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CategoriesInfection Prevention

A Trusted Source for N95 Surgical Masks

by sphmedicaladmin

Looking for a Trusted Source for N95 Surgical Masks?

While the statistics related to the COVID-19 pandemic are improving worldwide, it’s clear the U.S. is not out of the woods as of yet. There are still outbreaks occurring in communities from shore to shore. Hospitals and businesses are looking for a trusted source for N95 Surgical Masks and mask purchases.

With no clear end of the pandemic in sight and a second wave looming, the demand for NIOSH Certified, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Surgical N95 Respirators (masks) is still high. Meanwhile, the shortage of N95 masks seems to be holding steady. With that said, there are fears that the demand could increase even further in fall and winter if a second wave of Coronavirus outbreaks comes to fruition.

About the N95 Mask

While the debate over the reliability of common surgical masks rages on, there is growing evidence that the N95 mask is leading the way in terms of reliability. For people who aren’t yet aware, the N95 designation represents that the mask filters out at least 95% of airborne particles. That percentage accounts for the popularity of N95 masks among first responders and healthcare professionals.

Current Trends

In the early days of the pandemic, there was a disturbing shortage of N95 masks due to unpreparedness issues throughout the world. While the use of these types of surgical masks had previously been limited to doctors/nurses performing surgical procedures, N95 masks now have a new purpose, compliments of the pandemic.

As urgent demands for said masks increased, the problem became serious enough that the U.S. government was forced to limit purchases of N95 masks. It was a calculated effort to make sure the people who needed a NIOSH N95 Mask could get one. BTW: NIOSH stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a CDC related agency.

It’s not surprising that the shortage eventually led to the illicit counterfeiting of masks, something that continues today. Unfortunately, there are lots of rogue merchants out there in the marketplace offering their cheap knock-off versions of the N95. More sophisticated fakes have been shipped with fake boxes that make the product look legitimate. The problem with these knockoffs is they come with no real testing or validation of performance. Counterfeits often include fake certifications from NIOSH.

How to Avoid Counterfeit Masks

The last thing a healthcare professional needs is contamination from COVID-19 when they thought they had the protection they needed. Compared to a NIOSH N95 Mask, other masks don’t measure up. That’s why it is of vital importance that people take precautions when buying an N95 mask or supply of masks.

The best way to avoid counterfeits is to make mask purchases from a trusted source for N95 Surgical Masks and a reliable medical supply dealer like SPH Medical. At SPH, we have inventory control measures in place to make sure our customers get the quality products they order.

The Makrite N95 Mask

When we market our products, we focus on selling products that are reliable and safe. In the surgical mask space, we are particularly proud of our Makrite N95 Mask line, featuring the model 9500-N95.

Surgical N95 Masks

The model 9500-N95 mask is FDA approved and NIOSH certified. The product features electrostatically charged microfibers that promote easy breathing while simultaneously offering 95% protection from microorganisms, including viruses.

The model 910-N95FMX is also a NIOSH Certified N95 and is authorized by the FDA as a Surgical Respirator. The N95 Mask model 910-N95FMX offers some key advantages over other N95 Surgical masks. It has adjustable head straps to create a comfortable and secure fit. As part of our Flat Fold Series of masks it also offers more space for breathing comfortably. Visit the product page here for more information or contact us for a quote.

Makrite was founded in 1980 and maintains its corporate headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan. We purchase our masks for resale from Makrite because we know the quality of their products is second to none.

We are happy to announce that the current supply of model 9500-N95 masks is in good standing. However, we want to emphasize that these masks will remain in high demand as long as the COVID-19 virus is wreaking havoc on people throughout the world.

If you would like more information about our Makrite surgical masks, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Preventing Nursing injuries in Labor and Delivery during COVID-19

by sphmedicaladmin

Preventing Nursing Injuries in Labor and Delivery During COVID-19

SPH Medical works with healthcare facilities to implement safe patient handling solutions to protect our frontline caregivers and help with preventing nursing injuries. SPH Medical does this by evaluating current patient handling tasks and processes and helping hospitals modify high risk tasks to improve staff and patient safety. A variety of proven assistive solutions and supplies can help mobilize or transfer patients safely while protecting both patients and caregivers from injury and infections. A key focus in Labor and Delivery units is to reduce workplace injuries by reducing manual patient handling during lateral transfer and epidural placement. These are two high risk tasks that occur predictably every day.

Equipment and Supplies

Within hospitals, staff continue to care for patients affected by Covid-19, along with dangerous c. diff, MRSA and COVID-19 concerns. The typical laundry system in hospitals is generally not capable of quickly or effectively sanitizing specialized or hospital-owned equipment. Hospitals therefore often outsource their laundry to external laundry providers. Unfortunately these external laundry systems often loos expensive hospital-owned goods like transfer devices. The infection prevention team within the hospital often recommends that single-use equipment be used when possible to move patients. Single use disposable supplies, such as gloves, gowns, and masks, are also required to help minimize infection transmission between patients. In today’s COVID environment all healthcare employees should be wearing an appropriate N95 Mask like SPH Medical’s Makrite 9500-N95. This N95 Mask is an FDA approved Surgical mask which is ideal for nurses and doctors.

Labor and Delivery

Expectant mothers want to be able to give birth in a safe and infection-free environment. The infection prevention nurse in every hospital is working hard to make sure that the Labor and Delivery unit is safe for mothers and their babies. Even in today’s environment, 31% of expecting mothers continue to receive c-section procedures.

In preparation for a C-section procedure, labor and delivery staff must administer an epidural to the patient’s lower back. The patient is typically asked to sit at the side of the bed in a flexed cat position or forward fold position. This position allows the anesthesiologist to access the intervertebral space with the epidural injection accurately. Unfortunately the nurse is often required to hold or support the nervous mother in this position. If the patient moves suddenly or falls forward the nurse may be injured. Positioning Device solves this by providing support to the patient and reducing the nurse’s need to provide a static hold for extended periods.

SPH Medical’s Epidural Positioning Device, or EPD for short, can assist with the patient’s proper positioning, improve comfort, and needle placement without the need to position them manually. The use of the EPD reduces the staff’s risk of musculoskeletal injuries as well as provides patients with the amount of stability needed for receiving an epidural with less risk of complications. Patients feel safer with the EDP.

C-Sections and Lateral Transfers

With c-section procedures come many repeated manual patient handling tasks that put nurses at risk. Patient positioning during the epidural injection is simply one of the many procedures that put our nurses at risk daily. Lateral transfers to and from the OB OR table is high frequency task that puts nurses at risk of injury.

It is very predictable that all c-section patients will need to be transferred off the OB OR table and some may need assistance scooting over to the table especially after an epidural. The patient is unable to help move themselves across to the table when they can not feel the lower half of their body. The nursing and OR team must determine how to safely transfer the patient to and from the OR table. What equipment is available to help with this? AORN recommends an air powered lateral transfer solution for all patients over 157 lbs in perioperative areas.

Lateral Transfer Devices Help with Preventing Nursing Injuries

A variety of lateral transfer equipment is available on the market to help move patients carefully to and from beds, gurneys, or tables. These devices are often referred to as Friction Reducing Devices or FRD’s. The old style “slider board” is not viewed as an effective means of preventing staff injuries. Slider boards don’t reduce friction to safe levels. Slide sheets like SPH Medical’s Easy Slide Disposable, for example, reduce the overall amount of friction during the transfer process. Slide sheets are available in several styles, such as flat with handles and tube style, launderable or disposable. These can be used in conjunction with a slider board for increased friction reduction. A better solution is the Rollerslide. Rollerslide works like a conveyer belt that rolls the patient as the patient is transferred between the surfaces. Finally, the gold standard of lateral transfer equipment is the Air Powered Lateral Transfer system.  An Air Powered Lateral Transfer System virtually eliminates friction by blowing air downward through small holes on the transfer pad’s bottom side, which generates a thin cushion of air to float the patient from one surface to another.  The system makes the transfer process more comfortable for the patient and significantly reduces the risk of injury to the hospital staff moving the patient.

Summary

SPH Medical helps healthcare facilities implement practical safe patient handling solutions to protect frontline caregivers and help with preventing nursing injuries. These solutions are not limited to Labor and Delivery departments. SPH Medical is addressing patient handling and infection prevention throughout the entire continuum of care improving work. It is not about obesity or COVID-19. Patients and healthcare workers are our concern, with the improvement of patient results and in decreasing the chance for infection or injury.

CategoriesInfection Prevention

SPH Medical and Makrite Impacting the N95 Mask Shortage

by sphmedicaladmin

Makrite Impacting the N95 Mask Shortage

At the beginning of 2020 there was a N95 mask shortage, the N95 mask cost about $1 each, and medical professionals disposed of them after each patient visit. With just over three months remaining in 2020, masks have quintupled in price, and top government agencies have recommendations for “extended” or “optimized” use.

Nearly three-quarters of more than 20,000 nurses surveyed reuse respirators, according to the Washington Post. Some nurses claim to use a NIOSH N95 mask for months. Hospitals attempt to disinfect reused masks when necessary with UV light or hydrogen peroxide. Companies like Technology Solutions Group (TSG) provide N95 mask disinfection and tracking solutions to prolong the masks’ effectiveness.

The FDA reported that many hospitals made PPE orders based on previous usage and not future need. In part, hospitals used this practice based on the assumption that the U.S. stockpile could help during emergencies. In 2009, however, the H1N1 flu epidemic severely depleted the NIOSH N95 mask stockpile. The government failed to replenish the stockpile, according to the Washington Post.

CDC and FDA Recommendations

The CDC and FDA made “extended” and “optimized” recommendations instead of the White House creating a coherent national plan. According to NPR, the White House contends that manufacturing 160 million masks per month will quench the need. Public health officials claim the U.S. will be hundreds of millions of masks short of the 3.5 billion masks needed this year.
N95 Demand

With the COVID-19 vaccine, a distant hope, and more than 200,000 deaths in the United States, the global shortage of N95s forced NIOSH, the CDC, and the FDA to push the limits on N95s and other PPE.

Historic wildfires on the West Coast amplified the need for N95s, according to a recent Forbes column. Cloth masks, while effective against COVID-19, are of little use filtering wildfire smoke. N95s effectively filter the microscopic particles of wildfire smoke, but the supply doesn’t match the demand.

The White House opted for a big-firm focus with masks, leaving out small- and mid-sized manufacturers. Despite their expertise and size, 3M and Honeywell can’t meet the current need for N95s by themselves.
FDA-Approved Options

To meet the need, the CDC and FDA approved Chinese-made KN95s along with other measures. U.S. hospitals that tried the KN95s found the fit insufficient and discontinued use.

NIOSH Certified Respirators and the N95 Mask Shortage

Makrite has an entire catalog of NIOSH certified respirators that includes the model 9500-N95, which is FDA approved as a surgical respirator. This Makrite N95 mask presents a high-quality replacement for 3M and Honeywell masks and many hospitals have been using this N95 Mask prior to COOVID. As the most extensive, private-brand manufacturer of face masks and disposable respirators, Makrite boasts more than 40 NIOSH approved safety products.
Meltblown Shortage

Meltblown Fabric at 100x magnification

Engineers designed the N95 mask as single-use. N95s filter at least 95% of airborne particles while forming a seal around the nose and mouth. Polypropylene fibers, roughly 1/50th the size of a human hair, make up the meltblown textile that creates an electrostatic web to attract particles.

The Associated Press reported that a lack of meltblown textile is holding up the N95 production process. Some U.S. manufacturers continue to export meltblown textile despite the shortage.

Manufacturers refuse to ramp production of meltblown textile because the White House refuses to guarantee purchase once the need subsides. After the H1N1 virus outbreak, some companies experienced bankruptcy and laid off employees because of a glut of supply without demand.
Defense Production Act

According to the Washington Post, the AMA, AHA, American Nurses Association, AFL-CIO requested the Defense Production Act’s broader use. The DPA uses presidential power over funding for the production and distribution of critical supplies in a crisis.

While the U.S. did force the ramp-up of ventilator production early in the pandemic, it never involved itself with PPE production. As a result, companies must balance current needs with future needs and their organization’s financial health.

U.S. Manufactures Face Shields

Some U.S. manufacturers took the initiative early in the pandemic by making face shields, which require much less production than N95 masks. NPR reported companies left with a glut of face shields amidst an N95 shortage.
SPH Medical and Makrite Filling the Gaps

The quality and prolific Makrite N95 mask manufacturing coupled with SPH Medical’s reliable supply chain expertise means N95 relief is on the way. The combination of Makrite and SPH Medical equals more model 9500-N95 delivery to hospitals, frontline caregivers, and others in need. SPH Medical is also working with TSG to explore validated mask disinfection for its customers.

SPH Medical Makrite N95 Mask
CategoriesInfection Prevention

More Help for the Frontlines as Makrite Partners with SPH Medical

by sphmedicaladmin

More Help for the Frontlines as Makrite Partners with SPH Medical

The news is rarely good when it comes to the novel coronavirus. Case rates surge, and deaths continue to mount. As the world struggles to cope, there is some good news. Now, the world’s health care workers have more access to the safety equipment they need. This is because Makrite is working in tandem with SPH Medical to improve the distribution of the Makrite N95 mask to frontline workers.

Before the novel coronavirus, the idea of wearing a mask was reserved for suspenseful movies and operating rooms. However, when the virus finally landed on American shores, the upheaval was immediate. Initially, experts advised against mask-wearing, but that advice was aimed at preserving supplies for medical professionals. As time went on, those recommendations changed, but everyday users were encouraged to wear disposable or handmade masks. The coveted N95 mask was ultimately deemed off-limits for general usage.

The reason for this was simple. A NIOSH N95 mask is more effective at protecting people from the spread of the virus. When worn properly, a model 9500-N95 can block out 95 percent of virus particles. With this level of protection, it is no wonder that they are prioritized for the medical community.

Even with restrictions, the need quickly outpaced the country’s supply. America had 17 million masks in a national stockpile, but many of those masks were too old to use. Moreover, American hospitals were slow to realize the threat in earnest. This lack of preparation cost them and their patients.

Production of the N95 Masks

Production of the N95 masks including the Makrite model 9500-N95 mask was not sufficient at this time. Prior to the pandemic, 3M shipped 30 million masks each month. This was nowhere near enough to meet the sudden spike of demand. Shortages and rationing followed, and such masks have been nearly inaccessible outside of hospitals. Masks were out of stock at major retailers, and many products were cost-prohibitive. In short, there were few ways to successfully procure a N95 mask.

This all unfolded at the start of the pandemic. Six months later, the country is still in the grip of the novel coronavirus. As debates rage about the best way to approach the pandemic, the supply options for a NIOSH N95 mask have also come to a head.

Manufacturing has increased consistently over the course of the pandemic. Revenue is expected to skyrocket by 23 percent over the next five years. 3M, after its rocky start, will likely put out 2 billion masks in 2020 alone. Honeywell is poised to make 250 million masks per year.

Best of all, Makrite’s partnership with SPH Medical ensures there are better supply options for a Makrite N95 mask. This increased production and distribution can satiate ongoing demand while reducing pressure on the supply chain. Makrite is one of the largest global N95 Mask manufacturers, and SPH Medical is a trusted and reliable supplier.

Masks are Becoming more Available

This is just one sign of growing stability within the market. After months of uncertainty, masks are becoming more available. Moreover, the prices have started to stabilize. While consumers can still expect to pay a premium for quality medical-grade N95 masks, they are finally more affordable. The most telling sign that things are changing in the supply chain is that these masks are no longer restricted. Now, businesses and people outside of hospitals are able to purchase these masks for their personal safety.

While this is good news for the general public, it is especially positive for workers in health care. With Makrite’s distribution capacity via SPH Medical, these critical frontline workers can be confident that they will have the supplies they need to stay safe and keep working.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Lateral Transfer System reduces COVID-19 Risk in Hospitals

by sphmedicaladmin

Transfer Patients Safely and Reduce Risk of COVID-19

Transfer patients safely and reduce the risk of COVID-19 and cross contamination with an Air Powered Lateral Transfer Device.

The Lateral Transfer Devices are an important tool so fewer staff members can help more patients safely.  Air powered lateral transfer systems offers a broad range of options to ensure that patients of all shapes and sizes can be transferred safely anywhere in the hospital.  As we look at how patients are moved in hospitals, 90% of the patient transfers are considered a lateral transfer.  A lateral transfer is moving a patient from one surface horizontally, either up in bed (as in boosting a patient) or over to another surface like an OR table, CT table, new bed or gurney.   There is a lot of risk for both patients and staff when it comes to transferring patients.  In fact lateral transfers due to their high frequency are a leading cause of work-related muskuloskeletal disorders.  Over time the strain on the lower back, upper back, neck shoulders, wrists can result in career ending injuries for our caregivers.

The System

The Air Powered Lateral Transfer system was invented more than 30 years ago to address these risks and to protect both our hospital staff and patients.  SPH Medical and has been working tirelessly to reduce the risk of infection and cross contamination during transfer by utilizing a single patient use disposable transfer pad.  This back saving technology also promotes infection prevention by allowing the transfer pad to stay with the patient who needs it for the length of their stay, and it can be disposed of or reprocessed after they no longer need it.

Each air powered transfer system is composed of the the transfer mattress, a motor, air hose, power cord and transport cart. The transfer pad also includes safety straps that connect over the patient to ensure safety during transfer, and pull handles all around the transfer pad.  The handles make the transfer mattress safe for caregivers in a variety of different settings to pull horizontally or boost up in bed.  The transfer mattress behaves much like a reverse air hockey table.  The perforated chambers allow for a cushion of air to support the patient and reduce friction between the transfer mattress and the surface below.  The transfer pad has optional disposable top sheets that can wick away moisture from the patient. The transfer mattress itself is moisture proof but some facilities like to protect it with the disposable coverlet so that it may remain unsoiled and more quickly available for the next transfer required.

The safety straps and pull handles improve both patient and staff safety.  The air hose and motor are designed as simply as possible to make the entire transfer process as efficient as possible so that caregivers may focus on safely moving the patient.

Designed for General Hospital Use

The air powered transfer system is designed for general hospital use, and has the features to adapt itself through Nursing, Radiology, CT Scan, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, as well as the Emergency Room, Operating and Recovery Room, and even the Oncology/Radiation Therapy departments.  Nursing will find this solution useful to accommodate lateral transfers of nearly all all patients and departmental procedures, due to the make-up of the materials of the TransferPad. The technical specifications of the reusable transfer mattresses offer special low friction fabric on the bottom layer and  are MRI and X-ray compatible, and are constructed out of flame-resistant material.

On procedure tables such as X-Ray and Nuclear medicine, the equipment itself may have narrow or wide surfaces that normally make transfer a challenge. The typical Air Powered Lateral Transfer System is designed to allow as few as two staff members along with the anesthetist to handle these challenging locations, freeing up the technicians from needing to assist with this part of the process.  When performing a transfer into a CT Scan, the flexibility of the Transfer Mattress allows the head region of the to be folded under itself so that a staff member may then cradle the patients head and lay it into the headrest to complete a head scan, where the staff member may deflate the Transfer Mattress, complete the scan, then turn the motor back on and replace the patient’s head with as little disruption as possible. The TransferPad itself has no metal parts and is designed so that it does not produce any artifact during the scan.  For MRI rooms, using an extended hose, the air supply can be left outside the room.

In the Emergency Room, the Transfer Mattress is likely best equipped with a Sani-Liner placed on a stretcher, where the patient may be placed directly upon arrival. If the patient arrives on a hard board, the procedure remains the same, which greatly increases speed and safety as the patient need not suffer extra movement until stabilized. Since the Transfer Mattress is radiolucent, the X ray cassettes may be slid underneath the Transfer Mattress, the patient can be easily maneuvered to their proper position, deflated for the X ray, then re-inflated and moved again to quickly reclaim the cassettes. In the Emergency Room, a disposable coverlet  will prevent excessive amounts of blood or bodily solutions coming in contact with the mattress.

Lateral Transfer Devices

The Lateral Transfer Device’s features are designed to address the high-risk tasks of transferring patients on or off beds; repositioning patients on beds; lifting and holding extremities, and otherwise reaching, lifting, and moving equipment that happens around the time of surgery or acute treatment for the patient. Experts in the fields of biomechanics, engineering, industrial hygiene, injury prevention, and perioperative nursing were engaged to ensure that the Lateral Transfer Device features were designed to respect these separate, complex fields of study. Representatives from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the American Nurses Association were all involved in the development of this product.

According AORN’s new Safe Patient Handling Guidelines, the Air Powered Transfer Device should be used for all patients over 73lbs.  The Lateral Transfer Device allows one or two staff members to perform the tasks that typically would require four to eight people to complete safely.

Given the stress on personnel and their backs, necks, and shoulders, the tasks associated with moving patients must be minimized as much as possible. This system’s technology was created to keep the patient transfer process as safe and simple as possible for both the patient and the caregiver.

Hospital results when working with SPH Medical and utilizing single patient use solutions: 

  • Reduced risk of infection and cross contamination
  • Improved staff morale and efficiency
  • Dramatically reduced staff injuries (MSDs) and worker’s compensation costs
  • Increased patient comfort and reduced patient anxiety with transfers
  • Enhanced infection control in patient handling procedures
  • Lower cost
  • Safer for patient’s skin
SPH Medical EPD 4
CategoriesInfection Prevention,  Patient Handling

The EPD and Air Transfer System Improve Patient and Staff Safety

by sphmedicaladmin

SPH Medical is Improving Safety for Hospital Staff and Patients

SPH Medical is here to improve patient staff safety in labor and delivery and surgical units with the Epidural Positioning Device and the air transfer system.

COVID-19 is putting our healthcare workers at risk. Manually handling patients under normal conditions is known to put our nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers at risk. Now more than ever hospital staff need to have the right tools to help move, support, lift and transfer patients. The EPD and air powered lateral transfer system improve patient and staff safety especially during this time of heightened concern about infection prevention.

SPH Medical Provides Safe Patient Handling Solutions to Healthcare Facilities

SPH Medical provides Safe Patient Handling solutions to healthcare facilities which means that we protect our frontline caregivers by preventing infection and injuries.

Within Hospitals nurses are being asked to care for patients infected with Cov-Sars2 and other deadly viral and bacterial infections. In order to deal with these deadly infections the Infection Control Nurse within the hospital mandates that single patient use devices are used where possible to lift move and transfer patients. Single patient use items are essentially disposable items that are patient specific, which means that they don’t get used with other patients. The outside laundry system generally isn’t trusted with returning specialized items or hospital owned items back to the hospital so then hospital is forced to use “disposable” items where possible to minimize the risk of infection to other patients. At times this can seem costly, but the risk and cost of hospital acquired infections and and nursing injuries is well with the investment.

How Does this Relate to One of the Most Important Departments in the Hospital?

The Labor and Delivery department is where new mothers give birth to their children in what should be safe and infection free environment.

A large percentage of mothers are continuing to get cesarean section procedures (cite sources and %) even in today’s COVID-19 environment.

With the c-section procedure comes several high-frequency patient handling tasks that Put our nurses and doctors at risk every day, lateral transfers to the OB OR table and patient positioning during the epidural injection procedure.

First the Epidural. Positioning the patient in the proper position for the injection puts our nurses at risk of injury. (See other blog posts we’ve written). We solve this my by making the patient comfortable and eliminating the static holding by the nurse with the Epidural Positioning Device.

Once the patient has received the epidural successfully and the are ready to be moved to the OB OR for the C-section procedure that staff have to plan how to move the patient on and off the table safely. Keep in mind the patient can’t scoot across to the table. They can’t feel their lower half! The staff need to use a assistive tool to transfer the patient safely on and off the OR table. What solutions are available to accomplish this?

Lateral Transfer Devices Available on the Market

There are a variety of lateral transfer devices available on the market to help transfer patients safely to and from beds, gurneys, OR tables, and Imaging Tables.

There are simple Friction Reducing Devices such as slide sheets (“easy slide disposable“ from SPH Medical) Available in many styles: flat sheets with handles, tube style sheets, there are lateral transfer boards made out of plastic also called slider boards – these are not ideal as they don’t significantly reduce friction to safe levels, there are roller boards like the Rollerslide by SPH Medical which act like a conveyer belt moving with the patient. Finally the gold standard of lateral transfer solutions is the air powered lateral transfer system which floats the patient on a comfortable layer of air between the two surfaces. This   makes the transfer process not only more comfortable for the patient but also eliminates risk of injury to the nursing and hospital staff performing the transfer. You can find a well documented clinical evaluation on Friction Reducing Devices here by Andrea Baptiste, MA, CIE, Sruthi V. Boda, MS, Audrey L. Nelson, PhD, RN, FAAN, John D. Lloyd, PhD, MErgS, CPE, and William E. Lee, III, PhD.

All Employees Should be Wearing the Appropriate Fluid Rated N95 Respirators

All employees should be wearing the appropriate fluid rated N95 respirators like the Makrite 9500-N95 which is FDA 510K approved for use as a surgical mask.

Summary

The EPD and air powered transfer system improve patient and staff safety. SPH Medical provides a total solution to reduce risks of infection and injury to our frontline caregivers in Labor and Delivery and throughout the hospital. This is not limited to Labor and Delivery departments. We are addressing similar risks throughout the entire hospital and continuum of care helping to create new standards for safety and protection of our healthcare workers. This is not about obesity and COVID. This is about caring for every patient and every nurse to improve patient outcomes and reduce risks of Infection and injury related to MSD’s and high-risk, high-frequency patient care tasks.

Please contact SPH Medical to learn more about improving safety in Labor and Delivery with air transfer systems and the EPD. To learn more about the Makrite N95 Mask options including the 9500-N95 and the SEKURA-N95.

CategoriesInfection Prevention,  Patient Handling

Makrite N95 Surgical Mask protects Nurses and Doctors

by sphmedicaladmin

The Vital Importance of Using N95 Masks in the Battle Against Covid-19 and Where to Get Them

For people on the front line in the healthcare battle against Covid-19 and this global pandemic, personal safety is a big concern. While most medical professionals love their job, the virus has brought a different level of fear into the field of medicine.  The Makrite N95 Mask is making a difference.

The Difficulty of Being a Medical Professional During the Coronavirus Pandemic

COVID 19 VirusWhether you are a doctor, nurse, physician assistant, or nurses-aid, being in the medical field during a deadly pandemic is highly stressful. In addition to having concerns over providing the best in medical diagnostics and care, the pandemic puts healthcare workers at high risk for catching the virus. This is one of the most challenging concerns for healthcare workers who are often stressed with excessive work hours, exhaustion, and emotional stressors from caring for the very ill.

In hotspots, the risk of catching the Coronavirus is much higher than in areas where the cases have stabilized. That is why it is essential for people in the healthcare industry to be continuously alert to changes in the virus case levels in their area.

The Best Frontline Protection Against Covid-19

There are several important things that front line healthcare workers can do to significantly reduce their risk of catching the virus. The use of personal protective equipment, also known as PPE and the use of disinfectants and continuous hand washing or sanitizing them, is vital to helping frontline healthcare workers remain safe while at work.

The Surprising Challenges of the Pandemic

Since approximately 40 percent of people who have the virus are asymptomatic, healthcare workers have to be very diligent, not to assume that because someone is not displaying symptoms means they are virus-free. Healthcare workers need to be careful to protect themselves on and off the job and follow all recommended guidelines when they are off work in their personal lives. This should include wearing a face mask and following all social distancing guidelines.

The Importance of Using N95 Masks at Work

makrite n95 surgical maskBecause this Coronavirus is spread through droplets and is now known to be aerosolized, the use of face shields and N95 face masks and coverings while at work are essential tools in frontline defense against the virus.

Unlike cloth face masks, an N95 respirator mask is specially designed to block up to 95% of all, dust, bacteria, and virus air particles. This bacterial filtration makes the Makrite N95 Mask mask a vital tool in the battle of the Coronavirus for frontline healthcare workers because they are exposed to infected and potentially-infected people for many hours a day.

N95 Mask Pandemic Supplies

Before the current Coronavirus pandemic, availability for N95 type respirator face masks was sufficient for the need. These masks are traditionally used in the medical, construction, and industrial industries. However, because the global demand for these masks has skyrocketed since February, the supply has been insufficient to meet the rising demand. Since so many of these masks have been made outside of America, the country has found itself competing for global supplies.

One of the premier N95 respirator mask designs is the 3M 1860 surgical mask. This is the most common N95 respirator used in the medical industry. However, with dwindling supplies available, many medical health facilities have been caught off guard trying to find a comparable replacement.

The good news is the Makrite 9500-N95 is a top of the line NIOSH Certified N95 Respirator that is FDA Cleared for use as a Surgical Mask. The Makrite N95 Mask is is a high-quality replacement for the 3M 1860 (that no one can seem to find anywhere). That means that the Makrite 9500-N95 NIOSH Certified N95 surgical mask is specially designed for use in the medical field to prevent the spread of aerosolized particles that may cause disease and infection, such as the new strain of coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Receiving the approval from the FDA for use as a surgical mask means that it is tested for fluid resistance which is important in this era of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 particles.

N95 Respirator Mask Medical Facility Distribution

SPH Medical B1 In Action - Schools 3In the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus, many hospitals and medical facilities have significant concerns about locating a reliable supplier for medical-grade N95 respirators. Facilities who choose Makrite for their respirators want to ensure they can have continuous access to Makrite 9500-N95 top of the line NIOSH Certified N95 surgical mask supplies directly from a factory distributor.

If you are looking for an authorized distributor for the Makrite N95 Mask NIOSH Certified and FDA cleared as a surgical mask, SPH Medical is a trusted supplier that can ensure a continuous supply for your medical facility. SPH Medical sources its’ supplies directly from the manufacturer. For medical facilities, dental providers, fire, police, and other healthcare providers in need of a smaller medical-grade respirator, SPH is also a supplier for the smaller N95 respirator, the Makrite 9500-N95S that is an excellent replacement for the 3M 1860S which 3M manufactures.

Fit Testing

Which mask is right for your employees?  Not everyone has the same facial morphology so naturally one mask doesn’t really fit all. This is one of the reasons that the small size 9500-N95S was developed. Learn more about Fit Testing from OSHA here.

SPH Medical also is an excellent source for other essential PPE such as Isolation Gowns, 3-ply masks, Nitrile Gloves, hand sanitizer, and single patient use Air Powered lateral transfer pads, slings, and repositioning sheets. For nearly a decade, SPH has been a widely recognized supplier of infection prevention, safety solutions, and PPE to America’s medical facilities.   Please contact SPH Medical to learn more about the Makrite N95 Mask.

CategoriesInfection Prevention

SPH Medical Delivers Makrite N95 Surgical Masks in Time of Need

by sphmedicaladmin

Makrite N95 Surgical Masks

Amid the current PPE shortage SPH Medical is delivering Makrite N95 Surgical Masks to healthcare facilities. SPH Medical has been working around the clock to support hospitals and frontline caregivers with the essential PPE needed to protect them and keep our healthcare system moving. As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations surging in Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas, our healthcare supply chains are coming under increased stress to provide Isolation Gowns, 3-ply surgical masks, and NIOSH Certified N95 Masks. Updated Mask mandates at the state level are putting even more pressure on hospital supplies of N95 Masks. These items above are just a few of the essential items that are in high demand. Other supply items that are in demand are Nitrile Gloves, Bouffant caps, Surgeon Caps, Face Shields, Coveralls, digital thermometers, COVID Test kits, and more. Many hospitals are predicting an “anticipated shortage” in their supply during the summer and fall months. SPH Medical is solving this problem by working directly with manufacturing partners to increase production capacity and deliver products quickly and in large volumes to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.

With COVID-19 occupying the majority of our healthcare system’s resources at the moment it is hard to imagine that the flu season is right around the corner. SPH Medical is here to help protect our frontline caregivers and to always “Reduce Risks and Improve Patient Outcomes”.

Contact SPH Medical for Essential NIOSH N95 Masks

Please contact SPH Medical today to discuss your specific needs and we will help deliver the essential NIOSH N95 Masks and any other PPE needed to help our nurses.
With the COVID pandemic continuing to create increased demand for authentic NIOSH N95 masks there are many brokers and middle men attempting to capitalize on this shortage and essential need by our nurses. You may have even been approached by the spot by sellers claiming to have warehouses full of 3M products or even Makrite masks. And then you were probably led through a series of people referring you to other people signing NDA’s and LOI’s just to find out there really wasn’t anything here in the US! This can be more than frustrating.

In addition, counterfeit products are being manufactured around the globe in foreign countries and are being landed here in the US and are being sold at exorbitantly high prices. Most hospitals don’t have the time to waste researching the chain of ownership for the PPE that they desperately needed yesterday!

SPH Medical is helping to solve this problem by providing a trusted source for the purchase of NIOSH Approved Makrite N95 masks, and other COVID essential PPE. We work with manufacturers directly.

Makrite and SPH Medical are working hard to expand production and distribution of the NIOSH Approved 9500-N95 Surgical Mask. Today Makrite operates 4 factories that service North America and the global community. As an authorized distributor for Makrite, SPH Medical has direct communication with Makrite and receives product directly from the factory. This direct connection ensures that only authentic model 9500-N95 masks are delivered to SPH Medical customers.

About SPH Medical, Inc:

SPH Medical is a leading provider of Safe Patient Handling solutions to healthcare facilities across the US. Safe Patient Handling is the practice of reducing risks to patients and caregiving staff in all environments including hospitals, nursing homes, surgery centers, and even home care. As an educational based company SPH Medical offers the knowledge, expertise, and support to help our clients reduce risks throughout their facility through the products and services we provide.

SPH Medical is an authorized distributor for Makrite Industries delivering Makrite N95 Surgical Masks to healthcare facilities. The Makrite 9500-N95 is a CDC Listed and approved NIOSH N95 Surgical Mask.

CategoriesInfection Prevention

SPH Medical and IPCWell Help Nursing Homes combat COVID-19

by sphmedicaladmin

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change our previously normal routines and business operations there are continued shortages of PPE like N95 Masks, 3Ply Masks, and Isolation Gowns. SPH Medical is actively working with the national N95 project to quickly provide needed masks and PPE to our frontline caregivers including nursing homes.  Collaborating with companies like IPCWell, SPH Medical is breaking down the supply chain barriers to get this essential PPE into nursing homes rapidly where they desperately need it. IPCWell’s CEO, Dr. Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, is leading this charge to protect nurses and patients in Long Term Care and Post Acute facilities. SPH Medical’s President and CEO, Tony Coleman commented that IPCWell brings a passion and energy to infection prevention that matches ours and their vision to immediately and positively affect outcomes in Long Term Care is aligned with our commitment to every healthcare customer. Together we will be the change that this industry needs now.

Dr. Lloyd-Kejci stated that IPCWell has been working diligently to obtain PPE for our vulnerable healthcare settings. We have recently partnered with SPH Medical to secure bulk pricing, regardless of facility size. SPH Medical has available masks, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer and other supplies that they are distributing rapidly to protect our nurses.

Our caregivers need solutions immediately.  Contact SPH Medical or IPCWell to learn more about our supply chain advantages and PPE sourcing solutions and Infection Prevention Consulting.

IPCWell holds a regular weekly meeting to connect with Nursing Home leaders around the country to discus COVID-19.  Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Lloyd-Kejci and join Thursdays at 3pm EST.  Topics include

  • The CMS infection prevention and control requirements, screening and testing criteria
  • Personal protective equipment updated recommendations and obtaining supplies
  • COVID-19 in your facility
  • Implementing infection control practices for positive COVID-19 residents and staff
  • Preventing the spread of COVID-19 between facilities
  • Environmental cleaning

Join meeting https://lkcip.webex.com/lkcip/j.php?MTID=m92ef628e342f36763887a2654fc64673 Meeting number (access code): 969 586 814 Meeting password: SUPERHERO

About IPCWell

IPCWell is devoted to mitigating infectious diseases and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in all healthcare settings to reduce adverse events, infections, antibiotic resistance, re-admissions, and death. With human centered design and new technology, healthcare’s rapidly approaching horizon feels very promising, but even the brightest minds, cutting edge innovation, and beautiful new models of care will be rendered ineffective if the fundamentals of infection prevention are not firmly in place.  IPCWell is built of a dynamic team of professionals who share the vision and passion in achieving these goals.

SPH Medical helps healthcare facilities and businesses develop and implement disinfection and infection prevention strategies using the years of experience and expertise gained from disinfecting hospitals and healthcare facilities. We provide Safe Patient Handling solutions and COVID-19 essential PPE to frontline caregivers. Our service team provides on demand COVID-19 disinfection services and are on the front lines testing all available technology to determine practical application and value to our clients.  Our hands on experience disinfecting critical environments allows us to recommend and implement manageable daily, weekly, and monthly protocols that help businesses demonstrate safety and confidence to their customers that the business environment is safe for them to come back to visit.

Newsweek Best in Healthcare-2020 - The UV Box
CategoriesInfection Prevention

SPH Medical UV Box and Disinfection Services – Newsweek’s Best

by sphmedicaladmin

SPH Medical: UV Box

The UV Box (KR615) Germicidal Enclosure delivers up to 99.995 percent disinfection of MRSA and C. diff and up to 99.999 percent disinfection of the norovirus as well as more than 250 times the energy needed to disinfect the coronavirus, all in just 55 seconds. The UV Box is used to clean cellphones in hospital settings.

Nominated by hospital users, The UV Box has been named a “Best Infection Prevention Product” by Newsweek and The Leapfrog Group. Evaluation of each product based on:

a) Effectiveness
b) Safety (for patients and health care workers)
c) Successful real-world implementation
d) Company stability

Today the UV  Box by SPH Medical is the most effective disinfection device used throughout hospitals, healthcare facilities, and now every business is considering using it.  Yes, hotels, Airports, Ambulance companies, dentists, restaurants, schools, office buildings and more are adding the UV Box to their disinfection strategy.  Why the UV Box?  Here’s what our customers are saying about 55 second disinfection  with the UV Box:

  • Hotel customer:  It’s fast and easy and ensures that all our mobile devices for hotel staff are COVID-19 free.
  • Dentist office: We’re using the UV Box to disinfect masks, phones, and tablets.  It’s an important part of our disinfection plan to protect our patients.
  • Ambulance Company:  We have N95 Masks that need to be rapidly disinfected in addition to hand held radios and cell phones.  The UV Box by SPH Medical is the perfect solution.
  • Hospital Customer:  We implemented the UV Box on every floor of our medical center over a year ago so we were well prepared before COVID-19 hit but today we’re adding them in even more places to provide total coverage in our hospital.  Any visitor to our facility will wash their hands and disinfect their mobile device at the same time.

The UV box has been selected time and time again by leading health systems, small businesses and large to provide rapid validated disinfection up 99.995% in 55 seconds.   ECRI Institute evaluated this category of devices and found that the UV Box was the best value for effectiveness, size, and efficacy.   Please contact us for more information and a copy of the evaluation results and extensive 3rd party testing that validates a high level of rapid disinfection.

More about N95 Mask Disinfection:

As presented on the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) website – the ECRI recommends doses over 59mj/cm2 for disinfection of N95 masks using a Countertop UV Disinfection System.
The UV Box’s output of 200mJ/cm2 exceeds both the ECRI and Nebraska Medicine Protocols for disinfection of N95 respirators.

Deep Disinfection of N95 Masks:

Based on The UV Box’s dosage and the large interior size of its chamber, it can be used to disinfect N95 Masks. While the standard, pre-timed cycle of 55 seconds is appropriate for most items, a Deep Disinfection procedure for N95 masks has been introduced. The Deep Disinfection procedure is to run masks through 5 consecutive disinfection cycles (approximately 5 minutes).

SPH Medical helps businesses develop and implement disinfection and infection prevention strategies using the years of experience and expertise gained from disinfecting hospitals and healthcare facilities. Our service team provides on demand COVID-19 disinfection services and are on the front lines testing all available technology to determine practical application and value to our clients.  Our hands on experience disinfecting critical environments allows us to recommend and implement manageable daily, weekly, and monthly protocols that help businesses demonstrate safety and confidence to their customers that the business environment is safe for them to come back to visit.

Please contact SPH Medical now to learn more about the UV Box, our COVID-19 Disinfection Services or any of the technology that we use on a daily basis.

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