CategoriesPatient Handling

Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Labor and Delivery Units with the Epidural Positioning Device

Nurses in Labor and Delivery units play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and comfort of patients during one of the most crucial moments of their lives. However, this responsibility often comes with inherent risks, particularly when it involves providing manual support to patients during epidural placements. The epidural procedure, a commonly administered form of pain relief during labor, is a complex process that necessitates precise positioning and relentless support from the attending nurses. This requirement poses significant physical challenges to these dedicated healthcare professionals, leading to a potential increase in workplace injuries. One form of safe patient handling is the epidural positioning device or (EPD), this is commonly used in labor and delivery units.

Understanding the Epidural Procedure and Its Inherent Risks to Nurses

It’s not uncommon for nurses in Labor and Delivery units to resort to using stacks of pillows or unstable bedside tables to help position patients for epidural placements. This makeshift solution, while seemingly practical, exposes the nurses to undue risk. Nurses often find themselves in precarious situations, having to bear the weight of the patient leaning over these unstable supports, and in worst-case scenarios, even catching a falling patient. These situations drastically heighten the risk of injury to the nurse, adding to the physical strain of their already demanding roles.

Statistics paint a stark picture; nurses working in Labor and Delivery units face higher injury rates compared to their counterparts in other nursing specialties. The physical demands involved in epidural procedures contribute significantly to this alarming trend. Real-life accounts from nurses who have experienced close calls, injuries, or sustained harm while manually supporting patients during these procedures provide further evidence of the urgent need for safer and more efficient solutions.

In light of these circumstances, it becomes clear that the current practices surrounding epidural procedures need a revolutionary change. A change that prioritizes not only patient comfort but also the safety and wellbeing of our invaluable nurses.

Unveiling the Epidural Positioning Device (EPD)

The EPD emerges as a game-changer in this scenario. This innovative device is expertly designed to alleviate the physical strain on nurses during epidural placements. It works by positioning the patient safely and effectively for the anesthesiologist, reducing the need for manual support. With a step-by-step guide, using the EPD is straightforward, making it an ideal tool in any Labor and Delivery unit.

The manifold Benefits of Using the Epidural Positioning Device

The safety benefits of the EPD for nurses are numerous. Studies suggest that the use of the EPD can significantly reduce the risk of injury among nurses, promoting a healthier work environment. Furthermore, the EPD has been shown to increase efficiency in epidural placements, streamlining the process and saving valuable time. Testimonials from nurses and anesthesiologists echo these findings, emphasizing the remarkable benefits of the EPD.

Standardizing the EPD for Safety and Efficiency

Given these impressive benefits, standardizing the use of the EPD across Labor and Delivery units is a logical step. It promotes consistent safety practices, reducing the risk of injury among nurses. Furthermore, the potential time and cost savings associated with the use of the EPD make it an economically sound investment. Hospitals are therefore strongly encouraged to consider integrating the EPD into their Labor and Delivery units.

In conclusion, manual patient support during epidural placements poses a significant risk to nurses. The EPD mitigates these risks, promoting safety and efficiency in Labor and Delivery units. Prioritizing nurse safety and efficiency is not just about reducing injuries it’s about creating a better working environment that ultimately leads to enhanced patient care. As such, the adoption of the EPD as a standard practice in hospitals is strongly recommended. Invest in the EPD today, and take a decisive step towards enhancing safety and efficiency in your Labor and Delivery unit.

Improve Patient Safety with EPD
CategoriesPatient Handling

What is an Epidural Positioning Device

Did you know hospitals administer tens of millions of epidurals and spinal blocks each year for pain relief? Most providers perform these procedures quickly, efficiently, and with the assurance that their patients are in expert hands. Sometimes, when administering anesthesia for pain relief at the hospital, the staff administering the epidural or spinal block are the victims. Safety measures are essential to protect healthcare staff members from becoming victims of their patients. To avoid nursing injury and staff accidents, medical facilities are now implementing additional safety measures, such as using an epidural positioning device, training, and safety equipment to help reduce the risk of injuries.

What is an Epidural Positioning Device (EPD)

An epidural positioner is a positioning device that helps the patient lean forward into a proper position to receive an epidural while fully supported. It is known as an epidural chair and it consists of an adjustable headrest, chest pad, arm supports, and footrest. These components work together to provide stability and comfort to the patient. Epidural Positioner can reduce injuries and increase patient safety during epidurals and other anesthetic procedures. Devices like this are useful in operating rooms, labor, and pain management centers. The EPDs reduce patients’ and staff’s risk and improve safety by assisting with thoracic, cervical, and lumbar flexion while maintaining stability. EPDs are available in both manual and electric versions. The manual version has a spring-loaded knob for adjusting the midsection and footrest. An electronic controller controls the midsection and footrest in the electric version. EPDs are the best choice for obstetrics, thoracentesis, and obese patients.

What is Thoracentesis?

In this procedure, doctors remove fluid from between the lungs. With the EPDs, the headrest, armrests, and footplate are adjustable for safe and comfortable positioning for the patient. Using EPD for thora’ provides a solution to staff concerns about using the unsafe bedside table. Currently, EPDs for Thoracentesis procedures are becoming the new standard for care.

COVID-19 and the Epidural Positioning Device Use

As COVID-19 spreads, health care providers will continue to suffer disproportionately. Numerous frontline caregivers have been exposed in the U.S. to date. Manual patient handling is put into a new perspective regarding patient and staff safety, including staff distance and behavior. The manual handling of patients exposes nurses to musculoskeletal injuries and can increase their exposure to COVID-19. During spinal blocks and epidurals, the staff must hold the patients in position, increasing the risk of spreading the virus. So unnecessary contact is crucial for protecting the patient and nursing injury and sickness.

Safe Patient Handling and Epidural Positioner

Epidural and spinal blocks are techniques for perioperative pain management with multiple applications in anesthesiology. An epidural injects anesthesia into the epidural space, and a spinal block injects anesthesia into the dural sac that contains the cerebrospinal fluid. It gives immediate relief due to direct access. An epidural is a standard procedure performed during labor and delivery. Although it is useful as a primary anesthetic, its most common application is pain management. It can be a single shot or a continuous infusion for long-term pain relief. Although they are generally safe, there is always a risk of injury to the person administering the medication. Using these medications safely requires that staff be properly trained and equipped.

Safety equipment:

Staff members should use safety equipment when administering epidurals and spinal blocks. This includes gloves, goggles, and masks to protect them from potential infections and other risks and ensure their safety and the safety of the patients.

Training:

Medical staff should receive proper training in safely administering spinal blocks and epidurals. This training should include both classroom instruction and hands-on training, and it should cover the equipment needed, its setup, potential problems, and how to handle emergencies. Staff should also be physically fit. Safely performing these procedures requires physical fitness, precision, and agility. Personnel who are physically fit are less likely to suffer injuries when performing medical procedures.

Epidural Positioning Device and The Proper Technique:

Proper techniques help reduce complications and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. To administer epidurals and spinal blocks safely, staff must know most of the procedures. The epidural chair facilitates positioning. However, there are other traditional methods like the ‘mad cat position’ whereby: – The patient sits on the bed edge or lies on their side on the table or bed – A nurse stacks pillows on an unstable bedside table – The patient leans over it – A nurse places a stool under the patient’s feet In this traditional method, the nurse held the patient in the proper position during the procedure.

Documentation:

The staff should document all procedures, including epidurals and spinal blocks. The documentation can help to identify any potential problems.

Conclusion

A successful mobility program and safe patient handling hinge on buying in, acquiring the right equipment, and providing guidance on the best solutions to improve patient and staff safety. Ultimately, best practices are the key. It only takes one wrong lift to ruin a nurse’s career. It takes only one snap decision to end a nursing career, and we need all our nurses.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Patient Positioning During Thoracentesis Solved

Major Advancements in Safe Patient Positioning during Thoracentesis

Over the past two decades we have seen major advancements in patient care. This includes many new Safe Patient Handling Solutions developed to help our nurses and caregivers avoid the risk injury. Manual patient handling is one of the leading causes of back injuries for nurses. Many States have put laws in place to mandate that hospitals have a Safe Patient Handling program. This includes evaluating all inpatient units for high risk tasks that involve lifting, pushing, pulling, or prolonged static holds. Then the hospital should evaluate solutions to mitigate the risk. Here we are in 2020 and manual patient handling has not been eliminated yet!

We have been receiving phone calls from hospitals around the country describing a very common procedure. It is putting their ultrasound/imaging team at risk of injury on a daily basis. The procedure is called Thoracentesis and the issues are patient positioning during Thoracentesis.

Thoracentesis is also known as thoracocentesis or pleural tap. It is an invasive procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A cannula, or hollow needle, is carefully introduced into the thorax, generally after administration of local anesthesia.

One Ultrasound Manager at leading hospital found our website and the EPD – or Epidural Positioning Device. She contacted us and thought this would be perfect for their situation.

Here’s a brief description:

This hospital sees both inpatients and outpatients for Thora’s (That’s short for Thoracentesis). They’re performing about 3-6 procedures per day, seven days a week.

A Nurse or LPN helps assist to position the patient. The patient is seated on a gurney or table. The Nurse brings over a stool to support their feet. Then moves a bedside tray table over in front of the patient. Next they stack the table with pillows so the patient can lean on it comfortably. But, the table does not lock and it is a tip hazard!

We found this reference card on the web describing the old fashioned manual positioning of patients during Thora’s

thoracentesis Nursing Care Patient Prep

Which patients are getting Thoracentesis? There are many types of patients with varying diagnoses that need to undergo this procedure. People get “plural effusion” which is fluid around the lungs. A large number of patients are cancer patients but many are also heart and infections.

Thoracentesis Procedure

Thoracentesis procedure

How are we solving this predictable procedure and all the manual patient handling – static holds, fall risk, etc? The SPH Medical Epidural Positioning Device is the key. It was designed by an anesthesiologist to help position patients properly and to open up the spine for ideal needle placement of an Epidural or Spinal Block. It has now become the standard of care for L&D and surgery departments. Now the Radiology/Imaging department has discovered it and we’re helping the ultrasound team and Pulmonologists position patients safely and efficiently.

We have few photos from a recent customer that has implemented the EPD. Here are the before and after photos. Please feel free to Contact us for more information about the EPD and Thora’s. We would be happy to connect you with to our customers who are now using the EPD for all of their Thora’s and creating a safer environment for their staff and patients.

Thoras Before

A Typical Thoracentesis set up with a stool and non-locking tray table with pillows.

Thoras After with EPD

Now with the EPD – Ergonomic patient positioning that supports the patient safely and eliminates manual handling!

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