For most consult rooms the main piece of furniture is a couch. For some procedures a chair that moves from upright to flat does the job better. This guide explains when a procedure chair beats a couch and what to compare when you buy either.
When a couch is the better fit
A two-section couch has a long flat body section and an adjustable backrest. Patients can lie flat for abdominal examination or sit up for a consultation. It’s cost-effective and takes little space, which is why it’s the standard in general practice. Our treatment couch guide covers couches in detail.
When a chair is the better fit
A three-section examination or procedure chair has a head section, a seat section and a separate leg or foot section. It moves between a supported upright chair and a flat surface, and the foot section can drop or rise so the clinician can sit or stand comfortably instead of leaning at awkward angles. It suits:
- Gynaecological examinations, with leg supports or stirrups
- Podiatry and lower-limb care
- Minor skin procedures and biopsies
- Blood collection and infusions, where the patient stays seated
A two-section couch can be used for basic gynaecological checks, but a chair whose foot section drops out of the way and takes stirrups is far more practical.
What to compare
Height range
A low minimum height lets older, injured and disabled patients get on without help; a good maximum saves clinicians bending. Accessibility of examination furniture is part of practice accreditation, so check the RACGP Standards or your accrediting body for what applies to your practice.
Safe working load
Check the manufacturer’s rating against your patient mix, and make sure at least one room can take heavier patients safely. See equipment for bariatric patients.
Controls: hand remote or foot switch
Hand remotes suit general consultations: they hang on the side and are intuitive. Foot switches suit procedure rooms because they keep the clinician’s hands free and clean. Many electric models offer either or both.
Motors and frame
Good linear actuators move smoothly and quietly; cheap ones can shake or whine, which unsettles anxious patients. A strong steel frame stops wobbling when someone sits heavily on the edge, and a tough coating resists scuffs from mops and shoes.
Upholstery and padding
The vinyl must handle disinfectant wipes, sanitisers and body oils without cracking, and seamless designs stop fluids collecting in seams. High-density foam supports patients without bottoming out, which matters for comfort and for anxious patients.
Castors
Retractable castors let the chair or couch sit firmly on its feet during transfers and roll for cleaning or rearranging the room. Central locking castors suit equipment that moves often.
Plan the delivery
An electric three-section chair or couch is heavy. If your clinic is upstairs, down a narrow hallway or behind tight doorways, measure the route before ordering. Each of our product pages lists the manufacturer’s dimensions, and our Delivery page explains how large items arrive.
Servicing and power
Most electric chairs and couches plug into a standard power point; route cables so they don’t become a trip hazard or get pinched by the moving frame. Follow the manufacturer’s service schedule and include the equipment in your electrical safety testing.
Procedure chairs at Kontact
- Pacific Medical procedure chair, all electric: column lift, electric seat tilt, Trendelenburg, 59–89 cm height, 250 kg capacity.
- Pacific Medical gynaecology chair: electric hi-lo 64–106 cm and seat tilt by foot switch, stirrups and debris tray, 250 kg capacity.
- Pacific Medical podiatry/multipurpose chair: electric height and tilt by foot switch, face hole, flip-up armrests, 250 kg capacity.
- Blood collection chair: extra-wide 55 cm seat, foldable footrest, 175 kg capacity.
- Task Medical patient recliner with IV pole: 3-position manual incline on swivel castors with toe brakes.
See them all in procedure chairs.
