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Disposable Slings and Repositioning Sheets and Air Transfer Mattress

The Rising Trend of Single Patient Use Slings, Repositioning Sheets, and Air Transfer Mats in Hospitals

by sphmedicaladmin October 9, 2023October 12, 2023

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, hospitals are increasingly adopting single patient use slings, repositioning sheets, and air transfer mats. This burgeoning trend is driven by the pressing need to reduce risks of injury to nursing staff and bolster patient care.

The Importance of the Trend

The growing shift towards disposable patient handling aids is a critical development in modern healthcare. These aids not only enhance patient comfort but also significantly reduce staff injuries, an often overlooked aspect of hospital care. Moreover, they play a vital role in supporting robust infection control protocols, a key consideration in the post-COVID-19 world.

How This Trend Supports Infection Control Protocols

Single-use products are a game-changer in mitigating cross-contamination within hospitals. As highlighted in “Patient Handling and Movement Assessments: A White Paper,” these products reduce tissue viability risk and cross-contamination, thereby supporting stringent infection control protocols.

Why Hospital Safety and Infection Prevention Staff Prefer Single Patient Use Products

Hospital safety and infection prevention staff prefer single patient use products for several reasons. First, these products are easy to order from monthly supply budgets, bypassing cumbersome capital budgeting processes. Second, their ease of stocking makes them readily accessible on the hospital floor. Lastly, many hospitals do not trust their laundry systems to return crucial slings/sheets or transfer mats promptly. Nor do nurses have the time to disinfect every sling/sheet or mat, further underscoring the appeal of single-use products.

Evidence Supporting the Use of Single Patient Use Slings/Sheets and Air Transfer Mats

Evidence underscores the benefits of single-use patient handling aids. The study “Effect of Repositioning Aids and Patient Weight on Biomechanical Stress in Caregivers during Bed Bathing Patients” highlights the injury risk when repositioning patients with commonly used aids. Furthermore, “Patient Handling Equipment Market Trends, Drivers, and Challenges” reports a market trend towards single-patient use air assisted mattresses.

Cost Savings from Injury Prevention, Infection Prevention, and Other Factors

Hospitals realize significant cost savings when using Single Patient Use Slings/sheets/Air transfer mats. These savings stem from injury prevention, infection prevention, and other factors, highlighting the financial viability of these products.

The Importance of Universal Sling Compatibility from Sling Manufacturers

Universal sling compatibility is another critical aspect of patient care. Cross-compatibility between different manufacturers enhances flexibility and choice for end users. However, some manufacturers’ reluctance to authorize cross-compatibility limits customer choice45. SPH Medical is leading the charge in this space, offering patient lifts that are compatible with slings from various manufacturers. Their extensive portfolio of universally compatible slings, sheets, and air transfer mats underscores their commitment to patient care and choice.

SPH Medical: Leading the Industry with Innovative Single Patient Use Products

In the face of limited cross-compatibility authorized by some manufacturers, SPH Medical continues to stand out as a leader in patient care innovation. The company has developed three specific categories of products that are leading the industry, each designed to enhance patient safety and comfort, while also promoting ease of use for healthcare professionals.

1. The Breathable Repositioning Sheet: This revolutionary product is designed for repositioning patients in bed and turning patients with utmost ease. The single patient use repositioning sheet boasts an impressive 1000 lb capacity, demonstrating its robustness and reliability. Remarkably, it connects to any hook and loop patient lift, including both mobile lifts and overhead lifts. This universal compatibility ensures seamless integration into existing patient lift systems, thereby providing unparalleled convenience for healthcare providers.
2. The Highback Sling: Available in several styles and sizes, the single patient use Highback Sling is another testament to SPH Medical’s commitment to meeting diverse patient care needs. The variety of styles and sizes ensures that every patient can benefit from a sling that is tailored to their specific requirements, enhancing comfort and safety during patient handling procedures.
3. The Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mats: SPH Medical offers these mats in multiple sizes, catering to the diverse needs of hospitals. Notably, these mats are compatible with the most common motors currently being used in hospitals. This cross-compatibility underscores SPH Medical’s dedication to facilitating easy and efficient patient transfers.

SPH Medical’s innovative product range is not just about offering universally compatible aids; it’s about revolutionizing patient care. Each product is meticulously designed with the end user in mind, ensuring that patients receive the best care possible, and healthcare providers can perform their duties efficiently and safely. With such industry-leading products, SPH Medical is indeed setting new standards in patient care and choice.

Conclusion

The trend towards single patient use slings, repositioning sheets, and air transfer mats is a significant evolution in hospital safety, infection control, and cost savings. As we move forward, it’s clear that this trend will continue to shape the future of healthcare, promising safer, more efficient, and cost-effective patient care.

Contact SPH Medical today to move towards a safer and more cost effective single patient use breathable repositioning sheet, sling or Air Transfer Mat.

Repositioning Sheet reduces risk of injury

air transfer systems

Patient Repositioning Causes Nursing Injury

by sphmedicaladmin July 11, 2022July 20, 2022

Nurses face a high risk of sustaining a patient repositioning injury when working in any department hospital setting, even when practicing even the most common patient handling tasks. The two most common tasks where injuries take place are when boosting a patient up in bed or undertaking a lateral transfer. Many of the in bed patient care tasks that nurses perform require lifting, pushing, pulling, and holding that can cause injury. This article will discuss the two most effective evidence based solutions to address repositioning in bed and lateral transfers.

The Risk of Performing a Lateral Transfer

Lateral transfers are predictable and the cause of many injuries to nursing staff, including back injuries, sprains, strains, or tears. These repetitive tasks put nurses at a higher risk for injury and using the old-fashioned draw sheet or plastic slider board don’t do much to make the situation safer. When using the older low tech solutions like a draw sheet or slider board, friction still exists and nurses have to use excessive force to push, pull, and transfer patients.

Boosting up in Bed is a Nursing Nightmare

Boosting a patient happens countless times a day in every nursing unit in the country. But, this traditionally manual bed-sheet task causes many injuries due to the high rate of repetition, increase in morbid obesity, awkward body posture, friction and other safety factors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, patient handling injuries among nurses cost almost 1 billion dollars annually, with over 200,000 reported injuries every year. Of course, this isn’t news to nurses. As many as 20% of nursing employees leave direct care positions because of the associated risks.

Reduce Your Risk of Injury

With the use of medical technology, like the breathable repositioning sheet and SPH Medical’s air transfer system, nurses can reduce the amount of staff needed for patient-handling tasks from as many as eight to one or two individuals.

The breathable repositioning sheet is a major step forward in safety for patients and nurses alike. Designed out of a breathable material the sheet can stay under patients for extended periods of time allowing nursing staff to boost, turn, and transfer patients using an overhead or mobile lift system. Unlike other repositioning sheets out on the market the SPH Medical breathable repositioning sheet does not have straps going across the underside of the sheet. This innovative design means less pressure on patients’ skin during their length of stay. Nurses across the country rely on the SPH Medical breathable repositioning sheet for all day Safe Patient Handling and care.

The SPH Medical Air Transfer System is a single patient use Air Transfer Mattress that is compatible with most manufacturer’s air supplies or blowers. The air supply inflates the mattress and a thin cushion of air underneath an inflatable mattress, which helps to reduce friction. It is recommended by AORN for virtually all adult patients, even post-surgery.

Air-assisted transfer systems and breathable repositioning sheets are the gold standard in hospitals now because they directly addresses the patient repositioning tasks that cause hundreds of thousands of nurses to hurt themselves every year. A clinical evaluation from the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses journal found that nurses rated air-assisted systems higher than other methods.

Accessible and Easy to Manage

Single patient use transfer mats keep the unit, the nurse, and the patients more comfortable and safer. Because they are disposed of after patient use, it is easy to track the inventory and there is no need to worry about the laundry system or other procedures that might keep transfer units from being available. The kits can also be kept on-unit so they can easily be used throughout the day.

It’s Better for the Patient, Too

Since the mattress is a single patient use item, the mattress is disposed of which reduces the risk of cross-contamination between patients and the risk of possible infections. It’s safer because they are being transferred or boosting up in bed more gently and staff are using less physical effort.

SPH Medical wants to make nurses’ lives easier by focusing on reducing the risk of nursing injury. A nurse should be able to go home and enjoy her personal time without pain or injury-related medical issues.

Patient Handling

A Nurses Story About Safe Patient Handling

by sphmedicaladmin March 25, 2022March 31, 2022

You went into nursing because you wanted to help people feel better and become healthy. You knew you’d need to take care of yourself to keep up with all the running around, standing, bending, stretching, lifting, and general patient care. You also knew that providing face-to-face, hands-on, eye-to-eye care was a calling of the soul, not just a career. No robotic technology can ever replace the human touch and ability to provide hands on patient care, this includes safe patient handling practices. Personal interaction gives reassurance, hope, warmth, and a feeling of safety. Numerous studies celebrate the benefits of feel-good endorphins relieving pain and promoting healing.

Early in their professional training, nurses and aides learn about the hazards of immobility: the physical and emotional dangers of staying in the same position for long periods of time. Movement during and after recovery is life-saving for patients. Another part of training is the necessity for aides and nurses to use good body mechanics to protect their own bodies. Bad backs end careers. Poor lifting techniques result in back injuries, but so does the accumulation of micro-injuries repeated over time. Instructors emphasize the necessity of prioritizing safety by getting help instead of trying to perform a risky task alone.

In the real world, though, new nurses and aides were in for a shock as they encountered the reality of working in the healthcare field. In the past, tight budgets usually opted for physical labor over technology. As a new nurse, you didn’t realize how much manual lifting, limb holding, pushing, and pulling was required to perform general patient care tasks all day long. While working on the Medical floor, I cared for 5 patients that required boosting, turning, assistance out of bed, ambulation assistance, toilet transfers, dressing changes, linen changes, limb holding and more. These were all manual tasks that took their toll on my back, neck and shoulders. Even when we had help from a second nurse, one person seemed to be doing more of the work. Even with two people it wasn’t safe.

How do patients feel when they call for assistance but end up waiting long periods of time before anybody comes? How is it lying in cold urine until a lone staff member limps in, unable to find an available second helper? Statistics reveal that a major cause of falls in medical settings is patients trying to get up instead of waiting for help. Nurses and aides alike will agree that one of the things patients overwhelmingly want most is assistance getting comfortable or going to the bathroom. Sadly, patients often confess feeling guilty calling for help from their exhausted aides and nurses, confiding that they don’t want to be a burden, either emotionally or physically. And they don’t have to!

Innovative biomedical engineers have designed wonderful products that make life better for people with illnesses and disabilities. Considering the miracles that modern technology has achieved, nurses, aides, and patients benefit in the following ways when using the RoWalker for early Mobility, MiniLift200 for sit to stand transfers, the breathable repositioning sheet for boosting and turning, the EPD for help during epidurals and spinal blocks, and the SPH Medical Air Assisted Transfer System because lateral transfers and boosting occurs everywhere:

Improved patient mobility
Reduced Risk of falls
Improvement in strength and endurance
Reduction in delirium
Reduced risk of injury to hospital staff
Reduced friction on patients skin
Improved staff morale
Nursing retention and career longevity

Facilities such as hospitals, surgery centers, extended care facilities, rehab centers, day centers, and private homes also benefit.

Repositioning injuries from pulling patients up in bed or readjusting their joint alignment with pillows is common in nursing staff. This boosting task is also one of the most frequent causes of injury to nurses. The Lateral Transfer, that is helping with a patient move from the bed to a wheelchair, recliner, or stretcher, is often the riskiest because the patient’s full weight is involved. Patients often move and shift during repositioning and lateral transfers. Newton’s Second Law of Motion (describing a force to equal to mass plus velocity over time) translates to Nursing Injury, staff reduction, compromise in patient care, and increased hospital costs. Gait belts and draw sheets we thought were better than nothing but they can transmit infection, disturb wound dressings, and cause pinching and abrasion of delicate skin. There are safer methods now to lift, move, transfer, hold, and ambulate patients using modern safe patient handling techniques that are simple and easy to use.

Not only can they save staff members time and energy, but they inspire patient confidence in medical facilities. Investing in equipment that protects staff and benefits patients offers a proven Return On Investment because it proves to staff and patients alike corporation recognizes and values their work, safety, and cares about their welfare. Patients also see how the administration functions as a team instead of driving their workforce to exhaustion.

Assistive devices to aid in lateral transfers such as the SPH Medical Air Mat have the ability to save hospitals hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct medical expenses not to mention the indirect cost of staff injuries that are estimated to be three to ten times the cost of direct medical expenses.

This nurse for one is thankful that modern Safe Patient Handling has arrived. I just wish it was here 30 years ago! I left the workforce with a severe back injury coupled with damaged shoulders and too many strains and sprains to count. Please investigate the appropriate assistive devices for your healthcare environment by consulting the experts at SPH Medical. I know they would be happy to help.

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