A stretcher used for frequent patient transport has different priorities from one used for examinations or recovery. Choosing the right model starts with understanding what happens to the patient throughout their time on it.
To choose a medical stretcher, match its height range, positioning options, handling features and load limits to your patients and daily workflow. Consider the spaces it needs to move through, how staff will operate it and any requirements for imaging or additional equipment.
A stretcher should support the stages of care in which it will be used, from admission and transport to examination, treatment or recovery.
Start by following a typical patient journey. Will the stretcher mainly carry patients between rooms, or will they remain on it during examinations and procedures? How often will it move, and how long will patients usually spend on it?
The answers help establish your priorities:
| Main use | Features to assess first |
| Frequent transport between departments | Maneuverability, overall dimensions, push handles and brake access |
| Emergency assessment and treatment | Patient access, positioning options and accessible controls |
| Examinations and short procedures | Lying surface, section adjustment and access for equipment |
| Waiting and recovery | Mattress, supported positions and accessories for the expected duration of use |
Several uses may overlap. If patients remain on the same stretcher through different stages of care, assess the requirements of each stage before comparing models.
A stretcher’s height range should accommodate both patient access and transfers to other surfaces, while allowing staff to adjust their working height.
A low entry position matters when patients get on and off the stretcher. For transfers between a stretcher and a bed or procedure table, check whether their surface heights can be aligned using the transfer equipment and methods employed in your facility.
Novak M stretchers offer different height ranges:
| Model | Electric height adjustment | Hydraulic height adjustment |
| Stretcher X2 | 49–89 cm | 52–82 cm |
| Stretcher X | 57–98 cm | 64–99 cm |
| Stretcher SL | Not available | 57–104 cm |
All heights are measured without a mattress.
Also check what happens when the safety rails are lowered. Do they leave the side accessible? Is there enough space to bring another surface or transfer aid close to the stretcher? These details are worth testing during a demonstration.
Electric stretchers reduce the physical effort of changing their height and, depending on the model, the patient’s position. They are particularly useful when frequent adjustments are part of daily care and reducing the physical demands on staff is a priority.
A hydraulic stretcher uses a foot-operated pump for height adjustment, while an electric model raises and lowers the surface using powered controls. However, “electric” does not necessarily mean that all movable sections are electrically adjustable. Stretcher X electric combines powered height adjustment with manual adjustment of the lying surface sections. On Stretcher X2 electric, staff can adjust both the height and movable sections using a hand switch.
When choosing between an electric and hydraulic stretcher, consider how often staff adjust the height and individual sections during a typical shift.
The stretcher’s width, positioning options and mattress should suit the patients you care for, the procedures you perform and the time patients spend lying down.
A narrower lying surface allows staff to work closer to the patient, while a wider surface provides more room for the patient. Stretcher X and Stretcher X2 are available with lying surface widths of 64 or 74 cm, allowing you to balance patient space with staff access. Stretcher SL is available in 64 cm width.
A two-section lying surface may be sufficient where an adjustable backrest meets the intended use. A four-section surface offers additional positioning options for the lower body.
Both Stretcher X and Stretcher X2 are available with two- or four-section lying surfaces, in electric and hydraulic versions. The way these sections are adjusted differs between models, so consider both the positions you need and how staff will achieve them.
The Trendelenburg position tilts the entire lying surface so the patient’s head is lower than their legs. If this position is required by your clinical protocols, check whether the stretcher provides it, how it is activated and whether staff can easily reach the controls.
The stretcher mattress should suit the expected duration of use and the patient’s support needs. Novak M offers mattresses in three thicknesses: 6 cm with quick-recovery foam, 8 cm with a memory foam layer, and 10 cm with a three-layer foam construction combining memory foam and breathable layers.
Consider the foam construction alongside the cover, attachment system and compatibility with your cleaning procedures. Thickness alone does not determine which mattress best suits your patients.
A stretcher’s maneuverability needs to be assessed on the routes staff use, including doorways, corners, lifts and the space around the patient.
Assess the features used during transport:
Weight can make a noticeable difference in daily use. At GastroPraxis am Graben in Switzerland, the team chose a Stretcher X2 electric that was 30 kg lighter than their previous stretcher. In their words, this “makes handling and positioning significantly easier.”
Learn more about how Stretcher X2 supports caregivers during transport and everyday care.
A stretcher’s permitted load and imaging capabilities must meet the requirements of your intended patients and procedures.
Check both the safe working load and the maximum patient weight. Safe working load refers to the total permitted load, including the patient and accessories or other items carried by the stretcher, as specified by the manufacturer. It should not be treated as the maximum patient weight. Verify both limits for the exact model and configuration you are considering.
| Novak M stretcher | Safe working load | Maximum patient weight |
| Stretcher X | 260 kg | 200 kg |
| Stretcher X2 | 320 kg | 250 kg |
| Stretcher SL | 250 kg | 200 kg |
If X-ray examinations will take place on the stretcher, assess more than the description “radiolucent”. The lying surface must allow the required imaging, while the base and surrounding components must leave suitable access for the equipment.
Stretcher X electric has a radiolucent platform and a diagonal base that leaves space beneath the lying surface for imaging equipment. In his experience using Stretcher X for emergency care, Swiss specialist Dr Martin Toniolo explains: “All the space under the trolley allows free path to the device, which speeds up and simplifies our work in emergencies.” His team uses a C-arm for X-ray examinations.
A medical stretcher should fit your cleaning routine, carry the equipment your team needs and be easy to maintain.
Check how easily staff can reach the surfaces around the lying platform, rails and base. Look at the mattress cover, seams and attachment points, and confirm which cleaning agents and disinfectants the manufacturer permits.
Choose accessories around actual tasks, such as an infusion stand, oxygen bottle holder or monitor holder. Check that their placement leaves the controls accessible and does not obstruct doorways or transfers.
For long-term use, ask about routine inspections, replacement parts and service arrangements.
A clear requirements list makes it easier to compare stretcher configurations and discuss suitable options with a supplier.
Before requesting a quotation, answer these questions:
| Consideration | Questions to ask |
| Main uses and patient group | Will the stretcher mainly be used for transport, examinations or recovery? |
| Height range and positions | How low must the stretcher go for patient access and how high for staff and transfers? Which patient positions, such as Trendelenburg, are required? |
| Maneuverability | Is the stretcher easy to push, steer and stop on your everyday routes? |
| Imaging needs | Will X-ray or C-arm examinations take place on the stretcher? |
| Load limits | Do both the maximum patient weight and safe working load meet your requirements, including the equipment carried on the stretcher? |
| Accessories | What equipment does your team need within reach during transport and care, for example an infusion stand or monitor holder? |
| Cleaning and maintenance | How easy is the stretcher to clean, and what servicing and spare parts support is available? |
Separate essential requirements from optional features, then involve the staff who will transport patients, adjust the stretcher and prepare it for its next use. Their assessment can reveal practical details that are difficult to judge from a specification sheet.
Share these requirements with our team to discuss a Novak M stretcher configuration suited to your facility.
