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The Evolution of Air Powered Lateral Transfer and Positioning Systems

by sphmedicaladmin

In the dynamic realm of healthcare, technology often takes the limelight. A prime example of this is the Air Powered Lateral Transfer and Positioning System, a groundbreaking tool that has revolutionized patient handling in hospitals. This article delves into the history of these systems, charting their evolution over the last 25 years with an emphasis on the transformative products of SPH Medical.

The Early Innovations of Air Powered Lateral Transfer

The initial manufacturers of air powered lateral transfer systems ventured into this unexplored territory with innovative thinking and determination. Their pioneering products filled a significant void in patient safety and hospital efficiency, creating a new standard for patient care.

The Evolution of Positioning Systems

Over the past quarter-century, these systems have seen significant advancements. The initial manufacturers continually refined their products to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. As a result, these systems have played a crucial role in reducing patient handling injuries, with a remarkable 30% decrease in related incidents, underscoring their indispensable contribution to the healthcare industry.

The Benefits of Air Powered Transfer and Positioning Systems: A Preferred Choice

Air Powered Transfer and Positioning systems have become the favored choice over mobile lift equipment in many healthcare settings, and for good reason. These systems significantly reduce the risk of injury to nurses by alleviating the physical strain associated with patient handling tasks. Each shift, nurses face a multitude of patient care tasks, including repositioning patients up in bed, transferring them from bed to gurney, and aiding transfers on and off CT or OR tables.

These tasks, when performed manually, not only pose a risk of injury to healthcare professionals but can also compromise patient comfort and safety. The introduction of air powered transfer and positioning systems has revolutionized these everyday tasks. They provide a safer, more efficient method of patient handling, reducing the physical burden on nursing staff while ensuring optimal patient comfort and safety. This is why these systems are not just a choice, but a necessity in today’s healthcare environment. They represent the epitome of innovation in patient care, combining efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in one powerful package.

The Rise of Single-Patient-Use Air Transfer Mats: A Game Changer in Healthcare

In the realm of air powered transfer and positioning systems, a significant evolution has been the advent of single-patient-use Air Transfer Mats. This innovation has had a profound impact on hospitals, contributing to an unprecedented reduction in nursing injuries, and consequently saving millions in medical expenses and lost workdays.

Single-patient-use mats address one of the most critical challenges in healthcare: infection prevention. By ensuring each patient has a dedicated mat, the risk of cross-contamination is drastically reduced. This singular feature has made them an indispensable tool in maintaining stringent hygiene standards, further enhancing their value in the healthcare setting.

These mats have not only proven to be cost-effective but also remarkably efficient in reducing the physical strain on nurses, substantially lowering the incidence of injuries. Statistics show a significant drop in nursing injuries related to patient handling tasks since the introduction of these mats – a testament to their effectiveness.

In essence, single-patient-use Air Transfer Mats have emerged as a vital solution in today’s healthcare industry. They encapsulate efficiency, safety, and infection control – all in one innovative product. The benefits are clear: they enhance patient safety, protect nursing staff, and save hospitals millions. So, it’s time to embrace this evolution in patient handling technology. Because when it comes to the well-being of your patients and staff, every measure counts.

The Revolutionary Impact of SPH Medical

SPH Medical, although a newer player in the field, has made a ground-breaking impact. The company has redefined the concept of the air powered transfer mat, delivering a product that is not only more cost-effective but also highly efficient. By reducing costs by 10-20% compared to other solutions in the market, SPH Medical is proving to be a trailblazer in the industry.

Transitioning to SPH Medical: Compatibility and Ease

One of the standout features of the SPH Medical Air Transfer Mat is its extensive compatibility. The mat integrates smoothly with most other air supplies/motors already in use in hospitals, enabling a swift and seamless transition to SPH Medical’s system. Hospitals adopting this solution report immediate benefits in terms of cost savings and patient safety.

The journey of Air Powered Lateral Transfer and Positioning Systems over the past 25 years is a testament to the power of innovation. The initial manufacturers laid the groundwork, but it is the transformative products of SPH Medical that are currently leading the pack. Their affordable solution, combined with compatibility with existing hospital equipment, makes them an appealing choice for healthcare institutions. For those aiming to enhance patient safety while also improving efficiency, SPH Medical offers a proven solution.

Step into the future of patient handling with SPH Medical. Your patients deserve nothing less.

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

Solving Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals

by sphmedicaladmin

Solving Lateral Transfer and Positioning Risk in Hospitals

A Lateral transfer and patient repositioning are typical tasks of nursing staff around the globe. In fact, it’s estimated by the American Nursing Association that the average nurse moves around 1.8 tons during a full eight-hour shift. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this immense amount of movement has resulted in medical professionals being at a 31.1 percent increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

The Federal Government has noted the increased workplace harm that those in the medical industry undergo due to lateral transfer and repositioning injury. In 2015, the national government passed new legislation regarding patient handling in the form of the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act. This Act is geared towards shifting healthcare facilities into creating a safer workplace environment for caregivers.

The Biggest Problems With Lateral Transfers

A traditional lateral transfer is performed hundreds of times a day throughout all hospital departments, including ICU, imaging, emergency, surgery, and other medical units. Total care patients are unable to move their body weight from one surface to another. This situation results in the nursing staff physically moving the patient.

This move is performed in one of two ways. With the first method, the nursing staff grabs ahold of a sheet that is positioned underneath the patient. All staff members lift up on the draw sheet and physically lift the patient to another surface. In cases where fewer staff members are present, nurses use a plastic board and pull the draw sheet underneath the patient onto the other surface.

Both of these methods require a great deal of movement and strength from the nursing staff. This typically results in nursing injury in the form of back pain. With so many medical staffers undergoing musculoskeletal injuries, it has become clear that manual patient handling tasks need to be replaced with more efficient methods.

The Introduction of Air Powered Transfer Equipment

In recent years, companies like hovermatt and others have introduced air powered transfer technology. These transfer systems use a thin cushion of air under a mattress that is inflated. This system works to reduce friction and provides a floating action during patient lateral transfer.

These air powered transfer systems can be easily used for both lateral patient transfers and patient repositioning, also known as boosting a patient. The inflatable mattress transfer systems are intended to be left underneath the patient during their hospital stay.

A Look At The Many Benefits Of Air Powered Systems

It’s a wide concern of any medical facility to properly protect the long-term health of their staff. Lateral transfers and patient repositioning are well-known issues that create chronic health problems for medical staff members. Air powered systems have provided a quality solution that allows less manual labor on the part of a hospital’s medical staff. This works to reduce the overall risk of chronic injuries to caregivers.

When it comes to patients, air powered systems are providing a more comfortable and safer experience. Instead of being forcefully heaved from one surface to another under the manual power of medical staff, patients can be easily floated from one surface to the next. This makes the transferring and repositioning experience much smoother for patients.

In addition, air powered systems don’t require the patient to be lifted off of any surface. Rather, the inflatable mattress can be smoothly pulled from one surface to the next.  This makes the lateral transfer experience much safer for the patient as there is less risk of bumps, bruises, or manual handling during transfers.

Air powered systems are tremendously changing the way that medical staffers perform repositioning and lateral transfers throughout their day. These systems drastically reduce the amount of strain that is placed on the nursing staff. From a patients perspective, they provide a safer and more comfortable experience for patients.

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