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Oxydiff provides a highly effective no rinse no wipe disinfection of hard surfaces
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections

by sphmedicaladmin

Environmental Disinfection To Prevent Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s)

Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s) are a common cause of death in healthcare facilities and represent a significant cost burden. A recent study found that influenza-associated hospitalization affected 156,097 people in Germany. However, many of these infections could be prevented by proper cleaning and disinfection of the environments in which they occur.  Hospitals are challenged with having sick patients that come in from the community with transmittable diseases that can often put other patients at risk.  In other cases like patients who develop Clostridium Difficile infections while in the hospital can also transmit this very difficult to kill, spore forming bacteria, to nurses, objects, or surfaces where the spores can survive for months.  For this reason a focus on environmental disinfection of patient care areas and surgical suites is absolutely critical.

Top Stubborn Pathogens That Cause Hospital Acquired Infections

Several resistant organisms cause significant problems in healthcare facilities. The CDC has identified the following as the most common multidrug-resistant healthcare-associated pathogens:

  • MRSA
  • Clostridium deficile
  • CRE
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Norovirus

What Are The 5 Common Challenges Facing Healthcare Facilities In Environmental Disinfection?

Unfavorable Structural Design

Two central issues facing healthcare facilities are the design of their physical plant and the limitations that these restrictions imposed on the disinfection process. Structurally, healthcare facilities are often built with materials that inhibit disinfection. The most common example is the glazed tile, often used in hospitals to protect against infection. This surface is difficult to disinfect and can also harbor organisms.

Overcrowded Hospital Units

Another challenge facing healthcare facilities is the overcrowding of patients. This increases the number of patients in beds, chairs, and others, leading to further contact with surfaces in the patient’s environment. It also leads to more cross-contamination of surfaces as staff must frequently change linens or clean bedding on these beds.

Poor Toilet Sanitation

Toilets present a significant challenge because of poor sanitation and maintenance. The CDC reports a significant number of inpatient facilities have poorly sanitized toilets. Contamination of these surfaces can be spread between patients and other areas in the facility.

Misuse Of Handwash Sinks

Handwashing stations are in important tool in fighting infections and cross contamination.  However they can also be are a central focus of environmental contamination in healthcare facilities. There can be a significant amount of bacterial contamination that occurs on these sinks. Therefore, cross-contamination is risky between areas without proper cleaning and disinfection.

Hospital Waste Management

Finally, hospital waste management presents particular risks to environmental hygiene. Healthcare facilities dispose of their used items in many ways. The inappropriate handling of these items can lead to toxic pathogens, which may be dangerous to patients.

What Are The CDC Guidelines For Hospital Disinfection?

Infection control in hospitals is critical to preventing organisms from infecting patients. This includes the disinfection of surfaces touched by the hands or clothing of healthcare personnel, patients, or visitors to prevent disease transmission.

There are guidelines developed by the federal government and the CDC which require hospitals to disinfect their patient rooms after each day. The guidelines state that room surfaces, such as floors, walls, and toilets, should be disinfected with a recommended detergent solution every 24 hours. Additionally, healthcare facilities should perform surface disinfection of rooms where patients change linens or bedding frequently.

How Do You Perform Disinfection?

The CDC guidelines recommend that healthcare facilities disinfect their patient rooms using a multi‐component, antimicrobial system to remove bacteria resistant to antibiotics that can cause infection. The recommended EPA approved product for these surfaces is Oxydiff.

Why Use Oxydiff?

The chemical solution is a broad-spectrum disinfection EPA approved to kill C. diff spores in 2 minutes and an extremely wide range of other organisms, including viruses, fungi, and molds. The solution is also non-corrosive and is rinse-free after application. It allows for efficient disinfection because it is easy to apply with a sprayer, mop, or cloth. It costs about the same as other disinfectants but may be cheaper because its ease of application reduces personnel labor time.

Why Is Environmental Disinfection Critical To The Success Of Hospital Acquired Infections Prevention?

Environmental disinfection is critical to the success of Hospital Acquired Infections prevention because it reduces the overall cross-contamination within a given facility and thereby helps prevent the transmission of infectious organisms in healthcare facilities. In addition, it is also critical because it contributes to a cleaner environment and better patient health outcomes.

Hospital Acquired Infections Prevention Conclusion

Hospital Acquired infections are costly to hospitals and healthcare systems because they negatively impact patient care, patient satisfaction, staff turnover, and device failure rates. Hospitals must prioritize environmental disinfection in light of rising costs and potential loss associated with HAIs.

SPH Medical's Repositioning Sheets improve patient care and reduce risk of injury.
CategoriesSlings and Lifts

Single Patient Use Slings Improve Patient Care

by sphmedicaladmin

Reduce injuries and improve patient care with SPH Medical's single patient use air transfer mattress

Single Patient Use Slings and Repositioning Sheets in Hospitals

Single-patient use (SPU) slings are disposable accessories used with patient lift systems in hospitals and nursing homes to lift, move, and transfer patients. These slings are designed for single patient use and are an essential tool in reducing the risk of cross-contamination and the transmission of infections between patients and overall improving patient care.  Although they are only assigned to and used by one patient, they can often be used multiple times throughout the patients’ length of stay.

Repositioning sheets are disposable accessories used in hospitals to assist with moving and transferring patients. These sheets are designed to provide additional support and stability during patient transfers and can be used with single-patient use (SPU) slings or other lifting equipment.

Repositioning Sheets Help Improve Patient Care

Repositioning sheets can provide additional support and stability for patients, making it easier for healthcare staff to move them safely and comfortably. One of the main benefits of repositioning sheets is the reduced risk of injury to healthcare workers. Lifting and transferring patients can be physically demanding, and the use of appropriate equipment can help to prevent injuries.

Repositioning sheets can be particularly useful for patients who may be bed bound and can’t move or reposition themselves in bed without assistance. These sheets can provide a comfortable and breathable surface for patients to lie on, making it easier for them to be repositioned or turned as needed with the use of mobile lifts or ceiling lifts.

In addition to reducing the risk of injury to nurses, repositioning sheets can also help improve patients’ skin care by improving the frequency of repositioning patients in bed. By enabling patients to be turned every two hours and boosted up in bed with ease, these sheets can help to prevent the development of pressure ulcers and other complications associated with prolonged bed rest.

There are several benefits to using SPU slings and repositioning sheets in hospitals and nursing homes. One of the main advantages is infection control. Reusable slings can harbor bacteria and other pathogens, even after proper cleaning and disinfection. Using disposable slings reduces the risk of cross-contamination and the transmission of infections between patients.

One of the main advantages of using SPU slings is the ease of managing inventory and ordering. These slings can be easily tracked and kept in stock, ensuring they are always available when needed. In contrast, reusable slings must be cleaned and disinfected after each use, which can be time-consuming and may result in delays if laundered slings are not immediately available.

Another benefit of SPU slings is the reduced risk of injury to healthcare workers. Lifting and transferring patients can be physically demanding, and appropriate lifting equipment is essential to prevent injuries. Reusable slings may become worn or damaged over time, increasing the risk of injury to nurses and other healthcare staff.  Replacing launderable slings that have gone missing can be expensive and often requires a large capital budget and lengthy approval process.  In contrast, SPU slings can be quickly and easily replaced, ensuring that patients are always supported safely and securely.

Disposable Slings Improve Patient Care and reduce cross contamination

Injury prevention is a critical concern for hospitals and nursing homes, as the cost of a nursing injury can be high. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a nursing injury’s direct and indirect costs can range from $5,500 to $40,000 per incident. Using slings in combination with the appropriate patient lift equipment, hospitals and nursing homes can help reduce the risk of injuries to their staff and minimize the associated costs.

SPH Medical Improving Patient Care

SPH Medical offers an extensive portfolio of SPU slings compatible with mobile and overhead patient lift systems. These slings are available in various sizes and styles to meet the needs of different patients and care settings. In addition, SPH Medical offers a breathable repositioning sheet that can be used for repositioning patients up in bed for extended periods, up to every two hours.

Using disposable slings and repositioning sheets can be a cost-effective and safe solution for hospitals and nursing homes looking to lift, move, and transfer patients. By reducing the risk of cross-contamination and injury, these products can help to improve patient care and reduce costs associated with hospital-acquired infections and nursing injuries.

Improve patient care with SPH Medical Single Patient Use disposable slings

If you are interested in learning more about single-patient use (SPU) slings and repositioning sheets for use in hospitals and nursing homes, we encourage you to visit SPH Medical. SPH Medical is a leading provider of safe patient handling and mobility solutions, with an extensive portfolio of products designed to improve patient care and safety.

The SPH Medical Rowalker supports Early and Progressive Mobility
Categoriesearly mobility

Early and Progressive Mobility Essentials

by sphmedicaladmin

Although there are cases where a patient leaving bed is not possible for a variety of reasons, in the majority of cases, encouraging a patient to become mobile is beneficial. Early and progressive mobility essentials are beneficial for both the patient’s physical healing and mental well-being.

Getting patients out of bed early in the healing process reduces:

  • The length of time a patient must be mechanically ventilated
  • The overall length of stay in the intensive-care unit
  • Short-term complications
  • Long-term physical and mental disabilities

Patients also won’t need as many sedatives when they ambulate, and any sedatives they need, for whatever reason, will not be at high dosages. Too, helping a patient be mobile is a bonding process between not only the patient and the staff but also between staff members, which can only improve the level of care. Such improvement is not limited to that of the patient in question, either, as the bonding between the various staff members will affect every patient who is under their care.

In 2015, the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine published Hodgson et al., a study on the positive impact of early mobility on elderly patients who had been mechanically ventilated. The mobilized patients exhibited higher scores on the Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale than those who were not mobile. They also lived longer post-discharge than those who could not become mobile.

Some other evidence based benefits of early mobility on patients after discharge include the following:

  • More than a third of patients avoided ICU-Acquired Weakness.
  • If a patient experienced ICU-Acquired Delirium, the duration of such delirium was 50% shorter than in those patients who were not mobile.
  • Patients required 10% less time on a ventilator.
  • More than 50% of patients were independently functional post-discharge.
  • One in eight patients who would have otherwise died survived.

Progressive Mobility Essentials For New Patient Mobility Strategies

Aside from the multidisciplinary approach, there are other strategies for hospital staff regarding early patient mobility. They must assess each patient individually and realize that not every patient will be able to be mobile. Even if a patient cannot get out of bed, for example, there are things that the patient can do with a nurse or physical therapist while remaining in bed. Exercises, turning to different positions to avoid bedsores, and just sitting up can work wonders.

Safety is also obviously a concern. A patient might be willing, but the parameters of the case might make it impossible for the person to be safely mobile. Also, even though you might adopt general safety criteria, each case requires well-reasoned decision making regarding mobility. This highlights the great strength of the multidisciplinary strategy. Throughout the team, there will be enough experience and expertise to make the right decisions regarding early patient mobility.

The Banner Mobility Assessment Tool, or BMAT, as is is now known, is a common tool that is used to asses the mobility level of a patient by going through some simple functional tests. The test are fairly simple but yield validated results. The nurse will have the patient sit and shake, stretch and point, stand, then walk. After going through the BMAT assessment the patient is given a BMAT level, 1, 2, 3, or 4. If after the level 3 standing test the patient can bear weight but if any assistive device (cane, walker, crutches) is needed, patient is determined to be Mobility Level 3, and the appropriate assistive tool should be selected. A validated Nursing mobility assessment is often the cornerstone of a sustainable program. As part of California’s AB1136 (CA LC 6403.5) legislative requirements, a validated patient mobility assessment tool provides valuable documentation about patient mobility status and communication between staff.The Banner Mobility Assessment tool provides validated results

The RoWalker for Early and Progressive Mobility Essentials

After assessing the patients’ mobility level, one of the best ways to get a patient up and moving as part of a safe patient handling program is to use a sturdy and stable platform walker, such as the SPH Medical RoWalker. This kind of walker is the best choice because it has wheels with directional casters and brakes on the wheels. With these features,
the nurse or therapist can safely get a patient standing at bedside with the brakes on, or walk the length of a hallway without drifting from side to side, a key benefit of the directional casters.

Additionally, having a rolling walker with the proper attachments makes it a snap to attach IV bags, various monitors, and even an oxygen tank to it. That way, the patient can get all the benefits of mobility without having to leave vital devices behind. A SPH Medical RoWalker also has a basket attached to the front so that some of this critical care equipment can go with the patient as they progress, move further away from bedside, and take steps towards recovery.

References:

https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/tools/mvp/modules/technical/intro-early-mobility-fac-guide.html
https://www.medtronic.com/covidien/en-us/clinical-solutions/icu-early-mobility/about.html
https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-021-03741-z

Benefits of Early Patient Mobility

Nurses are still getting injured while catching a falling patient. Use the EPD for improved safety during epidurals.
CategoriesPatient Handling

Safety Standards Improved During Epidurals

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural positioning devices are making it much easier, more comfortable, and safer for patients while also improving safety for and medical professionals during epidurals or spinal blocks. Whether it’s a soon-to-be mother in the labor and delivery unit or a patient being prepped for a total knee replacement in the surgery department, an epidural chair can make all of the difference.

What is an Epidural Positioning Device?

Known as an EPD for short, this medical device is intended to help optimally position a patient in the ideal position to administer spinal anesthesia. The epidural chair places patients in a seated, well-supported, forward leaning position to promote easy access to the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical areas of the spine. It provides an adequate level of support for patients of all different sizes and weights. This flexed spine position enables optimal access for the anesthesiologist.

What Makes an EPD Great for Patients Epidurals and Spinal Blocks?

Patients who opt for epidural pain relief can greatly benefit from having their epidural administered while they’re in an epidural chair. Traditionally, patients are supported via a stack of pillows propped up on a bedside table with wheels that don’t lock and are held in place by nurses. While this offers some level of support, patients feel more comfortable being supported by a solid chair structure.

If a patient faints or moves unintentionally, without using the EPD, the nurse has to catch the falling patient. The epidural chair provides the necessary safety and support for the patient and eliminates the manual handling required by nurses. Of course the EPD prevents them from falling to the floor and become injured. This makes using these chairs the best way to offer optimal safety for patients who are undergoing an epidural in the labor and delivery unit or a spinal block in the surgery department.

How are EPDs Beneficial to Medical Staff That Perform Epidurals?

Traditionally, patients who need to undergo epidural pain relief will require multiple nurses to hold them in place during the procedure. Nurses have to bear the weight of the patient and be capable of quickly responding to any unexpected responses, like fainting or jolting movements.

This puts nurses at risk for minor and severe musculoskeletal injuries. An epidural positioning device works to take that strain off of the nursing staff and allows the chair itself to support the majority of the patient’s weight. This means fewer nurses are needed to handle the patient during this particular medical procedure. The fewer nurses involved, the more efficiently the nursing staff can work to provide patient care to all patients on the unit. The EPD provides a new standard of safety in the hospital. With the EPD nurses can work more efficiently in a repeatable process that improves both nursing safety and patient safety.

More Epidural Pain Relief Will Be Requested by Patients

As researchers commonly pour through statistics to learn more about spinal anesthesia techniques and trends that lead to improved patient outcomes, one fact has become increasingly clear. According to a published medical article in Anesthesiology, the number of women who opt for epidurals during delivery has increased significantly by 10% from 2008 to 2018.

It’s commonly thought that the rise in patient education about the birthing process has led many pregnant women to ask for this form of spinal pain relief. As education levels continue to rise, it’s predicted that the percentage of women opting for epidurals during delivery is going to increase even more.

With more epidurals being requested for birthing deliveries and spinal blocks for specialized ortho surgeries, it’s more important than ever before to invest in an EPD. This medical device will go a long way in creating a safer environment for both your patients and nurses alike.Improve patient safety with EPD

Improve Patient and Staff safety with the EPD
CategoriesPatient Handling

Spinal Blocks Epidural Safety Trends

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidurals and spinal blocks are types of anesthesia that reduce or eliminate a person’s pain sensation. Spinal anesthesia is gained popularity over time as it is deemed to be safer for patients than general anesthesia and has a lower mortality rate for expectant mothers. Although these two forms of spinal anesthesia are similar the difference is needle placement. For spinal blocks, the needle is placed into the dural sac that contains cerebrospinal fluid where an epidural is injected into the epidural space. Both can be used to treat severe pain in the lower regions of the body. An Epidural injection is often used relieve pain from labor contractions in pregnant women. Another key difference is the length of time that each shot will offer pain relief. A spinal block is a single shot that typically lasts a couple of hours where an epidural actually leaves a catheter inserted in the back to allow a continuous drip of medication and the pain relief can be extended to handle a longer period of time, like 10-18 hours of labor contractions.

Spinal Blocks and Epidural Trends in Healthcare

Looking at the data of spinal anesthesia trends in surgery centers and hospitals both physicians and patients are choosing spinal blocks due to the safety and rapid recovery time. Many total knee and total hip replacement surgeries are using spinal blocks for this very reason.  Surgeons want their patients up and moving post surgery to improve patient outcomes. In 2021 Penn Medicine published a news release addressing the myth that general anesthesia is more dangerous than a spinal block. They make the point that patient deaths, outcomes, and delirium occurring within 60 days post surgery is about equal in a study that included 1600 hip-fracture patients across north America.  Patients are often given the choice of anesthesia and it would appear that Penn’s press release is well intentioned to reduce patient fears. And they make a very good case to equalize the risk between both techniques. They note that the post surgery delirium experienced by patients receiving a block vs. general anesthesia was about equal, However, undergoing general anesthesia often requires intubation and can lead to other side effects. It’s clear that most surgeons are recommending spinal blocks for their total knees and hips to reduce risks and improve outcomes but patients will likely have a choice.

Epidural Positioning Device

Epidural Positioning Device (EPD), also known as the Epidural Chair, is a key development in Safe Patient Handling solutions that helps position patients safely and securely in the ideal position so that an epidural or spinal block can be administered safely.  The EPD is a simple and easy-to-use and positioning device that has gained popularity worldwide. The Epidural Positioning Device or Epidural Chair is a portable device that provides the caregiver or nurse with the help they need for accurate positioning of patients while avoiding the risk of injury associated with manually positioning the patient and holding them while the needle is inserted.  An epidural Positioning Device (EPD) is commonly used in the pre-op area or surgical suite to administer the spinal block.  It is now the standard of care in Labor and Delivery units where epidurals are performed all day long.

Advantages of Epidural Positioning Device

  • Supports up to 600lbs
  • Reduces risk of injury to nursing and technical staff
  • Used for Epidural’s, Spinal Blocks, and Thoracentesis
  • Improves patient comfort and patient satisfaction scores
  • Improved efficiency and throughput for busy departments
  • Portable and moves from room to room easily
  • Assembles in less than 5 minutes
  • Creates a safe standardized process to improve patient and staff safety
Categoriesearly mobility

Benefits of Early Patient Mobility Revealed

by sphmedicaladmin

Benefits of Early Patient Mobility in the ICU

The human body is designed to move regularly and stay active as much as possible. Failure to ambulate can leave you battling several health complications. That is why we see benefits of early patient mobility and it’s continued encouragement even amongst ICU patients. In this article, we have talked about the benefits of early mobility in patients as well as what ICU nurses and physical therapists need to do to make sure it is done safely without exposing patients to injuries.

Why Early Patient Mobility is Important

A study carried out by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine states why early patient mobility is important. This evidence based study goes further to demonstrate how the program can significantly improve patient outcomes. Dale M. Needham, M.D., Ph.D., the lead researcher of the university, says, in the study, that patients who get out of bed as soon as possible are less likely to suffer from mental illness, physical impairment or muscle weakness compared to patients who stay in bed a bit too long.

The National Institutes of Health also published another study discussing why early mobilization in patients is important. According to the study, patients who spend less time in bed are less likely to suffer from blood clots, UTIs (urinary tract infections), pneumonia, and bedsores, which are also referred to as pressure ulcers.

An evidence based article written on April 14, 2021, shows that patients who get out of bed sooner are also more likely to enjoy lots of emotional benefits than their counterparts who take a little longer to stay in their hospital beds. The article notes that early mobilization can actually stimulate the mental well-being of patients. It also points out that it can massively improve their emotional well-being. And this, in turn, improves the quality of their lives, while, at the same time, reducing overall recovery time as well as decreasing the serious risk of delirium.

Steps Hospitals Are Taking to Promote Early Mobilization in Patients

Although it is easy to say that patients can enjoy all these benefits simply by starting to ambulate as soon as possible, one thing we must note is that ambulation in patients who have been in their hospital beds for quite some time is not so straightforward. Well, this is where a safe patient handling program comes into play. Under this program, nurse leaders, ICU nurses, or physical therapists help mobilize patients and help them get back to their feet, literally. An early patient mobility program is a specialized program that falls under Safe Patient Handling where a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and respiratory therapists collaborate to get patients up and out of bed.

They use assistive mobility devices or rely on trained medical teams to achieve this. This could mean repositioning, lifting, or transferring patients from one bed to another surface like a stretcher, cardiac chair or wheel chair. It might also mean helping patients exercise. Well, patients who exercise have a greater chance of avoiding the health issues discussed early on in this post.

Using SPH Medical RoWalker to Promote Early Mobility in Patients

When it comes to assistive mobility devices, the SPH Medical RoWalker is highly recommended. Yes, there are lots of assistive mobility devices out there. However, the RoWalker is preferred because it carries just about everything a complex patient might need while using it. These include an IV pole, an oxygen tank, and it has a front basket that can carry a portable ventilator or a cardiac monitor.

All of these accessories make the mobility device incredibly convenient to use. Still, on convenience; this ambulation device has innovative features such as soft knee pads that support patients when standing and, when walking, give them much-needed protection. The most innovative feature of the RoWalker are the seat flaps. The seat flaps flip up and rotate outwards so the Rowalker can be brought right up to the bedside to help a patient to stand for the first time. Then the seat flaps can fold down and rotate into position during ambulation so that patient falls are avoided. The seat flaps also eliminate the need for a 2nd nurse or therapist to follow behind with a wheelchair! The several attachment options for oxygen tanks are worth mentioning too. They make RoWalker very easy to use. Moreover, the small footprint allows nurses and physical therapists to effortlessly fit this platform walker in any patient room.

Conclusion

Early patient mobility comes with plenty of benefits that health practitioners can simply not ignore. These include improved muscle mass, improved cardiac function, reduction in the risk of delirium, and improved respiratory function, among others. However, it is not easy to execute. That is why ICU nurses, nurse leaders, and physical therapists are advised to consider the SPH Medical RoWalker.

The SPH Medical EPD improves safety and comfort during Thoracentesis Epidurals and Spinal Blocks
CategoriesPatient Handling

Safe Patient Handling during Thoracentesis

by sphmedicaladmin

What is an EPD and How Does it Help with Safe Patient Handling?

EPD stands for epidural positioning device. This is an epidural chair that helps to safely position and support a patient while getting an epidural or spinal block. This portable device allows for optimal safe patient handling without the physical need of staff members to hold patients for an extended period of time.

Why is an EPD Useful for a Thoracentesis?

When a thoracentesis is performed, the patient must be placed in a similar position as an epidural to allow the needle to successfully penetrate into the pleural space. Expert patient positioning is a must to ensure that this procedure is done safely and correctly every single time.

Unfortunately, using stacked pillows and relying on the physical exertion of staff members to hold a patient in place during this painful procedure isn’t always the best option for your facility. Rather an epidural positioner can be a great addition to any hospital looking to reduce nursing injury statistics and optimize patient care.

Where is Thoracentesis performed?

Thoracentesis is often performed in a hospital setting where a pulmonologist will drain the fluid in the pleural cavity. This can be an inpatient procedure or an outpatient procedure. One hospital that uses the EPD for thora’s, City of Hope in Los Angeles, California has their patients visit the ultrasound department where the ultrasound tech is responsible for preparing the patient. Ultrasound guidance is used to locate the needle insertion point and is considered to improve patient safety.

The Various Safe Patient Handling Benefits of EPDs

When it comes to safe patient handling, EPDs are a great way to help enhance your staff’s ability to keep patients safe and comfortable during a thoracentesis procedure. In fact, these devices provide many great benefits for patients and staff members alike.

Increase Safe Patient Handling with the EPD

The epidural positioner will provide each patient with layers of support that will keep them safe throughout the procedure. While staff members are capable of holding patients in position, these types of static holds put hospital workers at risk and there’s always the possibility the patient or the staff member moving.  For example, a staff member may experience a cramp or some other condition that compromises their ability to continue to hold the patient safely in position. With an epidural positioner, you can eliminate the risk of manual patient handling and ensure patient safety 100% of the time.

Less Risk to Staff Members

Nurses and ultrasound techs won’t have to hold the patient into position or continue to support them throughout the procedure. Additionally, there’s no possibility of the patient falling and staff members having to quickly catch a falling patient or support the full weight of the patient. Any equipment that helps to reduce long periods of static holding or over exertion by your staff members can greatly contribute to healthier staff members, improved job satisfaction, and will reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Requires Fewer Staff Members

Another great benefit of epidural positioning devices is that they provide so much support for the patient that you won’t need to have multiple staff members manually positioning the patient. Rather, you can have one staff member oversee the patient and the ultrasound technician. This helps to reduce labor requirements and allows your staff members to more efficiently handle patient flow throughout the day.

Epidural positioning devices can be a great addition to your medical facility. They can work to enhance patient safety, speed up procedures like Thoras, and reduce the wear and tear on your staff members. Any good medical facility knows that investing in devices that offer safe patient handling and less physical exertion from their staff members is a must. If you don’t currently have any EPDs, it’s high time to consider investing in them.

SPH Medical's EPD Improves Safety
CategoriesPatient Handling

Safety During Spinal Blocks and Epidurals

by sphmedicaladmin

The use of the EPD for patient positioning during spinal blocks and other procedures

An epidural or spinal block offers patients an option to remain awake and alert while receiving pain relief. They can even help patients to get back on their feet faster after surgeries and other procedures. Some doctors use epidurals to help patients acquire relief from chronic pain as well. An experienced medical professional blocks nerves by introducing an anesthetic, steroid or other medication via straight injection or a small catheter into the lower back. Epidural pain relief is often used during back, hip and knee surgery and the delivery of a baby. Yet, epidurals can pose risks to both patients and medical personnel. Read on to learn more about these risks and how staff at hospitals and surgical facilities are introducing safety during spinal blocks with an epidural positioning device (EPD).

How Common Is Epidural Pain Relief?

According to a Stanford study published in 2018, 71% of 17 million women received some form of spine-based pain relief during childbirth between 2009 and 2014. The researchers pulled the data from birth certificate records.

In a more recent 2021 study, also by Stanford, researchers learned that approximately 2.8 million pregnant women receive epidurals every year during delivery. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, approximately 50% of women who give birth at a hospital in a labor and delivery unit request epidural pain relief.

What Sort of Patient Injuries Can Take Place?

Accidental nerve damage is one of the most common injuries. Patients who experience nerve damage after an epidural often lose feeling, movement and strength in spots or extremities. Patients can also experience allergic reactions to medication, blood clots and infections.

Additionally, Stanford researchers found during the 2021 study that approximately 28,000 women across the nation experience an accidental puncture of the spinal dura mater membrane yearly. They tracked a small sample of women from the point of delivery up to 12 months and found that 74% of the new mothers experienced excruciating, debilitating headaches, known as post dural puncture headaches (PDPH), two months after delivery. By comparison, only 38% of mothers who didn’t experience an unintentional puncture had headaches. By six months, 52% of the first group still had headaches.

Of course, this type of injury and resulting headaches can happen to any patient who receives an epidural, including those who receive treatment through a surgery department. Other symptoms associated with PDPH include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, vision disturbances, lower pack or neck pain and physical stiffness.

What Risks Do Medical Personnel Face?

Anesthesiologists, nurses, operating room technicians and others must physically move patients into and out of position for an epidural. This type of movement often requires that they support a patient’s full weight with their bodies. They risk muscle and tissue strains and tears and back injury from attempting to lift too much weight or catching a falling patient. If a patient loses balance, they risk falling with the patient and injuries associated with falls. They must also maintain patients in a particular seated position during the procedure, which can put strain on their arms and back.

How Does an Epidural Positioning Device Provide Safety During Spinal Blocks?

An epidural positioning device, such as an epidural chair, makes it easier for staff in a surgery department or labor and delivery unit to perform safety during spinal blocks. Although called an epidural chair, the EPD is actually a portable tool that the nurse or technician places in front of the bed or table where the patient sits during the procedure.

They can position the patient with optimal cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal flexion. This means that the patient leans forward with a flexed spine while seated, which is the best position for a professional to perform the needle insertion to reduce the chance of an error. Instead of the nurse or technician holding the patient in the right position, the patient maintains the correct position by leaning against supports.

Sources:

Epidurals increase in popularity, Stanford study finds

Stanford Medicine; Epidurals increase in popularity; Tracie White; June 26, 2018

Post-epidural headaches can be more serious than previously known

Stanford Medicine; Post-epidural headaches can be more serious than previously known; Tracie White; August 2, 2021

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21896-epidural
Epidural: What It Is, Procedure, Risks & Side Effects; Cleveland Clinic medical professional; 10/14/2021

SPH Medical supports Environmental Disinfection to reduce HAIs
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Environmental Disinfection to Prevent HAIs

by sphmedicaladmin

Environmental Disinfection to Prevent HAIs

Each year, about 1.7 million Americans get an infection while hospitalized, and about 99,000 die. This makes hospital acquired infections (HAIs) the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. The cost to hospitals for treating or to prevent HAIs is estimated to be as high as $28 billion per year.

The most common HAIs are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections. However, any infection in a hospital setting can be considered an HAI. They can be caused by various microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Many different microbes can cause HAIs in hospitals. The most common include MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (Clostridium deficile), CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and norovirus. Each of these pathogens poses a severe risk to patients, and some are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Understanding Environmental Disinfection

Environmental disinfection is destroying harmful microorganisms on surfaces to prevent the spread of infection. Disease causing microorganisms can be spread from one patient to another on environmental surfaces such as bed rails, door knobs, and countertops.
Various methods can be used for disinfection, including washing with soap and water, exposure to ultraviolet light, and using chemicals. Advanced disinfectants are a new generation of chemicals that are EPA approved and designed to be more effective against a wider range of microbes.

One type of disinfectant is hydrogen peroxide vapor, which is effective against various bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Another type of advanced disinfectant is ozone, which can penetrate surfaces more effectively than other chemicals and is also effective against a wide range of pathogens. In addition, advanced disinfectants are often less toxic than conventional chemicals, making them safer for use in healthcare settings.

One of the most difficult to kill bacteria is C. diff spores, which can live on surfaces for months. Oxydiff is a new advanced disinfectant that kills C. diff spores in 2 minutes, is EPA approved, and can be sprayed with a simple spray bottle, sprayed with an electrostatic sprayer, or used in a fogger. It is essential to use a product like Oxydiff that is effective against these tough bacteria and viruses to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Environmental disinfection is critical to Prevent HAIs for several reasons

First, hospital surfaces are a common source of infection. The disease causing organisms can spread from one patient to another via contaminated surfaces, leading to severe and deadly infections. Second, many pathogens resist traditional disinfectants, making environmental disinfection a challenge. Multi-drug resistant organisms, or MDROs, are becoming increasingly common and pose a severe threat to patients.

Challenges Faced During Environmental Disinfection

One of the biggest challenges is finding effective disinfectants that can kill resistant disease causing organisms.
Another challenge is ensuring that all surfaces are properly disinfected. For environmental disinfection to be effective, all surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. This can be difficult in a busy hospital where staff is often short-staffed.
Hospitals also face the challenge of educating staff and patients about the importance of environmental disinfection in preventing infection.

Staff must be aware of the dangers posed by MDROs and how they can help prevent the spread of infection. Patients must also be educated about good hygiene practices and how they can help reduce the risk of infection.

CDC Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published guidelines for hospital disinfection. These guidelines provide direction on how to properly disinfect surfaces to help prevent the spread of infection. Some of the key points from the CDC guidelines include:

  • Surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water before they are disinfected.
  • Disinfectants should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Surfaces should be allowed to air dry or dried with a clean, lint-free cloth.
  • Hospital staff should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
  • Patients should be encouraged to practice good hygiene, including handwashing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Hospital rooms should be ventilated to help prevent the spread of infection.

The CDC guidelines are based on the best available evidence and provide a framework for hospital disinfection. However, each hospital is unique and some adaptations may be necessary to ensure that the CDC guidelines are met.

There are many different ways to disinfect surfaces, and it is essential to use a method that is effective against the type of bacteria or virus present. By taking steps to ensure a clean and disinfected environment, we can help prevent HAIs.

CategoriesInfection Prevention

Fighting Hospital Acquired Infections

by sphmedicaladmin

Fighting Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospitals can sometimes be a breeding ground for infections, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which revealed that every year close to 2 million Americans develop hospital acquired infections that further compromises their health. These infections, the study notes, are born of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, and they can give way to surgical site infections (SSIs), bloodstream infections (BSIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and pneumonia. They can also increase a patient’s chances of developing C. diff, a specific type of bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, fever, stomach pain, and other gastrointestinal problems. All hospital-acquired infections can jeopardize the health of patients and medical staff alike, but C. diff is one of the worst ones, according to hospital infection reports.

The Truth About C. Diff and How It Impacts Patients and Hospitals

Also known as clostridium deficile, C. diff is responsible for over 200,000 of the roughly 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections reported annually in the U.S., with the average annual cost of treatment coming in at around $6.3 billion. Most of the hospitals that have a problem with C. diff are those that use ineffective sanitizing and disinfectant products as a way to keep viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens that cause infection at bay. Most patients become infected with C. diff after touching a surface contaminated with feces and touching their mouth before washing their hands. So that everyone is on the same page, C. diff bacteria and its associated spores are commonly found in feces.

What Hospitals Are Doing to Comply With CDC Guidelines for Minimizing Hospital-Acquired Infections

There is no denying the intent; all hospitals employ sanitizing and disinfecting processes that help minimize a patient’s chances of developing an infection. But some use better products than others; one of those products is Oxydiff, an EPA approved disinfectant that quickly kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other infections caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Current data shows a large percentage of U.S. hospitals have made the powerful disinfectant their go-to for disinfecting hard surfaces, especially the ones likely to be contaminated with C.diff.2 min kill of pathogens using Oxydiff

The Consequences of Not Using the Right Disinfectant to Prevent the Spread of Hospital-Acquired Infections

Quite a few consequences cans stem from not taking the necessary steps to minimize the risk of hospital-acquired infection, some of which include the following:

    • Prolonged hospital stays – Patients who develop hospital-acquired infections often have to remain in a hospital much longer than anticipated, which leads to higher treatment costs. According to the CDC, the cost of treating hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is more than $28 billion annually. It is also worth noting that the development of an HAI can make it harder to treat the condition that caused patients to visit the hospital in the first place.
    • Lost wages – Hospital-acquired infections are known to lengthen recovery times for patients after they have left the hospital and have returned home. And this precludes them from returning to work as quickly as they would like, which leads to a loss of wages.
    • Death – While rare, hospital-acquired infections can prove fatal for some patients. In a study published by the Alliance for Aging Research, researchers revealed an estimated 99,000 people die from these types of infections every year in the U.S.

Bottom Line

Despite being one of the most sanitary places anyone could find themselves in, infections do happen in hospitals. And they can sometimes have devastating consequences. But it is possible to minimize the spread of these infections by using a professional-grade, EPA approved disinfectant. Made up of a 5% peracetic acid disinfectant cleaner that cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes in a single step, Oxydiff is one of the best. According to the product’s manufacturer, it is a disinfectant that can destroy bacteria responsible for several infections, including those mentioned in this article, in as little as 2 minutes. With that being the case, it is easy to see why more and more hospitals are turning to this powerful disinfectant to help keep patients and medical teams safe.

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