I've also been thinking a lot about this need as I expect hip replacement in the new year. Fighting the TV remote, the phone receiver, the nurse call bell, my book, my phone, my water bottle (I don't drink city water in the pitchers) all the time in a bed when I could barely turn over in that first 48-72 hours is really annoying!!
I've decided to add a carabiner clip or even a shower curtain ring to whatever it is I make/buy so I can quickly remove something I need to keep close at hand -- like my extender-picker-upper. I remember always dropping things last time and it drove me nuts until Mother brought a second one I could use to pick up the first one when I dropped it!
I finally bought a fabric covered divided box for my bedside table at home to hold many small things -- pill bottles, inhaler, nail clippers, chapstik, reading glasses, notepad and pencil, back-scratcher, book, etc..... Guess that will go with me to sit on the pull-over table tray at the hospital.
Jan in VA