Nitrile Exam Glove Testing 2021
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Evaluating the Quality of Nitrile Exam Gloves for Hospitals

Nitrile Exam Gloves for Hospitals

Most of the world was unprepared for a pandemic like COVID-19. The contagion caused many supply chain issues including a shortage of medical supplies like gloves, N95 masks and, isolation gowns. With the need for these supplies continuing, some scammers are attempting to profit by manufacturing fake or low quality gloves with fake packaging. It’s important for value analysis and purchasing departments to avoid buying them. Not only are they a financial loss, but they could also put hospital staff and patients at risk. Here’s how to evaluate the quality of nitrile exam gloves for hospitals.

What You Need to Know About FDA 510K Approval

The FDA requires some medical device manufacturers to register with them when they plan to advertise a medical device. Under section 510K, these companies must notify the FDA of their marketing agenda at least 90 days before they intend to implement it.

This alert is called Premarket Notification. The FDA requires this step to determine if the product is equal to a device that’s already in one of the government agency’s three classification sections. That way, the FDA can identify medical devices properly.

For medical examination gloves the FDA approves the glove with a product code to confirm the approval for the intended use.  LZA is the product code issued to Nitrile Examination gloves to confirm that the gloves are intended for medical purposes and are worn on the examiner’s hands or fingers to prevent contamination between patient and examiner.  Other important product approval codes are OPJ which is for Medical Gloves with Chemotherapy Labeling Claims, and QDO which is an approval for Fentanyl and other Opioid Protection Gloves.  The FDA includes in their 510K approval letter all of the associated testing that was submitted for review by the manufacturer to achieve the respective product code.

Look for ASTM D6319 TestingGlove manufacturers are required to provide testing that meets ASTM standards.  ASTM International is a nonprofit global standards organization that develops and distributes technical standards for a variety of products including medical equipment. Companies that produce their products according to ASTM D6319 standards are able to offer their customers the assurance that they are selling Examination grade gloves that are manufactured for medical use.

When gloves meet the ASTM D6319 standard, they are powder free, thicker than disposable gloves designed for other purposes and include a higher tensile strength level.

The ASTM testing standards for chemo tested nitrile exam gloves consists of checking the material’s strength and flexibility. The organization’s tests are designed to make sure that an examination glove is unlikely to tear or fail and provides the proper amount of stretch.

When a powder free examination glove box confirms that its contents have been ASTM tested, then the gloves have undergone an accelerated aging process that involves heat. This test is designed to assess how well the gloves will work toward the end of their shelf life, giving you peace of mind that they will continue to provide protection until they are expired.

Check for ASTM Chemotherapy Drug Testing Standards

Since chemotherapy agents are extremely toxic, it’s important for healthcare employees to handle them wearing examination gloves that have been tested for saturation using the ASTM’s more vigorous D6978 standard instead of the guidelines used for other chemicals.

The chemotherapy drug testing standards require companies to test the gloves for up to four hours. The permeation test measures the time that it takes certain chemicals to make their way through the material of the latex free glove. For a glove to be considered safe for chemotherapy drugs, the tests must take place at particular temperatures too.

Understand the Ins and Outs of Factory Standards

ASTM standards include AQL testing, or Acceptable Quality Level.  For example ASTM D6319-10 includes an AQL of 2.5%. Before buying gloves from any company, make sure that you know how they test their products. Check the label for Acceptance Quality Limit, or AQL, testing. The definition of AQL testing is a “quality level that is the worst tolerable.” It refers to the highest number of faulty products allowed in a batch before that batch is discarded. For instance, if a label states that the AQL is 1.5%, then this means that the glove batch cannot contain more than 1.5% faulty items in the order.  Of course ASTM standards are set at an AQL of 2.5%, but some factories have an AQL of 1.5% which means they have stricter quality control levels.

Factory Testing of Nitrile Exam Gloves

Since the development of COVID-19 has caused a shortage of the raw materials needed to make nitrile examination gloves, defrauders have appeared on the scene to take advantage of hospitals and steal their money. When you buy quality tested nitrile exam gloves, your facility will be stocked with powder free gloves that are also latex free. To avoid becoming victim to a scam, watch for suspicious activity like uncommon payment requirements, sudden price increases and unexpected bulk supplies.

Read the Information that is Printed on the Medical Glove Box

The label printed on the glove box is important. It should include a list of tests that the manufacturer performed to confirm the quality of the gloves and their safety. When you purchase examination gloves, make sure that the boxes are labeled with information like:

  • Patient examination glove or surgeon’s glove
  • Tested for permeation resistance to chemotherapy drugs according to ASTM D6978-05
  • What chemotherapy drugs the gloves have been tested against
  • Chemical resistance data

The label should also show you the number of chemotherapy drugs that the gloves were tested against and the amount of drugs used during testing.

Label information is important because it allows you to confirm that you have exam gloves that are manufactured to provide the proper protection for your healthcare staff.

Keep in mind that packaging is simple for manufacturers to produce, making it the easiest thing to fake. If you run into a scammer, the box may falsely state that tests and standards have taken place when they haven’t. To keep your hospital staff protected, request third-party testing documents from your supplier. That way, you can confirm that you’re purchasing quality nitrile exam gloves.

Keeping Hospitals Stocked with Chemo Tested Nitrile Exam Gloves

Currently, the cost for raw materials to manufacture medical gloves has shot up quickly due to a lack of supplies and more demand because of COVID-19. Despite these challenges, SPH Medical is working tirelessly to provide consistent glove supplies to its hospital clients.

Sources:

1. https://webstore.ansi.org/sdo/astm
2. https://hourglass-intl.com/glove-testing-demystified-tensile-strength-and-ultimate-elongation/
3. https://www.pppmag.com/article/1623/January_2015/Are_Gloves_and_Gowns_Safe_for_Handling_Chemotherapy/#:~:text=ASTM%20standard%20D6978%20is%20specific,care%20workers%20handle%20chemotherapy%20drugs.
4. https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-health-care-professionals-of-increased-potential-for-fraudulent-sales-of-covid-19-related-medical-equipment
5. FDA Product classification codes for Medical Gloves  https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/classification.cfm?start_search=1&Submission_Type_ID=&DeviceName=&ProductCode=&DeviceClass=1&ThirdParty=&Panel=&RegulationNumber=880.6250&Implant_Flag=&Life_Sustain_Support_Flag=&PAGENUM=500&sortcolumn=DeviceNameDESC

The SPH Medical EPD improves patient safety
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Trends and the Epidural Chair

Current Epidural Trends in Hospitals and the Epidural Chair

Now more than ever in Labor and Delivery departments and in General Surgery areas the trend is to utilize the Epidural Chair to improve patient comfort and safety.  Equally important is the opportunity to improve safety for nursing and Anesthesia staff.  It is well known that the experience of childbirth is extremely painful for the mother. Modern medicine has advanced to provide mothers with epidural anesthesia for pain during labor. Epidural pain relief can make the child birthing experience less traumatic and exhausting for the mom. Epidural anesthesia depends on the technical abilities of the anesthetist. This requires assessing the risks that are present for the patient, positioning the patient for safe administration, and gathering the necessary staff to help with positioning. An often overlooked factor in patient outcomes in regard to pain relief is the ergonomics that nurses must respect during patient positioning to prevent themselves from developing musculoskeletal injury from repetitive patient positioning over their career. We will discuss these points in this article.

Proper positioning of the patient for safe and effective epidural pain relief can be understood with respect to the anatomy of the spinal column. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column. When a patient flexes their core, the posterior vertebral column spinal processes spread apart, allowing direct access to the dural sac that covers the spinal cord for anesthesia administration. Often, the nursing staff must help the patient remain in a still-flexed position to allow for safe administration. Depending on the patient’s body habitus, it can be difficult for nursing staff to hold the patient without compromising their own ergonomics. Patient positioning during administration of spinal anesthesia is very important.  EPD, commonly known as an epidural chair, has been implemented to help place patients flexed, allowing for effective anesthesia delivery.  The epidural positioning chair also doesn’t require nursing staff to put their bodies in stressful contortions, minimizing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.

Epidural pain relief is often significant to some expecting moms as they fear the pain during labor. Although it is a commonly performed procedure, epidural anesthesia does not come without its risk. Because the medication is being delivered near the dural sac and spinal cord, there is a risk of medication being administered within the dural sac. Risks seen during epidural anesthesia include a severe drop in blood pressure. Other side effects include difficulty urinating, nerve damage, nausea, vomiting, and infection.

Prevent Injury to the Spinal Cord

Injury to the spinal cord can also occur, with paralysis being a possible outcome. It is essential to understand these risks to help minimize negative outcomes. The Epidural chair helps decrease this risk by allowing the patient to be put in a fixed position that won’t disturb the anesthetist. Safety and reliability are of utmost importance in healthcare, and the EPD can provide proper positioning with adjustments in respect to the patient’s body habitus. Although there are many factors that go into the safe delivery of anesthesia, the utilization of an epidural chair can help mitigate the risk with respect to the proper positioning of the patient.

EPD can be used outside of the labor and delivery floor. With respect to spinal blocks and spinal taps, the chair is used because both procedures require the exact positioning. Spinal taps come with similar risks and can be mitigated similarly with the use of the chair. Often time patients who may need a spinal tap for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes must have a risk assessment which includes the ability to position the patient properly. In the pediatric population, a chair is not as helpful as children often require some form of sedation to help with patient positioning because of their age. In the adult population where body habitus is varied, an EPD chair that can be adjusted to reproduce the same position can help improve patient outcomes.

The Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthesia can also be used to supplement general anesthesia for surgery and to help with pain alleviation during post-operative recovery. Surgeries that occur in the lower extremities can often be excruciating in the post-operative recovery period. Supplemental pain relief can help the patient feel more comfortable, and reduced pain perception can help a patient recover faster by complying with post-operative therapy. The utilization of an Epidural Positioning Device can help mitigate a safe and quick administration of a spinal block even in spite of staff not being able to be present for patient positioning. This kind of anesthesia helps reduce the usage of opioids for patients who refuse or patients with a history of opioid abuse.

Overall The utilization of an epidural positioning chair can help deliver safe and reliable anesthesia while reducing the risks of the procedure, the requirement of staffing, and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. This chair can be utilized in similar procedures such as the spinal tap or even thoracentesis, which shows promising application outside of just epidural anesthesia. This trend to improve patient and staff safety using the EPD is increasing. Word is spreading in clinical circles that the simplicity and ease of use of the EPD drives compliance and therefore reduces risk, a very positive trend indeed.

References:

Comparing Three Different Modified Sitting Positions for Ease of Spinal Needle Insertion in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia by Sussan Soltani Mohammadi, Mohammadreza Piri, and Alireza Khajehnasiri 2017

CategoriesInfection Prevention

The Importance of Chemotherapy Testing for Nitrile Gloves

Chemotherapy Testing for Nitrile Gloves

In today’s current environment of infections and pathogens we are more increasingly concerned about Chemotherapy Testing for Nitrile Gloves. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization confirms that cancer rates are increasing around the world due to people living longer. Most cases of cancer happen to people who are older. Also, researchers believe that smoking tobacco and unhealthy eating habits are likely to result in more lung and gastrointestinal cancers throughout the world. This means that more people will need cancer treatment.

Why Is It Important to Test the Effectiveness of Nitrile Gloves Against Chemotherapy Drugs?

Universal precautions requiring the use of disposable gloves have been in place for years. These precautions were established to prevent death from HIV contamination during the ‘80s and ‘90s as well as from other dangerous chemicals. Until the 1990s, disposable gloves were manufactured mainly from rubber. Unfortunately, in 1996, Karen Wetterhahn, who was a scientist, died from mercury poisoning after the chemical seeped through her gloves during an experiment.

After news of Wetterhahn’s death traveled through the science community, researchers recommended the use of plastic-laminated gloves instead. Advancements in technology brought about latex, vinyl and nitrile gloves. Many health providers choose gloves made from nitrile because the material is highly resistant against chemicals. This makes them best for medical facilities that use chemotherapy drugs. To keep healthcare staff safe, it’s important to test the effectiveness of gloves made from nitrile against chemotherapy drugs.

It’s important for healthcare workers to know whether the gloves that they’re using will protect them against all types of chemotherapy drugs. To check, review the chemical infiltration label listed on the package. Make sure that your gloves feature the most recent standard provided by the American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM. The current code is D6978-05.

What You Need to Know About Fentanyl Citrate

Fentanyl is an artificial opioid used by cancer patients to manage their pain. It comes in tablet or patch form. The drug, Fentanyl Citrate is 50 times stronger than heroin and an estimated 100 times more powerful than morphine. In fact, just 2mg of the opioid is strong enough to cause death, which is why it’s important to use disposable gloves that will protect you from this powerful drug when working with cancer patients.

Recommendations for Proper Glove Use

Experts recommend wearing two pairs of gloves that have been tested against chemotherapy drugs anytime you’re participating in activities involving hazardous drugs. You should also change your gloves every 30 minutes or right away if the gloves become damaged or if you know that they’ve been contaminated. This is why medical facilities need so many boxes of gloves.

Wear disposable gloves that are free of powder and made from nitrile, latex or neoprene. Also, make sure that the cuff of the glove is long enough to cover your gown sleeves. Glove thickness depends on the material of the gloves. If you’re doing chemotherapy preparation, then make sure that your exterior glove is a sterile one.

You should wear two sets of gloves when disposing of hazardous drugs, cleaning up spills and for routine cleaning.

How Does Glove Testing Offer Protection?

Chemotherapy drug testing offers protection because you’ll know what chemicals your gloves will protect you from. When testing is complete, the third-party testing company will print chemotherapy drug information on the glove packaging including which drugs the gloves were tested against. The label will also show you what level of protection the gloves provide. To make it easy to determine what your gloves provide protection against, companies may add pictograms to the glove boxes.

If you didn’t have access to this detailed information, then you might accidentally choose a set of gloves that are not designed to protect you from the drugs that you’re giving to patients.

Glove Testing Requirements

The European Council Directive provides legal coverage for medical gloves. Along with this, the European Standard outlines exact requirements when it comes to labeling, glove shelf life and disclosure information. Quality testing methods are developed to check the physical properties of these kinds of gloves. This includes their strength levels and dimensions.

Testing involves checking for macroscopic material flaws. There is also a standard to test gloves against chemicals and microorganisms. Gloves that receive certification based on each standard offer a higher level of protection for the wearer.

Standard test methods to determine the protective properties of gloves include checking glove permeation as well as penetration levels. Penetration indicates whether a chemical can make its way through pores or macroscopic holes while permeation determines if chemicals can move through the glove. Testing must be done over a certain amount of time.

Maintaining Safety Standards

Third-party testing labs check nitrile exam gloves against drugs to confirm that they are safe for both patients and medical professionals. Gloves made from nitrile are in short supply but SPH Medical is delivering continuous supply to hospitals and provides the highest quality nitrile exam gloves with chemotherapy drug and fentanyl citrate testing.

Sources:

  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijc.29058
  2. https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/PPE%20Use%20With%20Hazardous%20Drugs.pdf
  3. https://www.soscleanroom.com/blog/the-history-of-disposable-gloves/
  4. https://lowderma.com/pdf/Fentanyl-2019.pdf
  5. https://es.halyardhealth.com/media/1409/kchc-evaluating-chemotherapy-protection-new-version.pdf
SPH Medical delivers Nitrile Exam Gloves
CategoriesInfection Prevention

The History of Nitrile Exam Gloves for Nursing Safety

Nitrile Exam Gloves for Nursing Safety

Disposable gloves are the unsung heroes of healthcare products. They were developed because of a longtime need for the medical industry to implement cleaner standards and offer protection for those who provide healthcare services. Here’s the history and evolution of disposable gloves and how nitrile exam gloves became a necessity for the healthcare industry.

A Start with Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital opened in May 1889, and one of its founding members was Dr. William Stewart Halstead, a medical professional who is known for many important achievements in the medical community. For instance, he developed new surgical techniques for repairing hernias and removing gallstones. Dr. Halstead was also known for being a precise surgeon, one who believed in cleanliness. According to historical research, Halstead created the first surgical glove.

Dr. Halstead married a nurse named Caroline Hampton. She told him that she developed a rash after handling surgical chemicals. Dr. Halstead contacted the Goodyear Rubber Company, and they manufactured a set of rubber gloves for Caroline. She loved them so much that the couple requested more. Soon, Dr. Halstead’s surgical staff began wearing them when performing operations. At the time, his team used them because they increased their dexterity. They were not aware of how the gloves prevented the transfer of germs.

Before disposable gloves, patients who underwent surgery had a 50% mortality rate. Many of these deaths occurred because of germs being transferred from the doctor to the patient. Once the medical community made the connection, doctors began wearing disposable gloves more often. It didn’t take long for hospitals to make wearing them a requirement.

Material Advancements

Until the ‘90s, disposable gloves were typically manufactured from rubber. However, researchers found that rubber latex was unable to block some chemicals from connecting with the wearer’s skin. In 1996, Karen Wetterhahn, a researcher, died after mercury came into contact with her skin.

Later, it was determined that her gloves weren’t thick enough to protect her from the mercury. This incident encouraged researchers to recommend the use of plastic-laminated rubber gloves instead of latex during scientific experiments. Since then, the science and medical community has made material advancements.

Today, disposable gloves are made from materials like:

  • Latex
  • Nitrile
  • Vinyl
  • Neoprene
  • Polyethylene

Nitrile gloves are a popular choice because the material is highly resistant to chemicals. Manufacturers can develop it into a soft film, making them comfortable to wear. The material is exceptionally clean and free of accelerators. These features make nitrile gloves perfect for cleanrooms. Chemo tested nitrile exam gloves protect both the wearer and the patient.

History of Nitrile

Best Manufacturing, which is now Showa Best, developed the technology for nitrile gloves about 15 years ago. Once people discovered how useful the material was, Ansell brought out different glove products such as blue nitrile and purple nitrile gloves. Gloves made from nitrile are not a competing product against latex gloves. Instead, they are produced for people who are working with dangerous chemicals or have an allergy to latex.

Nitrile Exam Gloves Shortage

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of personal protection equipment, or PPE, like surgical gowns and gloves. Since nitrile gloves are hypoallergenic and capable of resisting chemicals, hospitals prefer them for their medical staff. At the moment, these gloves are tough to get and increasingly expensive.

According to reports, the national stockpile of them in the United States is just 72 million gloves compared to the target amount of 4.5 billion. The shortage is causing states to make their way through an intense medical equipment market filled with shady middlemen and black-market dealers. Fraud is occurring at a rapid pace and the cost of gloves is skyrocketing.

Estimates show that one box of gloves costs around $32. This is a massive increase from what medical facilities were paying before the pandemic arrived. The demand has minted a few more billionaires and centimillionaires.

Market analysts are confirming that the global demand for nitrile gloves has almost doubled in just a few months. In 2019, the demand was an estimated 300 billion while in August of 2020, the demand grew to almost 585 billion.

Glove manufacturers can only develop about 370 billion gloves each year. After determining the enhanced need for gloves, companies have been working to increase production. The production increase will allow companies to make around 50 billion more of them, but this still leaves the medical community short. Also, while the United States appears to be getting the virus under control, it is raging in countries like India.

Even after the pandemic subsides around the world, manufacturers believe that the demand for nitrile gloves will increase. The reason for this is that now people know about their protective properties.

Protective Equipment that the Healthcare Industry Needs

SPH Medical works with manufacturers to provide Nitrile Examination Gloves to hospitals and healthcare facilities around the world. We want to keep healthcare workers everywhere comfortable and safe.

Sources:

  1. https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/the-nurse-who-introduced-gloves-to-the-operating-room
  2. https://www.hsimagazine.com/article/the-development-of-nitrile-gloves-144/
  3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2021/02/11/billionaires-making-boatloads-of-money-from-once-cheap-medical-gloves/?sh=110d3cec661c
CategoriesPatient Handling

Air Transfer Mat Solves Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals

Solving Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals

Nurses, certified nursing assistants, and other healthcare workers constantly move, transfer, and reposition patients and residents during their workdays. Needless to say, the repetitive lifting and moving of people to and from beds, chairs and bathtubs can wreak havoc on caregivers’ health. Today, mechanical lift aids, an air transfer mat and other technologies help reduce the risk of injuries to caregivers and patients alike. However, many facilities continue to transfer and position patients manually, assuming that draw sheets and other methods are safe enough. In reality, lateral transfers cause countless repositioning injuries and other nursing injuries every year.

Increased Risk of Injury from Manual Patient Handling Tasks

Patients and healthcare workers alike are often injured during manual patient handling tasks, including when transferring patients laterally from point to point. According to OSHA, healthcare workers are seven times as likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders than workers in other industries. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers face among the highest rates of musculoskeletal injury from overexertion. Across all industries, 33 of every 10,000 workers face such risks; in the healthcare industry, 68 of every 10,000 workers do. Additionally, patients are at increased risk of injury from such transfers and other activities. Every year, approximately 440,000 hospital patients die from hospital errors, injuries, accidents and infections, and Medicare patients have a one in four chance of being injured, harmed or killed after being admitted to the hospital.

Risks to Patients

Total care patients – those who are completely immobile and unable to move– must be moved, transferred and repositioned continually by caregivers. Throughout the day, they may be moved from toilet to chair, chair to bed, bathtub to chair and to and from other areas of a facility. Additionally, such patients must be moved from side to side in bed, lifted back up after slipping down in bed and even moved around while their beds are being made.

Every time a healthcare worker manually transfers a patient, they face an increased risk of being injured. Caregivers must often maneuver them from awkward angles and positions, increasing the risk of mishaps. The process is often uncomfortable for patients at the very least, making them dread any time they must be moved and making life more stressful in general.

Risks to Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers bear the brunt of the risk of injury when laterally transferring patients without the aid of advanced technologies. Because of the obesity epidemic, patients are larger than ever, further increasing the risk of injury. Manual patient handling tasks contribute to countless injuries and chronic conditions among healthcare workers every year, including sprains, strains and slipped disks. Over time, injuries to the low back and shoulders often develop in those who must repetitively move and transfer patients.

According to research performed by Dr. William Marras of Ohio State’s Spine Research Institute, vertebral discs are avascular and depend upon the vertebrae above and below for nourishment and to remain healthy. Due to overexertion, small microfractures in the vertebral discs develop over time and prevent the disc from receiving the required nourishment. Continued overexertion then may result in a severe or career ending back injury. A seemingly “safe” manual patient handling task like a lateral transfer may just be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.

Hospitals and other facilities face increased costs because of overexertion and injury among nurses and other healthcare professionals, including disability reimbursements and medical expenses. Injuries from manual patient handling cause higher turnover rates and increased absenteeism among healthcare workers. One study revealed that up to 20% of nurses who leave the industry do so because of the risks they face.

Protect Caregivers and Patients with an Air Transfer Mat

Mechanical solutions for lifting, transferring and repositioning patients are more advanced and readily available than ever. By investing in air-powered lateral transfer devices like and air transfer mat, facilities can dramatically decrease the risk of injuries among healthcare workers and patients. Such devices rely on ergonomics to ensure that they suit workers’ capabilities, reducing strain on their bodies. Mechanical lifts with slings, lifts that assist with standing, mechanical transfer aids and other devices go a long way toward protecting residents and caregivers.

When transferring patients laterally, nurses and other caregivers often pull them from bed to gurney with a draw sheet, or they might pull the patient on a sheet, sliding them across a plastic board. Either way, there’s still too much friction, and injuries can easily occur. Today, air-powered lateral transferring devices are the gold standard for reducing the risk of injuries and other problems. These devices use a thin layer of air beneath an inflated mattress to “float” patients from point to point, making the process easier, safer and more efficient for all.

SPH Medical supplies today’s top air-powered patient transfer solutions, allowing facilities like hospitals to reduce the risk of injuries to patients and healthcare workers. Products like AirPal and HoverMatt significantly reduce the risk of nursing injury and repositioning injury; in turn, employee downtime, absenteeism, disability expenses and other issues decrease, allowing facilities to maintain productivity while keeping costs in check. Today, the CDC recommends one patient lift device per eight immobile patients, and air-powered transfer devices are among the most useful and flexible options. Find one that suits the needs of your facility by shopping SPH Medical today.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Patient Positioning and Nursing Injuries

How Patient Positioning and Lateral Transfers Increase Risk of Injury to our Nurses

Patient positioning in a hospital, surgery center, or medical clinic occurs twenty four hours a day and every day. Patients are constantly sliding down in bed and therefore need to be boosted back up, turned, bathed, and transferred. In this article we’re going to review one of the most common and predictable patient positioning tasks, a lateral transfer. Lateral transfers occur in many inpatient hospital units throughout the day. Whether patients are headed into surgery or to the imaging center, numerous departments oversee lateral transfers. In layman’s terms, a lateral transfer consists of transferring a patient from one surface to another. Unfortunately, the unpredictability of this procedure leaves a lot of room for error. As a result, both medical professionals and patients become susceptible to injuries. Specifically, hospital staff are at risk of MSDO’s due to the high frequency of this task and the increasing weight of patients. Lateral transfers have become so dangerous that more constructive alternatives are being developed.

In most cases, nurses perform lateral transfers by using the sheet that’s underneath the patient. If there aren’t enough hands on deck, a plastic board can help offset insufficient manpower. However, this method is far from flawless, and it doesn’t reduce enough friction to prevent a nursing injury or repositioning injury from occurring. Strains and sprains are commonplace but more serious career ending back injuries are occurring. Since a successful lateral transfer hinges entirely on physical effort and effective communication, these practices have been deemed high risk.

In fact, these techniques are so ineffective that medical professionals are over 30 percent more likely to experience musculoskeletal pain.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses are the number one at risk profession for a back injury with an average of 7 lost work days per injury.  Manual Patient Handling injuries are the primary culprits for this debilitating condition. While occupational injuries aren’t ideal for workers, they can be especially detrimental to hospitals. Not only do injuries leave their personnel indisposed, but these mishaps can also prove costly, requiring hospitals to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover injury costs, and that’s just the direct cost of these injuries.  d

In the hopes of addressing this ongoing issue, the Bureau of Labor Statistics held a study on safe patient handling programs. Their research showed that hospitals with proper lateral transfer procedures were 73 percent less likely to put their nurses or patients at risk. With this compelling evidence, the House made the noble decision to draft the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act in 2015. At its core, this bill seeks to protect nurses from musculoskeletal disorders by requiring hospitals to reinforce their mobility, injury prevention, and patient handling standards.

The Future Of Safe Lateral Transfers

To combat the number of repositioning injuries, companies started introducing air-assisted transfer systems. AirPal is touted as the brains behind this invention and is renowned for being the first to design this revolutionary technology. With the efficacy of air-assisted transfer systems, companies like HoverMatt were eager to make this resource more accessible, leading to increased supply of the disposable or single patient use transfer mattress.

Air Powered Transfer System

In essence, these systems reduce friction while offering unmatched safety for both the patient and the caregiver. As a result, they improve ergonomics, reduce risk of injury to nurses, and improve patient satisfaction and safety during lateral transfers. Thanks to the incredible ability to reduce friction for patients of all sizes, fewer people are needed to oversee lateral transfers. To ensure that patients and staff members remain out of harm’s way, SPH Medical implements air-assisted transfer systems in hospitals all across the country.  SPH Medical is helping to make air assisted lateral transfer systems available to all hospitals at affordable prices.

Reasons To Choose Air-Assisted Transfer Equipment

Air-assisted transfer systems are highly sought-after for their ability to reduce handling injuries, but they offer more benefits than that. In addition to promoting safe practices, this cutting-edge equipment also instills comfort into the patient experience. In other words, patients aren’t as vulnerable to the unease and discomfort that accompanies traditional lateral transfers. With this modern equipment, transitioning a patient from point A to point B is seamless.  This can improve hospital efficiencies and throughput further reducing costs.

According to patients, air-assisted transfer systems give the illusion and feeling that they’re floating from one surface to the next. What’s more, this streamlined process makes patients feel like less of an inconvenience. When caregivers have to exert tremendous energy to move a patient, it can trigger self-consciousness especially for the Bariatric patient.  The dignity and care of Bariatric patients is an important consideration for hospitals across the country.  In her book The Challenges of Caring for the Obese Patient, Sue Gallagher states, “Even the most compassionate caregiver may be reluctant to provide adequate care [to a patient with obesity] because of the threat of caregiver injury.”  Fortunately, air-assisted equipment reduces self-doubt of caregivers and patients alike, bringing patients great peace of mind while allowing medical professionals to provide exceptional care.

 

References:

Gallagher S. The Challenges of Caring for the Obese Patient. Edgemont, PA: Matrix Medical Communications; 2005

Early Patient Mobility improves outcomes
Categoriesearly mobility

Safety Platform Walkers

A Practical Solution for Early Mobility in the Acute Care Setting

By Amber Perez MHA, CSPHP

 

The benefits of early and progressive mobility programs are well-established in the acute care setting. Greater than a decade of published research validates the positive patient outcomes associated with implementing an early mobility (ICU-Based) and progressive mobility (acute care inpatient) program as an essential part of the patients plan of care. Marra and Ely of Vanderbilt University published the groundbreaking research establishing an intensive care patient protocol the ABCDE (now the ABCDEFG) method for reducing the risk of Delirium in ICU patients.  Delirium, once under-diagnosed and rarely treated, is now recognized as a primary indicator for mortality and identified early in most ICU’s in the United States. Vanderbilt University’s groundbreaking results contributed to drastic improvements in the quality of life and mortality rates of an immeasurable number of patients as a result of widespread adoption of the methods and tools published in the protocol. One of the key components of the ABCDE method is the ‘E’ or Early Mobility intervention. Subsequent research further identifies benefits of mobility (early and progressive) to include reduced risk of hospital acquired pressure injuries, ventilator acquired pneumonias, patient falls, hospital readmissions, and length of stay. In addition, patients experience an improved discharge disposition1.

Hospitals all over the world are prescribing mobility as a standard component of patient care. While mobility programs offer exciting and promising outcomes and quality improvements for patients, it is not without challenges and risk. Without proper planning and integration with a facility Safe Patient Handling & Mobility (SPHM) program, risk for patient handling injury and patient falls risk increase.

In an independent survey of ICU and Hospital nursing leaders – the barriers reported with early mobility protocol implementation include: lack of caregiver resources, increased risk of patient falls, and risk of patient handling injury. In addition, nursing leaders reported greatest concern with “out of bed activities” specifically, “standing and ambulation”. Many leaders reported having advanced ICU beds capable of assisting with many tasks of the early mobility protocols- including, tilt table/ hemodynamic training, sitting, edge of bed, and early weight bearing. The greatest concerns for staff and caregiver safety emerged around patient standing and walking. Of the nursing leaders surveyed, the equipment used to assist in standing and walking patients ranked as most preferred for mobility activities as follows:

  1. ICU/Inpatient Safety Walkers 66%
  2. Ceiling lift with walking sling 24%
  3. Mobile lift with walking sling 8%
  4. Mechanical stand aid with removable footplate 2%

The following are comments captured on the survey related to each category:

ICU/ inpatient Safety walkers:
“Safest option available”, “Fits well in crowded rooms”, “Allows us to walk patients out of the room”, “Staff prefer this option”, “Intuitive, easy to operate”, “O2, IV and devices have a place to go on the walker”

Ceiling lift with walking sling:
“Not all rooms have ceiling lifts”, “Only works well with a XY ceiling track”, “We do not have dedicated walking slings” “Great option if we can find the walking slings” “limited to in room activity”

Mobile lift with walking sling:
“Mobile lifts are too big and bulky in the ICU room” “Cumbersome”, “No place to put O2 or devices”, “Improved safety, prevents falls”

Mechanical stand aid with removable footplate:
“Footplate not removable on our device”, “Not a good option for an unsteady patient”, “no place to put oxygen or IV”

Based on the majority of feedback, utilizing a safety platform walker is the preferred equipment for accessibility, safety, function, and efficiency.

Below is a decision table to help you identify which safety platform walker is right for you.   

  • Walker
  • Features
  • Patient specific recommendations

RoWalker FeaturesMobilize Patients Early and Safely

  • 400lb weight capacity
  • Fixed seats that rotate and flip
  • Directional locking castors
  • Accessory basket
  • O2 tank and IV pole holder
  • Manual height adjustment
  • Width adjustable platform

RoWalker – Patient specific recommendations

  • Ideal for patients able to come to a standing position independently
  • Consider when sling management is a barrier
  • Simple and intuitive
  • Higher weight capacity
  • Conducive to therapy activities
  • Consider for patients with sternal precautions

Rise & Go Platform Walker Features

  • 330lb weight capacity
  • Safety sling with hygiene strap
  • Accessory basket
  • O2 tank and IV pole holder
  • Power stand assist
  • Directional locking castor available
  • Extra-wide adjustable platform
  • Swing away shin pads
  • Splash/water resistant design

Rise & Go Platform Walker – Patient specific recommendations

  • Ideal for deconditioned ICU level early mobility – power stand assist
  • Hygiene strap on sling allows OT’s to work with patient on ADL’s- water resistant design allows bathing therapy sessions with limited water spray
  • Swing away shin pads allow for progression in ambulation
  • Ideal for taller and smaller patients, longest stroke length on actuator
  • Small footprint for easy storage

XL Platform Walker Features

  • 500lb weight capacity
  • Extra wide frame adjustments
  • O2 tank and IV Pole holder
  • Accessory basket
  • Shin pad accessory- removable
  • Extra wide adjustable platform

XL Platform Walker – Patient specific recommendations

  • Ideal for ambulatory bariatric patients
  • Power rise assists with sit to stand
  • Ideal for patients who are not a high fall risk
  • Patients with O2 and IV’s may be useful with therapy.

References:

  1. Winkleman C, Johnson K, Hejal R, et al. Examining the positive effects of exercise in intubated adults in the ICU: a prospective repeated measure clinical study. Intensive Critical Care Nursing. 2012

 

  1. Vollman K. Early progressive mobility: strategies for successful and safe achievement to impact short and long-term outcomes. 

 

  1. Roberts M, Johnson LA, Lalonde TL. Early mobility in the intensive care unit: Standard equipment vs a mobility platform. American Journal of Critical Care.

 

  1. Marra A, Frimpong K, Ely EW. The ABCDEF Implementation Bundle. Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine (2383-4870). 2016

 

  1. Pottenger BC, Pronovost PJ, Kreif J, et.al. Towards improving hospital workflows; an evaluation of resources to mobilize patients. Journal of Nursing Management. 2019
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Boosting N95 Mask Supply

Manage the Pandemic’s Future by Boosting N95 Mask Supply

In 2021, the future of the pandemic seems to hinge on the efficacy and availability of the vaccine. While vaccine efforts do look promising, it is important to remember that some of the most powerful tools to combat COVID-19 are the same as they have been since the start. Using quality masks remains a critical component of conquering the pandemic once and for all. Shockingly, even after a year, the N95 mask supply is still in dire need globally. Hospitals around the country are still imposing strict limits on N95 mask usage. This leaves workers and first responders to reuse the same mask for multiple shifts to their own personal detriment. Yet, despite these restrictions, mask production is up around the world. In the United States, many established manufacturers have been boosting N95 mask supply. Moreover, as supply chain problems arise, smaller manufacturers have shifted their business models to compensate.

For comparison, prior to the pandemic, the demand for N95 respirators in the United States, including the model 9500-N95 mask, was 1.7 billion per year. Today, that demand has skyrocketed to 5.7 billion. Making a supply of N95 mask products to meet that need is a daunting task. The problem is evident when considering the cost of the N95 mask in today’s market. A year ago, these masks sold for less than a dollar. Recently, they reached prices in the range of $3.50 – $5.00.

Worse, the supply chain has not sufficiently adapted to make room for new suppliers. Some reports show that new suppliers are making a NIOSH N95 mask supply, but their products are going unused. The supply chain has not adequately explored all avenues for new stock, and too many medical facilities are relying on outdated suppliers or questionable alternatives.

This is deeply problematic given the reality of how COVID-19 is spread. Masks are an effective tool in controlling the pandemic because COVID-19 is transmitted through aerosols and respiratory droplets. Aerosols can be stopped by a fitted mask, but medical workers need a NIOSH N95 mask for the added fluid protection. While all N95 masks are designed to filter out extremely small and large particles, not all of them are made with fluid protection. Fluid protection ensures that the wearer is protected from blood or other bodily fluids that could be contagious. For frontline workers, this sort of protection is essential. Fluid resistance is a critical component in the mask’s surgical rating. Masks that are surgically rated must be tested for fluid resistance.

Supply Shortages or Supply Chain Failure

Whether the problem is supply shortages or supply chain failure, the end result is the same. Frontline workers are being left vulnerable when they need to be protected most. In fact, there is a growing consensus that the general population might benefit from increased masking. As new variants of COVID-19 spread across the globe, people need increased protection. However, until supply issues are resolved with the model 9500-N95 masks, other measures will need to be taken.

Fortunately, there is still good news. Despite the current obstacles, there are still viable options for medical facilities in securing the masks frontline workers need. The key is to leverage established manufacturers and work with reputable suppliers. This is where SPH Medical comes into play.

SPH Medical is a legitimate supplier in uncertain times. In order to cut on costs, SPH Medical has not cut out quality. Instead, the company has streamlined the supply chain and cut out the middle man. This ensures the best prices and efficient shipping times. SPH Medical is a reliable source that is trusted by hospitals across the country.

In particular, SPH Medical works closely with Makrite. Makrite has 30 years of experience in making masks, and the Makrite 910-N95FMX model is its latest and best. This Makrite N95 mask is NIOSH certified, and it has a surgical rating for fluid resistance. Its extreme efficacy has made the Makrite 910-N95FMX one of the company’s most popular surgical respirators. In other words, there is no need for frontline workers to suffer from a subpar supply. SPH Medical can help any medical facility build up a Makrite N95 mask supply to protect workers throughout the whole pandemic and beyond.

It is hard to predict what will come next in the pandemic. SPH Medical can prepare you for it all.

Air Powered Transfer System
CategoriesPatient Handling

Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals

The Dangers Of Lateral Transfers

Simply put, a lateral transfer involves moving patients from surface to surface, including a bed or hospital cart. These transfers pose increased risks to both patients and caregivers. Lateral transfers are performed throughout the day in various departments, ranging from ICU to imaging. Due to the high frequency of lateral transfers and patient positioning the probability of a patient or nurse sustaining an injury increases exponentially if the appropriate Safe Patient Handling techniques are not employed.  Patients that require comprehensive care often can’t move from point A to point B on their own, requiring the nursing staff to oversee their movements. When moving from one surface to another, matters become even more complicated.

In most cases, nurses use the sheet underneath the patient to transfer them. If there are limited staff members available, a plastic board is typically used as an alternative. While this device helps, it doesn’t reduce enough friction to combat the total force required. In essence, when handling a later transfer, nurses must rely on their strength and collaborative efforts to conduct a successful and safe transfer.

By leaving these affairs up to chance, caregivers and patients become more susceptible to a nursing injury or repositioning injury. With hospital injury rates on the rise, it’s imperative for staff members to have safer, easier, and more effective solutions at their disposal. Research shows that medical professionals are over 30 percent more likely to experience musculoskeletal pain due to handling injuries. While these injuries are painful, they can also be costly, setting hospitals back hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the scope of the claim.

According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals that implement safe patient handling programs are 73 percent less likely to expose their staff to handling injuries. These favorable statistics prompted the arrival of the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act. This bill was introduced in 2015, and it states that the Department of Labor must establish new standards on mobility, patient handling, and injury prevention to safeguard medical professionals from musculoskeletal disorders.

The Introduction Of Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer Systems

In response to the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act, companies like HoverMatt have developed air-assisted transfer systems. AirPal was one of the first to develop this cutting-edge technology, and this invention has paved the way for secure repositioning procedures. These transfer systems are designed to reduce friction by providing additional support under a mattress.

They also serve to boost patients up in bed and eliminate the manpower required to move patients. Touted as the gold standard, air-assisted lateral transfer systems breathe ease and security into repositioning patients. To improve patient safety and lessen caregiver injuries, we at SPH Medical implement these systems into hospitals.

The Benefits Of Air-Assisted Transfer Equipment

In addition to promoting optimal safety, air-assisted transfer systems also enhance patient comfort. This equipment is gentle and seeks to improve a patient’s hospital stay or in-home care. Moreover, patients aren’t subjected to the discomfort that comes with lifting them. Thanks to these revolutionary systems, patients aren’t raised but rather smoothly pulled from one surface to another. In fact, many describe it as floating from one position to the next.

This modern technology is also advantageous to patients because it causes less of a disruption. Traditional lateral transfers demand many helping hands, which can make patients feel like a burden. Fortunately, air-assisted transfer systems are easier to handle, meaning fewer medical professionals are required. Not only does this streamline operations, but it also brings patients great peace of mind. Improve the patient experience, protect caregivers, and lessen workplace injuries when you opt for air-assisted lateral transfer systems.

CategoriesInfection Prevention

The N95 Mask: Then Vs. Now

The Demand for Surgical Masks is Growing

COVID-19 has left a trail of wreckage, upset, and gloom in its wake. As this fatal virus continues to ravage the world, the demand for surgical masks is growing, resulting in shortages around the country. The N95 mask in particular, are a popular choice among both frontline workers and the general public. Touted as the optimal personal protective equipment, these FDA-approved surgical respirators are coveted for their fluid resistance, efficient filtration of airborne particles, high surgical rating, and biocompatibility. Unfortunately, increased demands for N95 masks have prompted alternative suppliers to capitalize on market gaps.

While many are keen to get their hands on N95 masks, purchasing surgical masks through third-party vendors is ill-advised. At SPH Medical, we’re an authorized distributor, so we know the risks that come with going through the middleman. For the sake of promoting mass production, alternative suppliers often use imitation materials. As a result, their products are low-quality, generic, and less durable. Unlike unauthorized sellers, we put a premium on reliability and transparency, which is why we work directly with the factory.

Where N95 Mask Production Is Headed

With consumers growing increasingly desperate for N95 masks, production is expected to ramp up. Throughout 2021, experts forecast that production spending will reach $1 billion. We can also anticipate more domestic consumption of these products. Many companies have already vowed to broaden their domestic reach to foster enhanced capacity and capabilities.

However, with new variants being introduced, third-party suppliers are gaining more traction. Though these illegitimate suppliers have lent a helping hand during these unprecedented times, consumers are compromising on quality for convenience. To ensure that this new reality doesn’t wreak irreparable havoc on public health, we at SPH Medical are using our industry resources for good. As a certified distributor for Makrite Industries, we’re making the future of N95 production a lot brighter.

How Cutting-Edge Developments Are Unfolding

Fortunately, we’ve not grown stagnant in our attempts to revolutionize N95 respirators and fluid protection masks. Makrite, for instance, has recently created the Makrite 910-N95FMX. As a new variation of the NIOSH N95 mask, the Makrite 910-N95FMX boasts updated features. Certified by the CDC and FDA, this all-new Makrite N95 mask promises unmatched comfort, protection, and durability. With its snug fit and adjustable straps, this Makrite N95 mask is a highly sought-after surgical respirator.

The Makrite model 9500-N95 is an equally desirable option. In addition to being NIOSH-approved, the model 9500-N95 is also exceedingly effective, making it an ideal choice for first responders and frontline caregivers. In fact, it’s our most popular N95 surgical respirator. With COVID-19 taking new forms and, in turn, posing unparalleled threats, these cutting-edge surgical respirators are proving a godsend. Fortunately, with Makrite’s 30 years of industry experience, this trusted manufacturer is making it possible for healthcare personnel to adhere to safety guidelines.

Market Trends On The Horizon

As the coronavirus demonstrates its stubborn presence, the disposable face mask market is predicted to grow. More specifically, trend forecasters anticipate an annual increase of 53 percent over the next seven years. This startling figure bespeaks the unrelenting need for N95 masks. With these demands on the rise, qualified distributors are being urged to spring into action.

As a certified supplier, we’re doing our part to fill these market gaps. In other words, we’re partnering with dependable manufacturers like Makrite so that healthcare workers and industries receive the supplies they desperately need to fight this virus. As we continue to provide for these everyday heroes, our dedication to quality is unwavering. For all your NIOSH N95 mask and surgical respirator needs, make SPH Medical your go-to source.

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