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SPH Medical is a leading provider of solutions focused on reducing risk of injury to patient handling staff, and reducing hospital acquired infections and pressure ulcers.

SPH Medical Repositioning Transfers and Ambulation
CategoriesPatient Handling

Safe Patient Mobility Today

by sphmedicaladmin

Today, Safe Patient Mobility means something different to every department in the hospital. But in general it means that we need to understand how patients move and how to safely handle them based upon their functional abilities. An important component is choosing the right assistive solution for each patient. There are a couple of tools now available that help assess a patient’s functional ability and then translate the results of that assessment to an assistive device recommendation. The first validated functional assessment tool of this kind for safe patient handling is the BMAT. We’ll go into greater detail about the history of the BMAT in another article but suffice it to say that nurses need to select use the right assistive tool based upon their functional ability to then mobilize our patients safely while maximizing the patients’ ability to move! The BMAT helps define the right tool. This article will focus on one of the highest frequency tasks that we see in hospitals today where a patient is totally dependent upon the hospital staff to be moved either up in bed or over to another surface laterally.

Mobility Solutions Matched to BMAT mobility levels

Safe Patient Mobility for Lateral Movement

A significant obstacle to providing therapeutic and safe environments of care is the practice handling patients manually. Sliding, lifting, positioning, and transferring patients without using assistive technology remains common in healthcare facilities. Notwithstanding, it is an unsafe practice for both patients and caregivers. Manual handling places caregivers at significant risk for nursing injury.

Scholars have established that more than eighty percent of caregivers’ work-related injuries result from a lack of safer ways to move or lift patients manually.

The increasing rate of morbidly obese, sicker, and predictable bariatric surgery patients that need to be moved around for multiple caregiving tasks amplifies the level of stress placed on caregivers’ bodies. It calls for some little imagination to understand that the nursing injury impacts organizational and staffing costs associated with workers’ compensation, lost time, and, most importantly, the quality of care. At the same time, manual patient handling increases the risk of pain, repositioning injury, and adverse health outcomes.

Risk Of Injury

According to research, of all professional groups, healthcare has the most significant number of work-related injuries. Globally, 50 to 60 percent of healthcare professionals are suffering from muscular-skeletal disorders. Repositioning, lateral transfer and movement are the most cited patient handling tasks in clinical facilities, and if performed manually, they endanger both patient and staff health. The air-assisted transfer system, such as the SPH Medical Air Transfer System, presents a practical approach to mitigating repositioning injury risks and physical effort related to the performance of transfers while reducing healthcare costs and work-related injuries. It allows the release of low-pressure air via the perforated chambers within its transfer mattress. The system creates a thin air cushion under an inflated mattress to lower friction and protect the patient’s skin, leading to improved care and injury risk reduction.

Reposition Turn and Transfer with the SPH Medical Air Transfer System

Cost Implications

According to International Labor Organization (ILO), the economic impact of not investing in health and worker safety is approximately equal to the collective gross domestic product of the one hundred and thirty poorest nations globally. The organization revealed that 2.78 million workers die annually due to occupational illnesses and injuries. An estimated 2.4 million of these deaths are associated with work-related illnesses. The annual aggregate cost of these injuries, diseases, and deaths is $2.99 trillion or approximately 4% of global GDP. There is a worldwide recognition that some OSHA challenges require global solutions.

Legislation

The HGRC Specialty Subcommittee on Patient Movement has studied the application of patient movement and handling equipment within health facilities. In sharing its expertise and research, ILO shockingly established a lack of information and knowledge on the issue and a growing recognition among regulatory agencies and the healthcare industry of the need to address this concern. The healthcare industry, nurses labor unions, nurses’ associations, state and federal regulators, and state legislatures have argued in favor of the capital costs associated with bills mandating minimal lift policies and the adoption of Air Transfer Systems to mitigate caregiver injuries.

Several states have enacted patient handling resolutions or legislation. Moreover, Washington and Minnesota have committed funds for loan or grant programs to help acquire these devices. American Nurses Association (ANA) standards on Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) recommend that healthcare facilities focus on establishing a culture of safety, adopting and implementing the SPHM program, and installing and maintaining SPHM technology. Similarly, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also recommends the use of lateral sliding to aid lateral transfer to support patient movement and repositioning.

Benefits

The benefits accrued from the Air Transfer devices include the following:

  • They enhance the quality of life for both caregivers and patients and better patient outcomes.SPH Medical Air Transfer Mat Single Patient Use
  • There are multiple economic benefits that are enormous, especially those associated with cost implications for direct medical expenses incurred due to injury, lost time, and workers’ compensation.
  • They address the top two high risk tasks that cause injury to nurses, repositioning and lateral transfers.
  • They assist in the transfer of patients with exceedingly less exertion, keeping patients well-positioned and comfortable.
  • The Single Patient Use design of the Air Transfer Mattress supports the hospitals infection prevention program and significantly reduces the risk of cross-contaminating other patients or surfaces with deadly pathogens.
  • The SPH Medical Air Transfer System addresses all lateral transfer needs in Surgery, ICU, Medical floors, imaging and in Labor and Delivery units.
  • Air Transfer Systems also assist transport staff and all departments to promote workplace efficiency by improving patient throughput while reducing risk of injury.

Integrating air-powered transfer and positioning solutions will benefit staff, patients, and the entire industry through improving efficiencies, reducing costs, and will fundamentally improve patient satisfaction and care.

Contact SPH Medical to discuss implementing evidence based safe patient mobility solutions in your facility or department.

EPD promotes patient and staff safety
CategoriesPatient Handling

Injury Prevention During Epidurals

by sphmedicaladmin

Nurse managers don’t typically think of injury prevention during epidurals being a major issue. But epidurals are about pain relief so why are nurses at risk of injury? This article will review the Epidural placement procedure, proper patient positioning for optimal patient outcomes and Safe Patient Handling solutions to reduce the risk of injury for the nurses that support this procedure.

What is an Epidural?

This procedure involves injecting a patient with epidural analgesia blocking the spinal nerve impulses around the lower back. Unlike anesthesia which leads to a total lack of feeling, an epidural provides analgesia or pain relief. For example, when used for mothers before or during childbirth, the purpose is to numb the pain in the lower body during the birthing process. Though the pain significantly reduced, the mother remains conscious and can still use her muscles to push out the baby when the time comes. The use of epidural injections greatly reduces pain during labor; however, an epidural does not eliminate all the pain during delivery, but the contractions will come with less intensity. And with an epidural comes the risk on injury to the staff and or nurse, injury prevention during epidurals is extremely important to the nursing staff.

What Is an Epidural Positioning Device?

The newest innovation to support the epidural procedure is the Epidural Positioning Device (EPD), sometimes known as the Epidural Positioning Chair. It is an assistive device used to position the patient properly that allows optimal access for the Epidural placement. It has a 180-degree adjustable face rest, six-position adjustable armrest, flexible range from floor, and adjustable torso support. The patient is held by the epidural device firmly yet correctly positioned.

How does the EPD help Patients?

Before doctors started using the Epidural Positioning Device, a nurse would stack pillows below the patient and hold her position as the anesthetist injected the lower back. There was a significant risk of injury for both the patient and the health personnel. The risk was mainly due to the patient, who would be hard to restrain while in extreme pain. The epidural chair allows the correct positioning of the patient by encouraging cervical, thoracic and lumbar flexion while still maintaining a solid and stable position, ensuring the patient is safe and secure.

How does the EPD help Nurses?

An epidural device is also used in other medical procedures where the epidural injection is required. The use of epidural chairs has improved efficiency in epidural medical procedures by supporting patients so that nurses don’t have to manually hold, support, push, pull or apply counter pressure during the procedure. The epidural chair eliminates the risk of injuries such as back pains and body strains that nurses are likely to endure when supporting patients. The EPDs serve to position the patient correctly and more efficiently while also increasing injury prevention during epidurals for the nursing staff. Absolving nurses from the pressure and physical load experienced when holding patients in position.

Epidural Analgesia

Epidural analgesia is a procedure used to relieve pain and is commonly used during the birthing process to those who don’t want to undergo pain during labor. Some of the advantages of the epidural pain relief procedure include:

  • Pain relief
  • Give the mother enough time to rest after the nine months of pregnancy
  • Help the mother to follow the birthing without much stress
  • It may help reduce postpartum depression
  • Epidural can be used at any stage of the labor
  • It is effective during lengthy surgical procedures

Some of the downsides experienced during and after the epidural pain relief procedure include the following:

  • Reduced coordination of movement as the legs may be a bit weak
  • Persistent positional headache, which may require treatment for rapid resolution
  • Lower back discomfort where the needle was placed
  • Severe lowering of blood pressure once the epidural process gets underway

Such risks will require the medical personnel, especially the anesthesiologist, to remain alert, checking the vital signs as the procedure continues. The procedure could also lead to neurological injury, though this is rare among the healthy obstetrical population.

Giving birth should be a beautiful experience, but some women may get anxious due to the anticipated pain. That is why every woman has the freedom to decide the type of birthing process she would like to go through, whether it’s normal delivery or epidural. Ultimately the choice will be with her, and it is expected she will make the best choice assisted by the medical personnel.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Back Injury Prevention for Nurses

by sphmedicaladmin

There is an injury crisis going on in the healthcare industry. Nurses are suffering injuries at an alarming rate while performing lateral transfer, repositioning patients in their beds, and other common tasks. Many of the approximately 3 million Registered Nurses working in the US face daily hazards that put them at risk. A Veterans Health Administration study in 2000 revealed nurses were injured on average six times more often than workers in any other occupational group. And in 19.1% of the cases, they suffered back injuries and another 25.5% of them suffered upper extremity injuries caused by doing lateral transfers, lifting, repositioning, static holds, and moving patients. Back injury prevention for Nurses is highly over looked and can be implemented easily.

A High-Risk Occupation

Nursing is among the highest risk occupations when it comes to being injured because of lifting and moving and the repetitive tasks they perform on a daily basis. Combine their normal patient care duties with the fact that patients are getting heavier. Injury data shows no profession is more plagued by work-related back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders than nursing. Nurses suffer injuries at a rate that is double that of many other industries. Injury data shows 12% of nurses who work in hospitals and 17.3% who work in nursing homes suffer back and musculoskeletal work-related injuries each year. In many instances, it results in lost workdays and also forces many nurses to retire early or simply to leave the profession.

Two Simple Solutions

Two simple solutions that can help reduce the work-related injuries that nurses suffer include training programs that are focused on evidence based best practices for Safe Patient Handling that include the proper assessment of patients, lifting, repositioning, transferring, ambulating and moving patients safely with the appropriate specialized equipment. There are many good training programs that can teach nurses safe and effective ways to move even the heaviest patient and minimize if not eliminate the risk of injury to the nurse or the patient. Plus, there are also several new, easy-to-use pieces of equipment nurses can use to lift, move, transfer, hold a limb, reposition, and mobilize their patients quickly, safely, and efficiently without the risk of getting an injury.

Training Programs Help

Traditionally, nursing education has emphasized patient safety and not self-protection for nurses when doing the patient lifting, handling, and movement tasks. Few nurses were taught the NIOSH guidelines for use by workers who routinely lift loads weighing 51 pounds or more. Most programs in the past focused on the use of proper body mechanics. We now know that the use proper body mechanics is still important but cannot alone adequately reduce the risk of injury to nurses. Research shows that in healthcare facilities where nurses implemented an evidence based Safe Patient Handling program with the proper assistive solutions, musculoskeletal and back injuries to nurses fell by 70%, productivity increased, patients said they felt safer and there was higher nurse-patient satisfaction according to testimonials from families, patients, and nurses.

Patient Handling Equipment Makes A Dramatic Difference

According to OSHA, patient lifting equipment can reduce the injury risk for both nurses and patients by 95% while also improving the quality of care patients receive. Using patient lifting equipment is essential for safe patient handling and to prevent injuries from the two most injury causing tasks, a lateral transfer and repositioning (includes turning and boosting) a patient in bed. Assistive devices ensure patients can be safely repositioned, transferred from one surface to another, and moved while reducing the risk of injury to nurses by avoiding high-risk manual patient handling activities. Safe patient handling and mobility technology can preserve nurses’ independence and safety and improve patients’ healthcare experience.

Patient Transfer Devices

Repositioning patients in their beds or moving them between their bed and a stretcher, chair or wheelchair doesn’t have to be physically taxing or put nurses at risk of injury when lifting and transfer devices are used. There are air powered lateral transfer systems nurses can use to easily transfer patients from beds to stretchers on a cushion of air that’s underneath an inflated mattress. It reduces friction, letting patients float from one surface to another. Some of the top brands like SPH Medical, AirPal, and Hovermatt can help to make it aReduce Injuries and Infections with SPH Medials Air Transfer Mat breeze for nurses to safely transfer, reposition and move patients from surface to surface. Departments like Labor and Delivery use the Air Transfer Mat by SPH Medical for patients getting a Cesarian Section (C-Section). The Air Transfer System makes it safe and comfortable to transfer the mom on and off the OB OR table. The surgery department uses the single patient use version of the SPH Medical Air Powered Transfer Mat for virtually all patients. Organizations like the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses, AORN, have included the recommendation to use Safe Patient Handling assistive solutions like the Air Transfer Mattress for all patients over 157 lbs when transferring patient to or from the OR table.

Thousands Of Preventable Injuries

SPH Medical Breathable sheet for repositioning

Assistive patient transfer devices can help protect nurses nationwide from suffering an endless array of preventable back and musculoskeletal injuries that are caused by overexertion, repetitive patient handling tasks, or lifting patients improperly without the appropriate assistive solution while delivering patient care. One particularly dangerous high-risk task with which patient lifting and transport devices can help is ‘in-bed repositioning’. This is a common task nurses perform where they boost a patient up in bed and then turn them, some weighing 300 pounds or more, to put them in a better position in their beds and to offload pressure on bony prominences. Performing this task and manually transferring patients from their beds to other surfaces are common reasons nurses suffer approximately 40,000 back and countless musculoskeletal injuries each year.

A Very High Cost

Treating work-related injuries costs in excess of $29 million a year in direct costs. And there are many indirect, less visible costs that are difficult to measure, yet have a very significant impact on the finances and resources of the nurses and facilities in which they work. Some of these indirect costs include training new employees, on-boarding and overtime, that impact the healthcare facility’s finances and resources. Others include employee turnover, loss of morale, productivity, incident investigation time and patient safety. Plus, the cost to replace a nurse can range anywhere between $27,000 to $103,000 each. This means it is much more cost-effective to invest in Safe Patient Handling education with the appropriate patient transferring, lifting and mobility devices to prevent nursing injuries from predictable high risk and high frequency tasks like lateral transfers and repositioning.

Contact SPH Medical to discuss your Safe Patient Handling program and take steps to reduce the risk of injury to your nursing staff by implementing evidence based solutions that staff will enjoy using.

Reduce Injuries and Infections with SPH Medials Air Transfer Mat
CategoriesPatient Handling

The Benefits of Air Transfer Mattress Technology

by sphmedicaladmin

In the United States, hospitals and nursing homes have become deadly businesses. Hospital injury rates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are approximately double those in all other private enterprises, that is, all non-governmental organizations. For example, in 2016, hospitals reported a rate of 5.9 non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers, compared to 2.9 non-fatal workplace injuries per 100 full-time workers across all industries in the United States. In addition, hospitals have a greater rate of injuries that need time off work than the construction and manufacturing industries. Safety features in friction-reducing devices such as the SPH Medical Air Transfer Mattress reduce the risk of injury to the patient and nursing staff.

Materials and Methods of Safe Patient Handling

The implementation of safe patient handling programs has helped hospitals reduce patient positioning injuries. Because of these efforts, numerous hospitals and hospital systems have witnessed considerable reductions in patient handling injuries. For example, lateral transfer is one of the most common patient-handling tasks. A lateral transfer occurs when a patient is moved from one surface to another, from a bed to another bed or from a bed to a medical cart. Historically, this movement has been done with a small number of staff members, and much of the force is often exerted by caregivers dragging across the surface to which the patient is being transported; hence putting the caregiver at risk of injury, which is most often to the shoulders and lower back. In addition, caregivers perform lateral transfers without knowing how much force is required, putting them at risk of harm. Some of the ways of handling lateral transfers include:

Draw sheet
Simplification of transfer across horizontal surfaces for lateral transfers was traditionally performed with a draw sheet underneath the patient. However, previous biomechanical studies have shown that utilizing a draw sheet to execute lateral transfers exposes caregivers to high spine pressures and necessitates a significant amount of external force. In addition, when employing a draw sheet, the disc’s compression force can surpass the maximum acceptable threshold of 3,400 Newtons, as defined by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Friction-reducing devices
Using a friction-reducing transfer significantly reduces the amount of force required while performing transfers. Therefore, some recommended devices include sliding sheets, sliding boards, slip sheets or roller sheets. Although friction-reducing devices reduce the amount of effort required to perform lateral transfers, the overall force is still much more than the acceptable pushing and pulling limitations. Therefore, the ability of friction-reduction transfer devices is limited to minimizing pull forces and spinal force compression. Many of these devices do not adequately reduce risk of injury for some hospital programs.

Air-assisted devices
Air-assisted devices are a form of friction-reducing devices recommended for safe patient handling. AirPal invented this device, but other companies have created their versions of it. HoverMatt, for example, makes air-assisted devices, and since introducing the disposable or single patient use transfer mattress, their business has grown enormously. Air-assisted systems were developed to improve the safety, efficiency, and security of lateral transfers. As a result, air-assisted devices are rated substantially higher by caregivers than any other helpful equipment. Air-assisted systems not only minimize friction but also give support and comfort. As a result, nurses may more easily boost, reposition, and transfer patients, reducing the risk of strains, sprains, and career-ending back injuries for everyone.

Why Is the Air Transfer Mattress Recommended Over Other Friction-Reducing Devices?

With so many lateral patient transfer devices on the market, deciding one is the best fit for you and your institution can be difficult. The air transfer mattress is one of the most popular transfer devices. Air assist technology’s advantages have been thoroughly documented and proved. When the air blower unit is turned on, the air is blown out via the perforated holes in the bottom of the mattress. Friction between the mattress and the adjacent surface is reduced by the force of air passing through these tiny openings. Because there is less friction, the mattress may be moved more easily.

Safety features in friction-reducing devices such as the SPH Medical Air Transfer Mattress reduce the risk of injury to the patient and nursing staff. To improve patient security during transfer, two safety straps are connected over the patient. Disposable protective covers are available for the mattress which helps keep the transfer mattress clean between procedures. The launderable versions of Air Transfer Mattresses are typically water-resistant and free of latex. Another noteworthy safety aspect is that the mattress first inflates around the perimeter before moving on to the center to inflate and lift the patient safely. Thus, it acts as a cradle for the patient and helps to prevent tipping.

Some of the benefits of using an air transfer system include:
Safety and comfort
During transfers, air-assisted technology increases patient and caregiver safety and comfort. With less skin shear and bruising, lateral air transfer provides the patient with improved comfort and safety. The action of intra-hole communication redistributes the pull/push forces uniformly for a safe and easy transmission.
Stable positioning
The patient is moved into a more secure position by the inflated mattress, which reduces skin shear and bruising. Caregivers may securely move patients without lifting or straining since the mattress and the patient float on a cushion of air. By practically reducing lateral transfers and repositioning-related accidents.
Compatibility
It’s designed to withstand repeated applications and the toughest transfers for a wide range of patient characteristics. For artifact-free imaging, it’s radiolucent and MRI compatible.
Availability
Available in a variety of shapes and widths, with a weight restriction of 1200 pounds to fit most patients. The proprietary technology profiles and self-adjusts to each patient automatically. This allows for a balanced redistribution of the patient’s body weight, resulting in the safest and simplest patient transfer possible.
Significant cost savings
Previously, a significant amount of money was spent on various lateral transfers mechanisms, which were expensive and difficult to keep the appropriate supply on hand. The SPH Medical Lateral Transfer Mattress is a more cost effective option allowing the necessary inventory to be kept on hand to help reduce staff injuries.

Additionally, when you use an air transfer system, the additional expenditures of bearing direct cost of injury are considerably reduced. While satisfying statutory criteria for safe patient care, the Air Transfer System considerably aids in staff retention, improvement in staff morale, and improvement in overall efficiency of patient care and patient throughput for busy surgical departments.
Infection protection
SPH Medical offers a full range of single patient use, launderable and reusable Air Transfer Mattresses in various shapes and sizes that are all compatible with the most common air supplies on the market. The complete Air Transfer System includes the Air Transfer Mattress, an air supply with hose and power cord, and an optional transport stand. For Hospitals that are focused on reducing hospital acquired infections, the single patient use Air Transfer Mattresses have been the most common version implemented. Reducing infections and workplace injuries together is a win-win for everyone.

Contact SPH Medical to discuss reducing risk of injury to staff and patients in your facility.

Back Injury Prevention for Nurses
CategoriesPatient Handling

Nurses and Back Injuries

by sphmedicaladmin

Preventing back injuries to nursing staff is one of the most important things we can do in healthcare and starts with reducing overexertion and modifying predictable manual patient handling tasks like Lateral Transfers and repositioning patients in bed.

Lateral Transfers and The Risks

Lateral transfers have been identified as some of the riskiest tasks in handling of patients in hospitals because patients may be moved from one surface to another several times in a day, and this is mostly done manually. Many healthcare workers are prone to musculoskeletal disorders resulting from manual transfer of patients since the task may be carried out by a few workers which results in having to strain. The equipment used in manual transfer of patients does not have the necessary designs for minimizing friction, and this contributes to increased risk of injury to both healthcare workers and the patients. A repositioning injury could also occur when the nurses are trying to change the position of a patient on the bed or moving them to a different surface.

A recent study found that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and more specifically lower back pains was around 55 percent for nurses and nurse aides annually. Another study involving 22 hospitals and at least 100 clinics with a cumulative of 33000 healthcare workers found that an average of 205 workers experienced some injuries per year, and the average cost of treatment was 1.5 million dollars each year. Manual patient handling is associated with numerous types of injuries such as back pains, shoulder, neck, and wrist injuries among other injuries that could result in permanent disability which makes it unsafe.

Different States have enacted safe patient handling laws that require the use of transfer aids, assistive devices, and engineering controls in the lifting of patients to replace manual tasks of moving patients. These laws are meant to keep both patients and the healthcare workers safe from the common injuries associated with manual transfers. In Washington State, for example, hospitals are required to obtain lifting equipment for the purpose of patient handling, and they are given tax credits for this equipment. Still in the State of Washington, a healthcare worker is allowed to refuse to engage in patient handling activity when the worker believes that the activity may expose the patient or a healthcare worker to an unacceptable risk of getting injured.

Air Powered Patient Transfer Devices Helping Nurses and Back Injuries

The evidence-based safe patient handling procedures emphasize the appropriate use of lifting equipment and assistive devices to make it easier and safer for both nurses and patients during the transfer process. Some of the most popular assistive devices include the Air Powered Patient Transfer Devices like SPH Medical’s Air Transfer System or Hovermatt and AirPal which are designed to reduce friction and simplify the task of repositioning a patient from one surface to another. These Air Powered transfer devices help in minimizing the risk of a repositioning injury and other nursing injury because they are placed underneath a patient and then inflated whenever the patient needs to be repositioned on the bed. Air Powered lateral transfer systems have been designed to release air through the bottom of the mattress surface to create a thin layer of air that reduces the amount of friction during the task of boosting or moving a patient and to evenly distribute pressure.

AirPowered lateral transfer systems have numerous benefits to healthcare workers and the patients including increased comfort. This is because the air transfer devices eliminate the grabbing and pulling from manual transfer methods. In addition the patient’s weight is evenly redistributed in a balanced way to ensure that the patient feels much more comfortable and safe. For patients who are quite heavy, the Air Powered transfer devices provide a sense of dignity to patients of size because they allow fewer people to handle them safely. With the air flow significantly reducing friction a morbidly obese patient or patient of size can be moved with relative ease. Fewer nurses having to assist means that the patient doesn’t have to feel embarrassed about their weight. The devices also make it safer for patients compared to the manual transfer devices by reducing friction and other factors that cause patients to slip and fall when being moved. Some special features are incorporated in the Air Powered lateral transfer systems to increase the safety of patients and nurses such as safety straps for securing the patient during the transfer process.

Many studies have observed that the risk of nursing injury is greatly reduced in hospitals where Air Transfer Systems have been deployed. The fact that most States have enacted safe patient handling laws that demand hospitals to acquire and implement lifting equipment and assistive devices shows that these devices are important in ensuring the safety of patients, nurses, and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry. Where the hospitals are required to have these devices, purchasing reputable brands not only ensures that they remain compliant with the State’s regulations but also they guarantee the well-being of their employees and patients. As noted above, hundreds of injuries occur due to manual transfers, and these injuries require millions of dollars to treat. These costs and other undesirable consequences can be minimized or eliminated by the use of Air Powered transfer devices since they are specifically designed to eliminate the risks associated with handling patients.

Contact SPH Medical to learn more about Air Transfer Technology and begin to reduce injuries in your hospital or healthcare facility.

The Epidural Positioning Devices Improves Safety
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Pain Relief and Positioning

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural Pain Relief and patient positioning occurs in both the hospital and outpatient settings. Epidurals are regional pain analgesics commonly administered before intense pain during labor, surgical procedures, or for chronic pain in the back and neck. Epidural anesthesia blocks pain in an area of the body. Epidurals provide labor pain relief rather than anesthesia, which is total lack of feeling. Proper patient positioning is important to ensure the correct location for the epidural placement but ensuring healthcare worker safety is equally important.

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a treatment for lower back pain and leg pain. For decades, ESIs have been considered a central component of nonsurgical approaches to sciatica and lower back pain. Epidurals and epidural steroid injections involve injecting a local anesthetic (and a steroid medication in the case of ESIs) directly into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Today, much emphasis is placed on the positioning of the patient for receiving epidural pain relief for reasons of safety, for both the patient and the medical staff. Being able to quickly and comfortably administer an epidural decreases risks to all involved. To aid in this, the epidural positioning chair (EPD), commonly known as the epidural positioning device (EPD), or epidural chair, has become a valuable piece of equipment. The EPC is used in labor and delivery departments and in surgical areas to position the patient properly for the epidural procedure. The mobile positioning chair is lightweight, easy to move, and locks into place to allow for easier and safer administration of epidural pain relief.

Epidural Pain Relief, Positioning a Patient

Making sure a patient is in the right position can sometimes prove difficult. For instance, a patient’s range of motion may be limited because of pregnancy or injury. A patient’s level of distraction because of pain may also impede proper positioning administration of the epidural.

Positioning a patient for an epidural is an important consideration, as risks exist for the patient and for the medical staff administering the medicine. Throughout history, different positions have been used, and more recently, specific positions are used for specific bodily locations of epidural administration.

The various positions used usually depend on the condition of the patient. Pregnant women, for instance, are often put into a Sims position (left lateral decubitus, left leg straight, right leg bent), but it may be done with the patient sitting with their back arched, often described as an “angry cat” or “boiled shrimp” position. An epidural chair makes properly positioning patients very simple.

Epidural Pain Relief Injection and Risks to the Patient

For the patient, risks include low blood pressure in 10-20% of patients. There is a 1% risk of intravascular injection, puncture in spinal cord, and failure to block. There is less than 1% risk of infection, headache, bleeding, and allergic reaction. Patients are monitored closely during and after epidural placement, especially delivering. As mentioned, administering an epidural safely and comfortably is of utmost importance in reducing risk, and the EPD has come to play a significant role in this.

Healthcare Worker Safety

Providing epidural pain relief has improved healthcare worker safety as well. Often, a professional (or multiple professionals) are holding a patient in place manually. Pain during labor or from injury may cause a patient to unexpectedly move while receiving an epidural. Or, having an adverse reaction to the epidural may cause the patient to move. Any patient motion requires staff reaction and counter, creating musculoskeletal strain for the professional. The pushing, pulling, tugging, lifting and catching required of the healthcare worker can lead to strain injury instantaneously or over time. Very often, healthcare workers use nearby non-medical equipment like stools chairs and tables when trying to make the patient ready and as comfortable as possible for the injection. These stools, tables, and chairs often have rollers, which then require the healthcare worker to counter any movement with adverse pressure or motion. The necessity of this practice, and the risk of injury that comes with it, while being in common practical use all over the world, has been all but eliminated with the EPD or Epidural Chair. Using the EPD eliminates the physical strain on the professional, thereby eliminating much of the risk to healthcare workers associated with administration of epidurals.

Having the patient in the correct position with an epidural positioning device makes quick and safe epidural administration possible with fewer staff members. By reducing manual patient handling the EPD is a simple yet highly effective device that reduces risks for both patients and healthcare staff.

Surgical N95 Respirators provided by SPH Medical
CategoriesPatient Handling

The Future of N95 Masks

by sphmedicaladmin

With the appearance of coronavirus disease 19 (also known as COVID-19) in 2019, the public heightened their concern regarding virus transmission via airborne and aerosolized particles. The concern was accompanied by a slew of contradictory discussions on which types of personal protective equipment best safeguard health care practitioners and the world at large against virus exposure. The thought of wearing facial covers at restaurants, grocery stores, and airports seemed weird when state and local governments began enacting mask mandates in the spring of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people did not even own a mask, let alone wear one daily. N95 Masks, currently, are now commonplace and ubiquitous just a year later. So much so that customers who previously did not know masks are now well-versed in the finer details of mask function, fit, and style. Details on the function and practicality of the common types of masks segregate them according to how each mask type protects against airborne and aerosolized disease.

The Past, Present, and Future of N95 Masks

Until 2019, masks existed in the medical rooms only. But the emergence of COVID-19 and the mask mandates instituted in 2020 by both state and local governments changed the story. Everyone is fluent in both the basic and additional aspects of masks. Surgical masks, procedural masks, and filtering respirator facemasks are the most popular mask types used in the medical arena. Other than the types of masks, they know about their effectiveness, CDC recommendations, and different fabrics. Some of the finer details include:

  • For optimal effectiveness, masks must cover the mouth and the nose.
  • For optimal efficiency and maximum protection, you should wear a mask with a close fit rather than a relaxed fit.
  • Synthetic materials with loose weaves are less protective than natural fabrics with tight weaves.
  • Understanding the safety of using masks has been achieved where you should discard disposable masks after one use and wash reusable masks in hot water regularly.
  • On CDC recommendations, multiple-layer masks are better than single-layer masks, and they can increase their protection by wearing two masks instead of one.

Understanding and accepting masks is not the same as loving them. Although masks have been absorbed into our everyday routines, we all look forward to the day we can toss the masks away. However, the truth is that masks are almost certainly here to stay. Masks can guard against various hazards, including seasonal colds and flu, allergies, and even pollution, which will outlast and outlive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mask Standards, Ratings, and Filtration Effectiveness

N95, KN95, FFP1, P2, or surgical mask: what’s the difference? For each mask type, each country has its certification standard. For surgical masks, Europe utilizes the EN 14683 standard, while China uses the YY 0469 standard. Each country’s norm differs slightly, but they are all roughly comparable. China utilizes the KN standard (e.g., KN95) for respirator masks, while the US uses the N standard (e.g., NIOSH N95 Mask).

Single-use face masks are the standard with the least stringent filtration criteria. Surgical masks have more stringent regulations, while respirators have the most stringent. Respirators (research suggests they score higher on fit effectiveness) also have a tighter fit across the face than surgical masks and single-use face masks. The bottom line on mask standards and effectiveness is as follows:

  1. Single-use masks (usually one layer, very thin) are only good at capturing bigger dust particles.
  2. The requirements for catching virus-sized (0.1 microns) particles are greater in surgical mask standards, although there are variations according to the area.
  3. Virus-sized particles are frequently captured by pollution masks (respirators) such as the N95 mask and the new Makrite N95 Mask over 90% of the time.

NIOSH has approved surgical N95 and Makrite N95 Mask respirators as N95 mask, and the FDA has certified them as surgical masks. Medical respirators, healthcare respirators, and surgical N95s are all terms used to describe these products.

Newmarket Trends

The pandemic has changed our lives and how we interact with others in ways that were unimaginable just two years ago. However, since 2020 the topic of Covid and PPE has been so prevalent in our daily contacts. Life and the economy did not cease because of shutdowns and quarantines, restarts, and stops. Certain industries, such as the PPE industry, experienced an economic boom not experienced in many years. Some of the trends that came with the economic boom include:

  • Before the pandemic, the US market for N95 mask was worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and traditional consumers of masks for non-medical uses have multiplied rapidly. They are having trouble obtaining things that they had no problems obtaining before the outbreak.
  • The Makrite model 9500-N95 is the latest in NIOSH N95 Masks technology, offering both protection and comfort with a Surgical Rating for healthcare workers.
  • Due to a shortage of inventories and the opportunity to purchase PPE before COVID, employers have been “stocking up on inventory” for longer than the CDC recommends, as they are terrified of being caught off guard with no supplies again.

Why Is It Important to Work Through an Authorized N95 Mask Distributor?

Unless you already have a commercial relationship with a specific seller, NIOSH suggests that you do a thorough investigation of the company before purchasing masks. This suggestion applies to companies whose devices have been assessed as NIOSH N95 Mask by NIOSH or are part of an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Before making a significant transaction with a third-party intermediate company, have your institution’s finance or accounting department check the third-party company’s financial stability to ensure that they can deliver the products as requested. As hospitals and customers look for comfortable and effective fluid-resistant masks, SPH Medical provides options. Of the Makrite NIOSH certified N95 Masks, we supply models 9500-N95, the 9500-N95S, and Sekura-N95.  Our most popular model is the 9500-N95 Surgical Respirator. These are essential items for frontline caregivers and first responders everywhere. SPH Medical is a trusted source and a global distributor for Makrite Industries and Makrite 9500-N95. Makrite is working to improve the fit and comfort of their N95 respirators to continually improve their products. Contact SPH Medical to learn more about the future of N95 masks and Makrite’s industry leading products.

Improve Epidural Safety with the EPD
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Pain Relief: The Modern Miracle

by sphmedicaladmin

Pain during labor is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to go untreated. Labor can be much less stressful and even enjoyable with the addition of epidural pain relief to control pain during labor. Aside from saving a mother’s sanity, an epidural can help a mother breathe better through contractions and can reduce anxiety surrounding birth.

What is an Epidural?

Getting an epidural isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds. A highly trained anesthetist will first numb the patient’s back, then insert a catheter for the medication. A needle is used to insert the catheter, but it doesn’t stay in there!

Typically, epidurals contain a drug such as Demerol or morphine. These are inserted into a patient’s back between the disks of the spine to block pain directly at the nerves. These drugs promote rest, relax the body, and allow a mother to renew her energy before it is time to push. For those who want to feel some labor, a lighter form of epidural pain relief, often dubbed a “walking” epidural, is controlled by a button that the patient can press at her own discretion. Despite the name, patients are not able to actually walk with a walking epidural. They may however be better able to reposition themselves in bed.

Positioning and Risks

While epidurals are truly a miracle for new mothers, they do require a touch of finesse. To receive an epidural, the patient must be positioned correctly. While in position, she cannot make any movement without endangering herself, her baby, and medical staff. After all, during the procedure, there is a needle hanging directly around very important nerves. If the positioning is off or the patient moves, there could be dangerous effects.

The most common complication is a spinal headache caused from improper puncture, but other more serious complications can arise such as neural disfunction, and dangerous drops in blood pressure. Additionally, improper positioning can cause a woman to have only partial pain relief or create pain which may lead to repositioning the epidural. It’s best to get the job done right so that it only has to be done once.

These risks are explained to the mother prior to the procedure, and rightfully, the order not to move during placement is stressed repeatedly. This can make the patient nervous, which unfortunately means she may be more likely to jerk involuntarily during the procedure. If done correctly, the patient will feel a quick pop like a bee sting then immediate relief.

Usually, a nurse must hold the patient in position. The patient must relax completely, which leaves the nurse supporting her fully. If the laboring patient moves involuntarily or passes out during the procedure, nursing staff can fall or be injured. If a nurse is assisting in the epidural positioning procedure multiple times in a shift, he or she is at an even higher risk of developing musculoskeletal issues. Of course, a workplace injury could affect a staff member’s performance long term.

Epidural Pain Relief and Reducing Risks

Epidural positioning devices, or EPD, reduce the risk of injury to mother and baby, and also to nursing staff. The epidural chair allows a woman to lean forward comfortably and stably without the need for a nurse to hold her up or prop her with pillows which can slip or compress. EPD include the full epidural chair as well as bedside props with adjustable footrests that accomplish a similar task.

Having the stability of the positioning device is great for staff members, but it can also make the mom in the chair more comfortable and more confident in the procedure. Epidurals are very common, and the use of EPD is becoming increasingly more common as well. More stability and more confidence for both the staff and patient results in a smoother, less stressful, and more successful procedure.

Reduce Injuries and Infections with SPH Medials Air Transfer Mat
CategoriesPatient Handling

Lateral Transfer Matt: The Dignity and Dangers Of Lateral Transfers

by sphmedicaladmin

The gold standard of Safe Patient Handling today is the single patient use Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer Matt.  This article will provide some background about the daily risks faced by nursing staff when handling patients and the growing trend to implement Safe Patient Handling programs that include the SPH Medical Lateral Transfer Matt.

Medical Professionals Carry Out Dozens of Lateral Transfers Per Day

Though caregivers and medical professionals carry out dozens of lateral transfers per day, this procedure is still far from perfect. In other words, while this practice is commonplace in hospitals, it poses serious risks and challenges. Simply put, lateral transfers involve moving a patient from one surface to another. Since several departments are tasked with performing lateral transfers, countless professionals are susceptible to a nursing injury or repositioning injury. Patients are equally vulnerable to these injuries, which is why lateral transfers are notoriously precarious.

When performing a traditional lateral transfer, nurses reposition patients using the sheet that’s underneath them. However, if there’s limited personnel, this isn’t a viable option. To compensate for insufficient manpower, a plastic board is used to streamline the process. Unfortunately, this approach leaves a lot of room for error, making it inefficient and unpredictable. In essence, if there isn’t enough manpower or resources available, affairs become exceedingly dangerous. After all, patients and caregivers shouldn’t have to rely on their physical abilities to oversee successful lateral transfers.

Lateral transfers are so unsafe that medical professionals are 31 percent more likely to experience musculoskeletal pain.  Pain is often a sign of some injury that has occurred and should not be ignored.  With the repetitive nature of lateral transfers and the fact that patients are continuing to get heavier, nurses, techs, CNA’s and transporters are all at risk of a severe back, neck or shoulder injury which may be career ending. Additionally, these handling injuries are emotionally and financially draining, causing both medical professionals and hospitals distress. If a patient or caregiver has been seriously injured, hospitals could pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover medical expenses.  Sound like motivation?  To prevent caregiver injuries, physical discomfort, and to avoid significant financial losses, laws have been passed to improve these practices. Yet, additional efforts need to be made to keep nurses and patients out of harm’s way.

To expedite the adoption of Safe Patient Handling practices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a study surrounding Safe Patient Handling programs. According to their research, hospitals that employ proven lateral transfer procedures with the appropriate assistive devices, including an Air Assisted Lateral Transfer Matt, are 73 percent less likely to subject patients and nurses to handling injuries. This study served as a catalyst for the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act. The House introduced this bill in 2015, and it requires the Department of Labor to improve patient handling, mobility, and injury prevention standards so that fewer transfer and repositioning injuries occur.

Improving Safety with the Lateral Transfer System

In the hopes of breathing improved safety, efficiency, and security into lateral transfers, air-assisted systems were created. AirPal birthed this invention, but other brands have developed their own versions of this modern device. HoverMatt, for example, manufactures air-assisted systems, and their business has expanded exponentially after developing the disposable or single patient use transfer mattress.  Not only do air-assisted systems reduce friction, but they also provide added support and comfort.  As a result, it’s easier for nurses to boost, reposition and transfer patients, making everyone less vulnerable to strains, sprains, and career ending back injuries.  At SPH Medical, we make this equipment easily accessible so that more hospitals can implement safe patient handling wherever lateral transfers and positioning is occurring.  With more than 15 years of experience implementing Air Transfer Systems, the team at SPH Medical offers expertise in this area to its customers.  SPH Medical offers a complete line of single patient use Air Transfer Mattress options and reusable Air Transfer Mattress options in all sizes compatible with the most common air supplies on the market.

Assisted Transfer Equipment: Is It Worth It?

Air transfer equipment is preferred for its ability to reduce risk of injury and the fast adoption rate by nursing staff. Luckily, the perks don’t end there. In addition to promoting optimal safety, air-assisted systems also make patients more comfortable. Without air transfer equipment, lateral transfers can cause significant discomfort. For patients of size, they may feel embarrassed that so many people have to be involved in a lateral transfer just to move them.  The air-assisted lateral transfer matt gives the patient a sense of dignity. Air-assisted transfer systems do an excellent job of eliminating risks and uncertainty, which is why this equipment is an efficient alternative to old fashioned manual handling practices.

Best of all, patients say that the air transfer matt offers a floating sensation. With that said, it’s evident how much this equipment streamlines the patient transfer process and improves patient throughput in busy departments like the OR and Labor and Delivery. Above all else, when caregivers have the tools they need to ensure patient safety and their own safety, it bodes well for a pleasant experience for all including increased patient satisfaction. Thanks to air-assisted systems, gone are the days of risking a back or shoulder injury while repositioning patients. Instead, you receive a safe and efficient solution to reduce lateral transfer risks.

Contact SPH Medical to get a quote for the Air Assisted Lateral Transfer Matt and realize the benefits of Safe Patient Handling today.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Improving Nursing Safety With The EPD

by sphmedicaladmin

Improving nursing safety is the primary goal in any formalized Safe Patient Handling program being implemented across the country here in the United States and even internationally. This article will discuss the risks associated with manual patient handling that occurs during epidural placement, spinal blocks and thoracentesis.

First, a little background about epidurals. An epidural is regional anesthesia applied to expectant mothers in labor and delivery units to desensitize pain receptors. The success of an epidural depends upon the skills of the anesthesiologist but one could say that patient positioning is the priority and may be equally or more important.

The epidural procedure is vital to manage pain during labor and in surgical procedures. For effective epidural placement, the patient should be in a sitting position or lying on their side.

The nurses and physicians will assist the patient in assuming the correct position. The physicians carry out the procedure using a sterile technique with local anesthesia at the site of injection.

After your skin gets numb, the anesthesiologist will pass the needle between the lumbar vertebrae into the epidural space. A continuous infusion is preferable for most labor epidurals to ensure no wearing off of the anesthesia.

Epidural pain relief produces a numb sensation on the legs and abdomen for patients in labor which masks the discomfort experienced in delivery. Although epidural pain relief lacks a significant effect on mental functions or awareness, patients may rest and even sleep till the time to push in the case of delivery.

Note that labor analgesia aims to relieve the pain sensation but not to block it completely. Pushing is a vital part of vaginal delivery, and the patients must have the muscular strength to make it successful.

Safety of An Epidural

The medications used in labor as epidural analgesia lack significant adverse effects on the newborns. Over decades, no appreciable side effects of the drugs occur in babies.

However, those undergoing surgeries and women in labor may experience mild itching and difficulty in passing urine. Other adverse effects include nausea and mild back pain post-delivery.

Although it is effective in managing pain during labor, it is unsuitable in:

  • Patients with clotting or bleeding disorders
  • Current infections
  • Hypotensive patients
  • Non-cooperative patients
  • Positioning of the Patient

Manually positioning patients and applying static holds has been a known cause of injury in hospitals and specifically in Labor and Delivery departments.  To reduce the chances of injury to the caregivers, an epidural positioning device (EPD) is effective in reducing risk of injury to staff and patients and can also increase patient satisfaction.  The device was invented by an anesthesiologist has been used widely in positioning patients for epidurals, spinal blocks, wound care and more.

Risk to Nurses and Health Care Workers

As COVID-19 continues to spread, the healthcare team is already affected. The pandemic puts an entirely new perspective on the manual handling of patients and the effort of improving nursing safety. Be it in surgical or labor rooms, the manual handling of patients subjects the nursing staff to musculoskeletal injuries and even COVID-19.

In the labor, delivery, outpatient surgery, and peri-operative areas, the staff have in the past had to manually hold the patients in position for epidural placement. Because of the risk of COVID-19 spread, patients and the health care team should minimize the unnecessary contact to prevent illnesses and injuries.  The EPD or Epidural Chair has become an essential tool to prevent the spread of infections, including COVID-19.

Studies indicate that nurses are more prone to overexertion injuries than other occupations in the health sector. Hence, the health care industry and hospitals need to embrace changes that will protect their staff.

Benefits of EPD

The Epidural Chair improves safety and reduces injuries among patients and staff. It creates an ideal patient position for placing the needles during an epidural procedure.  The technique is also applicable in central anesthetic procedures.

The SPH Medical Epidural Positioning Device is an improved positioning chair and has now become famously known as the Epidural Chair.  It has been helpful in improving nursing safety in various departments in the hospital, including the outpatient surgery, pain management center, OR, and of course L&D.

The device helps position the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical flexion while maintaining a stable and solid position. The device is the most suitable for patients undergoing obstetrics, orthopedic surgeries where spinal blocks are common, and now the imaging department and pulmonologists are using it for thoracentesis.

There is are both electric and non-powered EPD options. Both provide a weight capacity of 600 pounds by accommodating various weights and body sizes.  The manual and electric devices have a patented chest cushion that extends toward the patient to promote thoracic, lumbar, and cervical flexion.  The flexed spine position opens up the intervertebral spaces for the appropriate placement.

The electric Epidural Positing Device or E-EPD has an electronic controller for adjusting the upper section of the EPD.  Most importantly the electric EPD has a powered foot plate, or foot rest, that eliminates the need for a nurse to bend over or do any lifting.  To further promote spinal flexion Anesthesiologist prefer the patients’ knees to be slight raised so having this powered feature on the E-EPD can be a real asset.  The Electric Epidural Positioning Device can improve the efficiency of set-up and reduce overall procedure time which can be helpful in a busy department.

A successful mobility program and safe handling of the patient require effective equipment, buy-in, and guidance on the most suitable solutions to improve staff safety and patient mobility.

The adoption of Safe Patient Handling principles including the use of proper body mechanics and assistive devices are critical to reduce the risk of injury to our caregivers.  Proper positioning with the EPD allows the device to do the hard work and nurses can now stand by and assist with the important clinical procedures they have been trained to do.

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