SleepSafe Beds is changing families’ lives with its innovation, quality and focus on continuous improvement
Looking at its 110,000 square-foot-facility, with its huge state-of-the-art robotic Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines operating nonstop, it’s difficult to imagine that Bassett, Virginia-based SleepSafe Beds started in a garage. This is a success story about a company that has been built, quite literally, on compassion, craftsmanship and innovation. SleepSafe Beds is now a nationally recognized leader in providing high-quality, customized beds for special-needs children.
Accepting a very special challenge
In 2000, at the request of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), SleepSafe Beds President Gregg Weinschreider began the development of the SleepSafe Bed, a durable medical equipment product (DME) for pediatric use. “The OMRDD required a bed that would prevent falls and entrapment for individuals in their group homes, particularly pediatric patients with physical and cognitive disabilities,” recalls SleepSafe Beds Director of Marketing Ed Hettig.
“Our background in producing custom furniture enabled us to look at the challenge with a different perspective. Why not make a safety bed that is totally functional and more beneficial to the user,” says Hettig. They set out to design a bed that looked less institutional, and more like it belonged in a home environment.
One of five companies submitting a prototype for review, SleepSafe was the only company willing to resubmit its design with the modifications the OMRDD requested. Since then, the company has not only become an OMRDD-approved contractor but its flagship SleepSafe Low Bed has also set the standards by which the agency’s bed safety guidelines have been written. Today, all SleepSafe beds exceed safety requirements of the seven zones of entrapment that were first identified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup in 2001.
In April 2001, a newly formed SleepSafe Beds, LLC, filed for a patent on the SleepSafe Bed system which was approved on July 15, 2002. In response to input from health care professionals as well as individuals. SleepSafe Beds then added additional DME beds to their product line.
Fine quality craftsmanship evident in every bed
Fast forward to 2016: SleepSafe Beds now operates from its 110,000-square-foot technologically advanced facility in Bassett, Virginia. The company has experienced sustained growth. The roster has gone from two to 25 highly skilled employees, many of them local furniture business craftsmen whose resumes include experience at such well-known companies as Bassett and Lane Furniture. They are eagerly applying their talents and experience to this noble task.
The SleepSafe shop houses state-of-the-art CNC machines, robotic welders, and a newly installed water jet table that precisely cuts key bed components. The shop is so complete that everything but the motors are made in-house. This makes quality control seamless.
“Through the years, we have been vigilant about listening to folks who need this bed, and variations of this bed,” confirms Hettig. “We are always focused on improving functionality. From the beginning, we have actively sought feedback on every detail, from safety rail heights to manual or electronic controls. These variations frequently depend on the nature of the child’s special needs. The more people who see and use our beds, the more insights we have gathered from therapists, doctors and parents.” That led, for example, to fully articulating beds where the competition’s beds may only raise the head.
That willingness to create a bed to exact specifications is also how SleepSafe Beds has evolved into beds that meet many individual needs. “We always do our best to accommodate special requests, whether it is in the functionality or the materials used, for example when if a child is allergic to certain fabrics.”
In addition to meeting or exceeding FDA guidelines, each bed is built using hardwood core plywood for strength, and decorative veneers. “We have invested in craftsmanship and quality materials,” says Hettig. These beds are designed to last a lifetime.
Working with families and caregivers to get insurance coverage
That unwavering quality is why SleepSafe Beds enjoys a solid reputation with its network of DME providers across the U.S. and Canada. That’s important because these beds, which retail between $8,000 and $15,000, are considered a medical necessity.
He adds that, “Getting insurance companies to pay for a special-needs bed is not always simple or guaranteed. We have, by necessity and volume, become a trusted resource in this area. Our staff is on the phones every day assisting parents and therapists with insurance approvals. It is an advantage that our company is registered with the FDA. Also, if a bed meets specific criteria, it stands a better chance of being approved. Most of our beds are covered by private insurance and Medicaid.”
SleepSafe’s bed giveaways are well known
The employees are proud that their beds serve the greater good. “The right child safety bed can impact the quality of life for the entire family,” comments Hettig. To further pay it forward, SleepSafe Beds conducts an annual drawing for one bed, through its Facebook page. The company has also begun donating beds through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For more information about children’s safety beds, including valuable insurance tips, call 866-852-2337 or visit www.sleepsafebed.com.
Biography: Edward Hettig
Edward Hettig is the Director of Marketing at SleepSafe Beds, LLC with responsibility for marketing strategies, brand management and corporate communications. Prior to joining SleepSafe Beds, he worked in strategic business development, corporate design and marketing at several companies nationwide. His most recent project involves a positioning the company as the “thought leader” for educating consumers and advocates about the benefits of a safety bed for those with special needs.
Hettig holds a degrees in Journalism and Communications. He lives in Roanoke, Virginia and enjoys time with his family and friends. He enjoys plein air painting in his spare time and curates the Alexander/Heath Contemporary Art Gallery in Roanoke.
