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When Hospice Care Corp.'s Regional Inpatient Care Center opened one year ago, its goal was to provide patients with the highest level of service in a home-like caring manner. But, you'll find that the Hospice Care Regional Inpatient Center is quite different from most medical facilities in more ways than one. For example, the facility's visiting hours, policies on food, beverages, children and pets and even overnight stays for guests are far more relaxed.

However, another difference is not so obvious - the patients' beds.

The beds were no ordinary purchase because these are no ordinary beds, an official said, noting that Hospice Care spared no expense for high-tech beds made by Volker that stimulate circulation, allow better physical positioning for users and just plain look great. The beds were designed to incorporate topical stimulation, along with other features, to have a variety of positive effects on a person's body and state of mind.

Hollywood has taken notice, and in the new movie release, "Extraordinary Measures," featuring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, the Volker bed is featured. "Extraordinary Measures" is inspired by the true story of John Crowley, a man who defied conventional wisdom and great odds, and risked his family's future to pursue a cure for his children's life-threatening disease.

"Patients in rehabilitation centers and nursing homes today arrive with more major health problems and live longer than in previous generations. The need for beds and other equipment that can improve their quality of life has never been greater," the official said.

The Hospice Care Regional Inpatient Center accepts patients who qualify under different levels of care for short stays with the hope that they are able to help patients get well enough to return home as quickly as possible. Vice President of Public Affairs and Access Cynthia Woodyard said, "We're proud of this decision; it's a tangible sign of our commitment to providing care that enhances life for our residents and clients."

As for the Volker bed itself, it is an attractive bed with wood accents. Its special advantages are not apparent at first glance: The sleeping surface is a series of flexible, horizontal supports on which curved "butterflies," double-winged, movable components are mounted. These shapes exert gentle, soothing pressure on the body which can be felt through a custom foam mattress. This "micro-stimulation" promotes blood circulation, thus helping prevent and heal deterioration of the skin, a major problem for bedridden individuals. The general comfort of the sleeping surface also promotes a sense of well-being and a more restful sleep.

A hand control and side rails also have features that regular hospital beds do not. The unique configuration of the bed surface allows the user to achieve a true sitting position of 90 degrees while in bed, rather than the lower angle of hospital beds, and prevents the experience of sliding down into a cramped position.

In addition, the entire sleeping surface can be tilted to a 30-degree angle from the top down, for an elevated head position without the need for extra pillows or other assistance.

Besides the beds, the Hospice Care Regional Inpatient Center features other high-end comfort features such as flat screen televisions and sofa chairs and beds for guests to sleep comfortably in the same room as their loved one. To learn more about this state-of-the-art facility, call Hospice Care Corp. at 866-656-9790.