Lateral Transfers Pose Increased Risks
How Lateral Transfers Pose Increased Risks To Medical Professionals And Patients Lateral transfers occur in many inpatient hospital units throughout the day. Whether patients are headed into surgery or to the imaging center, numerous departments oversee lateral transfers. In layman’s terms, a lateral transfer consists of transferring a patient from one surface to another. Unfortunately, the unpredictability of this procedure leaves a lot of room for error. As a result, both...
Safety Platform Walkers
A Practical Solution for Early Mobility in the Acute Care Setting By Amber Perez MHA, CSPHP The benefits of early and progressive mobility programs are well-established in the acute care setting. Greater than a decade of published research validates the positive patient outcomes associated with implementing an early mobility (ICU-Based) and progressive mobility (acute care inpatient) program as an essential part of the patients plan of care. Marra and Ely of Vanderbilt...
Boosting N95 Mask Supply
Manage the Pandemic's Future by Boosting N95 Mask Supply In 2021, the future of the pandemic seems to hinge on the efficacy and availability of the vaccine. While vaccine efforts do look promising, it is important to remember that some of the most powerful tools to combat COVID-19 are the same as they have been since the start. Using quality masks remains a critical component of conquering the pandemic once and...
Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals
The Dangers Of Lateral Transfers Simply put, a lateral transfer involves moving patients from surface to surface, including a bed or hospital cart. These transfers pose increased risks to both patients and caregivers. Lateral transfers are performed throughout the day in various departments, ranging from ICU to imaging. Due to the high frequency of lateral transfers and patient positioning the probability of a patient or nurse sustaining an injury increases exponentially...
The N95 Mask: Then Vs. Now
The Demand for Surgical Masks is Growing COVID-19 has left a trail of wreckage, upset, and gloom in its wake. As this fatal virus continues to ravage the world, the demand for surgical masks is growing, resulting in shortages around the country. The N95 mask in particular, are a popular choice among both frontline workers and the general public. Touted as the optimal personal protective equipment, these FDA-approved surgical respirators are...
Lateral Transfers: Know The Risks
The Risks of Repositioning a Patient Caregivers and medical professionals perform countless lateral transfers per day. This procedure is best described as repositioning a patient from one surface to another. With the uncertainty of lateral transfers, both nurses and patients become vulnerable to handling injuries. Whether a patient’s in the ICU or being taken to surgery, several departments are responsible for conducting lateral transfers. With that said, the potential for a...
Epidural Safety for Patients and Staff
What is Epidural Safety? Epidural Analgesia's are used to reduce or completely eliminate pain. It is when the doctor inserts opioids or local anesthesia in their patient's epidural space, which blocks the nerve roots. Staff and patients can be protected from injury when exercising epidural safety during this procedure. Local anesthesia can include opioids such as morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl or drugs of a different class such as mepivacaine, lidocaine, bupivacaine, and...
NIOSH N95 Mask The Gold Standard for Protection
It has been a year since COVID-19 first changed the world. Today, masks are a common sight around the world. However, while most people have accepted a mask as a part of daily life, supply is still a pressing issue for the worldwide market. The future for masks is still up for discussion. The future starts by building up the supply. The global supply of N95 masks is still not...
Epidurals and Spinal Blocks
Most Common Use of Epidurals There are many times when a patient wants to be or needs to be awake during surgery. The classic case is the Caesarean section when a mother cannot have her child vaginally. She wants to see and hold her baby the moment it's born. This procedure is possible with the use of an epidural block. By injecting numbing medication into the epidural space just above the...
NIOSH N95 Masks for Public Use
The Growing Prevalence Of NIOSH N95 Masks Before the coronavirus reared its fatal, viral, and contagious head, masks were predominantly worn by medical professionals. However, the world has been gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly a year, resulting in an increased demand for personal protective equipment. NIOSH N95 masks, in particular, are sought-after for their filtration efficiency, high surgical rating, and FDA approval. As these public demands remain on an...