RoWalker in action

SPH Medical’s RoWalker is the Gold Standard for Early Patient Mobility

The SPH Medical RoWalker is now the gold standard of early patient mobility devices and is being used in ICU’s, Med Surg, Ortho, Rehab, and many other departments in leading hospitals across the country.  With integrated features for an oxygen tank, drainage bags, a telescoping IV pole, and even a customized basket to support cardiac monitors, the RoWalker carries all of the equipment needed to support a complex patient and enables safe ambulation with fewer staff members.  One of the key features are the seat flaps which allow staff to prevent falls, provide the opportunity to rest, and encourage patients to take additional steps.

Reduced Risk to Nursing and Therapy Staff with RoWalker

You no longer need to drag a wheelchair behind your patient to “catch a falling patient”! The RoWalker is a safety device that enables you to safely walk your patients with fewer staff.

RoWalker 400 Features

Early Mobilization with Rowalker 400 and The Need for Early Patient Mobility

After a patient has been hospitalized for a trauma or during a lengthy post surgical recovery period in the Intensive Care Unit or Critical Care Unit many experience deconditioning, their recovery process begins. Deconditioning can be seen in patients who remain bed-bound. Muscle tissue and motor skills waste away as muscle atrophy or ICU-acquired weakness occurs. With this being said, the need for early mobilization while a patient recovers in the ICU is a key factor in the restorative conditioning process.

During this highly critical period, it can be challenging for staff to mobilize patients. However, there is significant evidence showing that getting patients out of bed significantly improves patient outcomes. A few benefits of early patient mobility while in departments such as the ICU include the patient having increased blood flow, increase in muscle tissue and strength, and reduced length of hospital stay.

The Continued Need for Specialized Mobility

From the patient’s point of view, remaining immobile may seem to be less painful and more beneficial than engaging in diverse forms of movement such as ambulation. However, there is an increased risk of blood clot formation following certain medical procedures. When a patient engages in activities such as ambulation, blood is more likely to circulate throughout the body, rather than coagulate. For this reason, ambulation after such procedures is highly encouraged by most health care professionals.

Prioritizing Patient Safety

Many techniques have been implemented in the attempt to further encourage properly timed sessions of patient ambulation. Leading health systems are implementing evidence based Mobility Protocols, and they are now including the SPH Medical RoWalker as a key component. Nursing staff are getting patients up twice a day and each hospital unit is being tracked and measured with mobility scores. The Mobility Protocol documents how Nurses and Therapists are assisting patients from simple in bed activities to build strength, activities at bedside including standing training when a patient can bear weight, walking up to 50 feet and walking 50 feet and beyond. The SPH Medical RoWalker maps to each of these out of bed activities.

SPH Medical RoWalker 400 moving seat

Download the Facilitator Guide to implementing a Nurse-Driven Early Mobility Protocol published by AHRQ.

Introducing The Possibilities of The Specialized RoWalker 400

Thankfully, the ability to encourage patients to become mobile during recovery is becoming a goal that is more easily attainable. The Rowalker 400 is a specially designed acute care thoracic walker that can be utilized by patients in activities such as, but not limited to, assisted ambulation, support while standing and appropriate comfort while seated. This walker may give patients who have recently undergone a surgical procedure with the ability to regain not only their functional mobility but also their sense of confidence. The specialized RoWalker was designed for the patient to utilize comfortably, even after undergoing a surgical procedure.
Use RoWalker as a mobile standing frame. The SPH Medical RoWalker can be used as a mobile standing frame at bedside or anywhere in the facility! This is a great tool for Physical Therapy who are working with patients hospital wide.

Improve patient safety during walking. Patients who are getting out of bed for the first time feel confident and secure using the RoWalker. Low functioning patients can be assisted using our ambulation belt and or a standard gait belt to move from sitting to standing. We train staff to use the RoWalker at bedside or enabling a patient to take a few steps into the RoWalker. Once the height is adjusted and the seat flaps are down, a patient can take fist steps and regain strength and confidence. The hand grips and padded table provide the needed support for the upper body.

The Seat Pads Make the Difference

Seat pads offer a comfortable resting location
 and fall prevention The SPH Medical RoWalker offers a unique and very practical feature; the built in split seat pads which provide for comfortable resting as well as for extra security for users with weak legs. To facilitate the transfer into and out from the walker, the seat pads can be swung away and folded up to the sides of the walker.

Adjustable settings for individual adaptation
 Several adjustable settings ensure the perfect fit for every user. The height of the soft and comfortable armrests is conveniently adjusted using the lever easily accessible next to one of the handlebars. The angle of the armrests and the handlebars is individually adjustable to enable optimal comfort and ergonomics. Locking handles secure the appropriate height and angle of the armrests. The base-width can be adjusted using the foot pedal on the caregiver’s side of the walker.
The RoWalker fits anywhere! 
 With a small footprint the RoWalker can fit in any patient room.  We have brakes on the front side and directional locking castors on the back wheels to allow the RoWalker to track in a straight line when walking down the hall. We recommend locking the front wheels when entering or exiting the RoWalker or during sit-to-stand and when the patient is resting or seated.

Useful Components of The Highly Specialized RoWalker 400

The walker wisely includes features such as, but not limited to:

  • A comfortably padded seat to be used by the patient during periods of muscle training, stretching, and rest.
  • A comfortably padded arm area for activities that require arm placement and support
  • A designated area designed for the ability to customize and adjust the height of the device
  • A conveniently located pair of handles for suitably allow for secure grasping
  • A conveniently located and adjustable foot pedal
  • Brakes for safely standing or pausing ambulation

The Technical Information Regarding This RoWalker Includes:

  • Seat width of 480mm or 18.9 inches
  • Seat depth of 265mm or 10.43 inches
  • Castor of 80mm or 3.15 inches
  • Weight of 37.5kg or 82.67 pounds
  • Weight of Oxygen Tank Holder 43.5kg or 95.9 pounds
  • Maximum weight capacity of 180kg or 400 pounds

As one can see, the walker includes specifically designed parts that can be used for numerous functions. For instance, the walker contains elements such as a padding seat and padded handles. These elements can be utilized by the patient in progressive activities such as rising from a seated position then into a standing position. In addition, these features can further assist the patient with balance while the patient is in the desired stationary position.

Added Features

The RoWalker also takes into account the additional items that the patient may have required both before and after the distinctive medical procedure. For instance, the Rowalker 400 was designed with the ability to successfully integrate vital items such as oxygen tank holder, drain bags along with IV poles. The evidence of such applied thought is a key indicator of the agreed-upon desire for increased patient comfort. Both the patient’s safety and comfort are maintained while the walker is in use.

Common Hospital Departments Suitable for The RoWalker 400

Just as the walker has multiple intricately designed parts that can be utilized for a numerous amount of functions, the device also can be utilized in numerous hospital departments. With proper instruction, this device can be operated by patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as patients may need to carefully ambulate.

The RoWalker can also be used in the Labor and Delivery department as many mothers often need ambulatory assistance as they regain their leg strength after child delivery. In addition, this walker can be utilized in the post-anesthesia care departments for patients who are unable to ambulate but desire to retrain their leg muscles. In addition to the previously labeled departments, this walker can be used throughout the hospital in other departments as deemed appropriate.

Download the RoWalker Brochure below:

RoWalker Brochure

For more information on the RoWalker 400 or how to order a RoWalker for your Hospital or Medical Facility, contact SPH Medical. You can also email direct to info@sphmedical.com or Call 844-377-4633 to learn more about the RoWalker and how it can help mobilize your patients!

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