The patient lateral transfer market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The size of the patient lateral transfer market has experienced considerable growth in the past few years. The market's size is projected to increase from $4.49 billion in 2024 to $4.92 billion in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%.
This past period growth can be associated with factors such as the emphasis on safety for healthcare workers, the swelling elderly populace, an escalation in healthcare spending, a rise in occurrences of chronic diseases, efforts to minimize hospital-borne infections, and a patient-oriented approach in healthcare.
The patient lateral transfer market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• There is an anticipated robust expansion in the patient lateral transfer market in the forthcoming years, with expectations to reach $7.05 billion by 2029, progressing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%.
The expansion during the projected period can be attributed to the increased necessity for bariatric transfer solutions, a shift towards home healthcare, the continued growth of the elderly population worldwide, the broadening of ambulatory care services, and partnerships for product innovation. Key trends to observe during this forecast period include the incorporation of sensor technologies, advances in bariatric transfer solutions, the utilization of air-assisted transfer systems, focus on ergonomics and personnel safety, as well as customization catering to various healthcare environments.
The escalating rate of hospital admissions is set to drive the expansion of the patient lateral transfer market. This pertains to a rise in the number of individuals requiring inpatient care in healthcare facilities. Patient lateral transfers, a practice implemented for hospital patients to facilitate position changes, care delivery, and health assessment, are consequently in demand. As data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information reveals, there were 2.96 million acute inpatient admissions in Canada in the year 2022–2023, demonstrating an increase from the recorded 2.88 million in 2021–2022, thus further reinforcing the association between climbing hospitalization rates and patient lateral transfer market growth. The escalating presence of musculoskeletal disorders is also set to reinforce the growth of the patient lateral transfer market. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) encompass a variety of health issues affecting muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other aspects of the musculoskeletal system, often necessitating the use of lateral transfer techniques for patients. These techniques alleviate physical load on healthcare professionals and promote patient mobility, facilitating efficient and safe movement for individuals plagued by musculoskeletal disorders, considerably improving the overall quality of care while reducing injury risks during transfers. In the context of a report from the World Health Organization in July 2022, approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide were affected by musculoskeletal conditions. Moreover, a March 2022 survey reported in PubMed Central analyzed 282 student respondents' digital device use, physical activity tendencies, sitting habits, walking frequency, and ergonomic conditions during the pandemic. The study highlighted an increase in device usage and sedentary time coupled with reduced physical activity and walking, with a significant 75.9% reporting musculoskeletal pain, mainly in the shoulders and neck (65%). Additionally, an alarming 46% of students utilizing laptops or phones for remote work were found to suffer from text neck syndrome. Such increases in instances of musculoskeletal disorders significantly contribute towards the growth of the patient lateral transfer market.
The patient lateral transfer market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Products: Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer Mattress, Sliding Sheets, Accessories
2) By Usage Type: Single Patient Use, Reusable
3) By End-User: Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Other End-Users
Subsegments:
1) By Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer Mattress: Powered Air-Assisted Mattresses, Manual Air-Assisted Mattresses, Disposable Air-Assisted Mattresses
2) By Sliding Sheets: Standard Sliding Sheets, Gliding Sheets With Handles, Disposable Sliding Sheets, Reusable Sliding Sheets
3) By Accessories: Transfer Straps And Belts, Positioning Cushions, Lifting Slings, Support Pads For Lateral Transfer
Leading firms in the patient lateral transfer market are introducing unique products like Mobile Air Transfer Systems (MATS) to aid healthcare workers in aptly tilting and shifting patients. MATS is a medical device which uses air cushions for the lateral transfer of patients. As an example, in March 2022, Sage Products LLC, an American producer of healthcare merchandise, unveiled a groundbreaking multi-position MATS aimed at facilitating patient transfer. This multi-position MATS is a revolutionary patient transfer gadget creatively engineered to simplify and secure the process of changing patients' positions. It connects the patient to the operating table and comes with an exclusive, skin-compatible foam cushion that equalizes pressure and can easily be detached post-surgery. Its integrated arm wraps' unique structure lowers the risk of nerve damage by protecting the patient's arms and maintaining their adduction throughout surgical procedures.
Major companies operating in the patient lateral transfer market report are:
• Stryker Corporation
• Baxter International Inc.
• Medline Industries Inc.
• Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.
• Smith and Nephew plc.
• Steris plc.
• Scan Medical Co Inc.
• Arthrex Inc.
• Hill-Rom Holdings Inc.
• Getinge AB
• Wideblue Ltd.
• Agiliti Inc.
• Arjo AB
• Cantel Medical Corp
• Etac AB
• Handicare Group AB
• AliMed Inc.
• Prism Medical Inc.
• EZ Way Inc.
• HoverTech International
• AliMed Inc.
• Blue Chip Medical Products Inc.
• Airpal Inc.
• McAuley Medical Inc.
• Samarit Medical AG
• Patient Positioning Systems LLC
• David Scott Company
• Haines Medical Australia
• WY East Medical Company
• GBUK Ltd.
North America was the largest region in the patient lateral transfer market in 2024. The regions covered in the patient lateral transfer market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.