient when the bed cannot safely support the ordered therapy.
• Secure all IV lines, drains, ventilator tubing, monitoring cables, and other attachments before testing.

Expected outcome: The patient is stable, appropriately supported, and no lines or equipment are at risk of being pulled or compressed.

If the bed moves unexpectedly, rotates excessively, or cannot be stopped normally, remove it from service immediately.

2. Confirm the Exact Failure

Determine whether:

• Turn Assist does not appear on the touchscreen.
• Left Turn Assist works but Right Turn Assist does not, or vice versa.
• The surface begins to turn but stops early.
• Continuous Lateral Rotation Therapy does not start.
• Rotation stops after another pulmonary therapy is changed.
• The touchscreen displays an error, advisory, or therapy restriction.
• The surface inflates but does not rotate the patient.

Record the complete message and the selected therapy settings.

Expected outcome: The reported problem is clearly separated into a control, setup, pneumatic, or movement issue.

3. Verify the Installed Surface Supports the Requested Feature

Confirm the Progressa is equipped with the powered therapeutic surface required for Turn Assist or Continuous Lateral Rotation.

Inspect for:

• The correct integrated air surface.
• A recognized surface displayed on the caregiver interface.
• Available Surface and Pulmonary Therapy menus.
• Missing or disabled rotation controls.

Continuous Lateral Rotation is an optional therapy associated with compatible pulmonary or therapy surfaces and may not be available on every Progressa configuration.

Expected outcome: The installed bed and surface configuration supports the requested therapy.

If the feature is not included with the installed surface, stop troubleshooting and explain the configuration limitation.

4. Check AC Power and Bed Status

Verify that:

• The bed is connected directly to a known-good hospital-grade outlet.
• The AC power indicator is illuminated.
• The power cord and plug are undamaged.
• The bed is not relying solely on battery power.
• No power-related messages are displayed.

Test the outlet with an approved tester or another verified device when needed.

Expected outcome: Stable AC power is available for the bed frame, air system, and therapy functions.

If restoring power resolves the issue, verify normal operation and stop.

5. Confirm the Bed Is Braked and Properly Positioned

Set the brake and place the bed in a safe, stable position.

Check that:

• All casters are stationary.
• The bed is not contacting a wall, boom, bedside cabinet, lift, or other equipment.
• The frame and siderails have adequate clearance.
• The head, knee, and foot sections are not in an unusual position that could restrict therapy.
• The patient is centered on the surface.

Expected outcome: Nothing external prevents safe inflation or side-to-side movement.

If removing an obstruction resolves the issue, verify the complete therapy cycle and stop.

6. Inspect the Surface and External Connections

Visually inspect the mattress and accessible connections without opening the bed or surface.

Look for:

• A disconnected or partially seated surface connector.
• Pinched, kinked, twisted, or trapped hoses.
• Hoses caught between the mattress, frame, siderail, or foot section.
• A visibly deflated surface section.
• Tears, punctures, fluid intrusion, or damaged covers.
• Unusual air leakage or continuous compressor operation.

Reseat only user-accessible connectors according to facility procedures.

Expected outcome: The surface is properly connected, intact, and able to inflate without restriction.

If a damaged surface or hose is found, remove the bed from service and arrange repair.

7. Verify Siderail Position for Turn Assist

Raise the siderails required for safe operation before initiating Turn Assist.

The Progressa control guidance states that the siderails must be raised to activate Turn Assist. Once the turn begins, a siderail may be lowered for care, but the bed will alarm as a safety precaution.

Then:

• Select the Surface menu.
• Confirm the surface is in Normal mode.
• Select Left Turn Assist or Right Turn Assist.
• Observe whether the appropriate side inflates and supports the turn.

Expected outcome: The selected Turn Assist function inflates the correct side of the surface.

If raising the siderails restores operation, verify both directions and stop.

8. Check for Control Locks or Disabled Functions

Inspect the caregiver controls for lockout indicators.

Verify that:

• Surface controls are not locked.
• Pulmonary therapy controls are available.
• The caregiver touchscreen responds to selections.
• The selected command highlights or acknowledges input.
• No control-lock indicator remains active.

Unlock controls only according to facility policy.

Expected outcome: The caregiver can select and activate the required surface therapy.

If removing a control lock resolves the issue, test the feature and stop.

9. Return the Surface to Normal Mode

From the caregiver touchscreen:

• Select Surface.
• Select Normal.
• Allow the surface to stabilize.
• Retry Turn Assist.

Turn Assist is deactivated by returning the surface to Normal mode.

Also verify that the surface is not left in:

• Max-Inflate
• Sleep Mode
• Seat Deflate
• Opti-Rest
• Patient Comfort adjustment

Expected outcome: The surface exits conflicting modes and accepts a new Turn Assist command.

If Normal mode restores operation, complete a functional test and stop.

10. Re-enter Continuous Lateral Rotation Settings

For Continuous Lateral Rotation:

• Select Pulmonary Therapy on the caregiver interface.
• Select Rotation.
• Review the left and right turn angles, pause time, and therapy duration.
• Confirm the settings are accepted.
• Start the therapy and observe the initial cycle.

The bed’s pulmonary therapy screen provides access to Rotation and other therapy functions.

Expected outcome: The bed begins the programmed rotation sequence and alternates sides as configured.

If correcting the settings resolves the issue, verify several direction changes and stop.

11. Check Whether Another Therapy Stopped Rotation

Determine whether Percussion and Vibration therapy was recently running.

On the Progressa, stopping Percussion and Vibration while both therapies are active can also stop Continuous Lateral Rotation. Rotation must then be manually reactivated.

Return to the Pulmonary Therapy menu and restart Rotation.

Expected outcome: Continuous Lateral Rotation resumes after being reactivated.

If the therapy now operates normally, stop.

12. Remove Excess Bedding or Positioning Obstructions

Inspect for items that could prevent the surface from changing shape:

• Excess sheets or blankets tucked tightly under the mattress.
• Positioning wedges or rigid supports.
• Patient lifts, transfer sheets, or straps caught beneath the patient.
• Equipment resting against the mattress sides.
• Tubing or cables trapped between the surface and frame.

Remove or reposition items only with clinical staff present.

Expected outcome: The surface can inflate and rotate freely without external resistance.

If correcting the obstruction resolves the problem, verify therapy operation and stop.

13. Perform an Unoccupied Functional Test

After the patient has been safely transferred:

• Confirm AC power and brakes.
• Leave the surface installed normally.
• Raise the required siderails.
• Select Normal mode.
• Test Left Turn Assist.
• Return to Normal.
• Test Right Turn Assist.
• Start a low or facility-approved Continuous Lateral Rotation setting.
• Observe inflation, direction changes, alarms, and displayed errors.

Listen for:

• Compressor operation.
• Repeated air venting.
• Clicking without inflation.
• Uneven inflation.
• Abnormal mechanical or pneumatic sounds.

Expected outcome: Both Turn Assist directions and rotation operate consistently without errors, leaks, or unexpected stopping.

Do not return the bed to service when the failure cannot be reproduced reliably or the therapy remains intermittent.

14. Power-Cycle the Bed When Clinically Safe

With the bed unoccupied:

• Stop all therapies.
• Return the surface to Normal.
• Disconnect AC power.
• Allow the system to shut down according to facility procedures.
• Reconnect it to a verified outlet.
• Allow the touchscreen and surface system to initialize fully.
• Repeat the functional test.

Do not repeatedly power-cycle a bed that displays a persistent error code.

Expected outcome: The surface controller initializes normally and therapy controls return.

If the feature operates normally after restart, document the event and complete an extended operational test before returning the bed to service.

If the Problem Persists

If power, controls, siderails, surface mode, patient positioning, external hoses, therapy settings, and obstructions have been ruled out, the problem is likely internal to the surface, air-control system, valve assembly, sensors, touchscreen communication, or bed electronics.

The bed should be:

• Removed from service.
• Labeled Out of Service.
• Sent for qualified bench evaluation or manufacturer-authorized repair.
• Accompanied by the displayed error, affected direction, selected settings, and test results.

Do not open the integrated surface, valve system, compressor assembly, or electronic enclosures during routine floor troubleshooting.

Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.

Clinical Use Tip

Do not test Turn Assist or Continuous Lateral Rotation on an active patient solely to reproduce a fault. Transfer the patient first and secure all clinical lines before an unoccupied test.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the Progressa bed would inflate in Normal mode but would not start Right Turn Assist or Continuous Lateral Rotation."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Right-side therapy remained unavailable after confirming AC power, raised siderails, Normal surface mode, clear hoses, correct settings, and an unobstructed mattress."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Removed the bed from service, applied an Out of Service label, documented the failed unoccupied therapy test, and sent the bed for surface and pneumatic-system evaluation."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

• Outlet tested
• AC power indicator status
• Installed surface type
• Left and Right Turn Assist results
• Rotation settings selected
• Siderail position
• Surface mode before testing
• Displayed error or advisory
• Hose and connector condition
• Alarm behavior
• Compressor or valve sounds
• Visible deflation or air leakage
• Obstructions removed
• Power-cycle result
• Final device status

Final Thought

Patient safety comes before reproducing a therapy failure. Confirm configuration, power, siderails, settings, surface condition, and external clearance before suspecting an internal problem. Escalate intermittent or incomplete movement and document exactly what the bed did.

That is successful troubleshooting.