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Disposable Slings and Repositioning Sheets and Air Transfer Mattress
CategoriesPatient Handling

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

by sphmedicaladmin

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.Disposable HighBackSling by SPH Medical Single Patient Use Slings

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.Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mattress

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.Single Patient Use Breathable Sheet for Repositioning
  • 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.Disposable Slings in different styles and sizes by SPH Medical
  • 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.Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mat

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.

Single Patient Use Slings are a cost effective way to reduce risk of injury to nurses.
CategoriesSlings and Lifts

Single Patient Use Slings Reduce Injuries

by sphmedicaladmin

Single Patient Use Slings and Repositioning Sheets in Hospitals

Repositioning sheets are specialized slings that are used to reposition patients in their beds. They are especially beneficial in hospital units that have total care patients (patients who are bed bound and are unable to turn themselves in bed and need full nursing assistance). Since the patient can’t move or position themselves, it’s the nurse’s duty to reposition them every two hours to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. However, patient repositioning is one of the major causes of nursing injuries. Thankfully, SPH Medical solves this problem by providing hospitals and healthcare facilities with a broad range of single patient use slings and repositioning sheets. They also equip facilities with overhead ceiling lifts and mobile lifts, which are essential for the effective use of the sheets.  The goal of using patient lift equipment is to reduce the risk of injury to nursing staff by eliminating manual patient handling.  OSHA safe lifting guidelines state that nurses shouldn’t be lifting more than 35 pounds, and yet most patients are 180- 250 pounds on average, and many are much heavier.

The benefit of having a breathable repositioning sheet is that it can remain under the patient, and since it connects to the overhead or mobile lift, boosting or turning patients is safe and easier for nursing staff. They can also hold the patient in a side-lying position for cleaning or wound dressing changes. These sheets are also used to transfer patients from bed to a stretcher or to assist with linen changes.

What are Single Patient Use Repositioning Sheets?

A single patient use slings and repositioning sheets (SPU) are a sheet that’s used by a single patient. These are considered disposable but they can be used multiple times with the same patient until they are either soiled, no longer needed due to changing patient conditions or upon patient discharge.  Caregivers often use these sheets in hospitals and nursing homes to improve safety and patient care. The purpose of the sheet is primarily to eliminate the manual lifting that typically occurs with the high frequency task of repositioning and turning patients in bed.  However, given that it enables more efficient boosting and turning one could say that patients are more likely to repositioned which protects patients’ skin.

There are various types of slings including the highback disposable sling and the universal sling, even amputee slings and commode slings. The highback sling is the most common type of seated style lifting sling as it offers extra support to the head in case the patient doesn’t have good head or neck control. This type of sling is often the standard of care in hospitals because it accommodates all patients. Seated position slings are designed to assist with lifting and transferring patients from bed to chair, and back, or over to a wheelchair or toilet.

Single patient use repositioning sheets are made of a safe breathable material for the patient and are comfortable to lie on. Since the sheet is made of a soft cotton/poly blend material, it’s does not cause any irritation to the patients’ skin. Moreover, it’s designed to be used by only one patient and this ensures that the there is reduced risk that the patient is exposed to cross contamination from other slings or sheets that are used with other patients.

Comparison between Launderable and Single Patient Use Slings

Disposable slings, or SPU slings, are more cost effective than launderable slings when considering all of the benefits that they offer in terms of risk reduction and injury prevention.  For starters, ordering these slings is generally easier as they become a standard supply item.  Once on hand you can easily track the available stock and therefore their usage. What’s more, unlike their counterparts, you don’t have to deal with long laundry processes or slings getting lost in the laundry system.

There are many reasons why the disposable options are better for patient care. One of the primary benefits of disposable slings and repositioning sheets is that they reduce the risk of Healthcare Associated Infections or HAI’s.  Remember, when using launderable slings, they are often reused between multiple patients without properly being disinfected.  How does a nurse properly disinfect a fabric sling at the hospital instead of sending it to the laundry?  It’s not an easy task because fabric slings are porous and pathogens can hide in the nooks and crannies of the sling.  Fabric slings should go to the laundry so the concern about infection prevention can properly be addressed.  The laundry system whether inhouse our through an outside service provider generally takes 3-5 days to return specialty items, in this case slings, back to the hospital for distribution.  This turn around time can be a major contributor to staff injuries if slings are not available.  On the other hand, the disposable slings are easily ordered, pulled from the shelf, and are only used by one patient. Therefore, in the long run, single patient use slings and repositioning slings are safer from an infection prevention and injury prevention perspective.

The Benefits of Single Patient Use Slings and Repositioning Sheets

SPH Medical's Repositioning Sheets improve patient care and reduce risk of injury. Patients in the ICU or critical care units within a hospital can benefit from using disposable repositioning sheets. These sheets are designed for single-patient use and help make the formerly manual process of repositioning and turning more comfortable and efficient. Some of the benefits of using a disposable repositioning sheet include the following:

  • Increased Patient Comfort

    Disposable repositioning sheets can help increase patients’ comfort during in bed repositioning and turning as well as transfers from bed to gurney or bed to CT table.

  • Improved efficiency

    Using a disposable repositioning sheet improves the efficiency of medical procedures. By using mechanical assistance like an overhead lift during repositioning tasks nurses can easily boost a patient alone or with a second nurse where in the past they would need at least two to four nurses to perform the same task.

  • Reduced Risk of Infection

    One of the main benefits of using a disposable sheet or disposable sling is that it reduces the risk of cross-contamination since each patient is assigned their own sheet or sling.  Some laundry systems don’t use the appropriate temperature to kill pathogens and this can lead to Healthcare Associated Infections.

  • Protects Nurses from Injuries

    The predictable high frequency of lifting and transferring patients has been well documented to be dangerous to the nurse. Therefore, appropriate lifting equipment is absolutely essential to prevent a nursing injury. A single-patient use sling’s design allows ease-use by the nurse, preventing overexertion, strains and sprains, and career ending back injuries,

  • Easy to Order and Keep Inventory

    Lastly, ordering and managing single-patient use sling stock is simple. You can easily track and record what’s available within the facility. This contrasts with launderable slings, which need to be properly cleaned and disinfected. Unfortunately these expensive slings have been known to get lost in the laundry.

SPH Medical Disposable Sheets

SPH Medical prioritizes patient care, and that’s why they have a wide range of disposable repositioning sheets. Using disposable repositioning sheets is the new trend in hospitals and healthcare centers. They offer many cost effective, safe solutions for lifting, moving, and transferring patients. Most importantly, they reduce the risk of cross-infection and injuries while improving patient care.

The sheets available here are suitable for all mobile and overhead lifts. They come in various sizes and styles to meet every patient’s needs and care settings. Repositioning sheets from SPH Medical are made of a breathable material, so they can remain under the patient for an extended period of time and are considered just as safe as hospital bed linen. Visit the official SPH medical website to check the complete portfolio of single patient use slings and single patient use air transfer and positioning mattresses.

Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mattress
CategoriesPatient Handling

Top 10 Questions about Single Patient Use Air Mattress

by sphmedicaladmin

Across the globe, the SPH Medical’s Air Transfer System (ATS) keeps patients and caregivers safe. We provide a full range of widths and lengths to suit your hospital’s safety program with the highest quality control, backed by a manufacturer’s warranty and safe patient handling education. Performing patient transfers, repositioning up in bed, turning from one position to another is a daily task for nurses.  Even though it is routine and done frequently, moving patients can be a challenging task that can cause injuries to staff and patients. The single patient use air mattress is a prominent transfer device. Research has shown that air-assist technology has many benefits. With a number of air transfer systems available, it can be difficult to choose the right one for you. To emphasize the importance of safe patient handling, we have compiled a top ten questions from direct customer questions and feedback.

Q: 1. How do air-assisted transfer systems work?

A: The Air Transfer Mattresses have many small air hole perforations that allow air to escape when the motor or air supply inflates the mattress. As a result of the air passing through these holes, the mattress will have less friction against the bed surface. With low friction, it is easy to transfer the patient. When two surfaces are separated by air, they move freely like a tabletop air hockey game or hovercraft.

Q: 2. What are the main components of the Air Transfer System?

A: The main components include the mattress, hose assembly, air supply or blower unit, ergonomic handles, and patient safety straps.

Q: 3. Which is more common the Single Patient Use or Launderable version?

A: A patient’s or medical facility’s laundry system and capital budget planning may determine whether the air transfer systems deployed are single patient use or Launderable.  Hospitals that tend so send their laundry out to third part laundry providers often find that their hospital owned goods get lost by their laundry providers!

Many hospitals have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of slings and transfer mattresses.  For this reason the Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mattress has gained significant popularity.  Avoiding that horrible laundry system and being able to keep track of inventory on the shelf allows you to track actual usage which directly correlates to risk avoidance and reduced injury costs!

Capital budgets can be difficult to navigate for those in charge of Safe Patient Handling programs as they compete with other hospital priorities to purchase new life saving equipment or revenue generating solutions needed by various departments.  Although the investment in patient lifts, slings, mobility solutions, and Air Transfer Systems is an essential need it often falls behind these other priorities.  If there is a concerted effort by a team of leaders from all departments including Nursing, Physical Therapy, Surgery, and Imaging these essential purchases can be prioritized and eventually made after lengthy budget planning.

The Single Patient Use Transfer Mattress is a much easier item to deploy for this reason.  It is a supply item.  Each department can place their order weekly or monthly and get the supplies they need and this typically avoids the entire capital budgeting nightmare.  With SPH Medical Air Transfer Mat, adopting this gold standard technology has never been more affordable.

With SPH Medical, you will find a complete range of Air Transfer solutions, including single patient use and durable options. They are expert at Safe Patient Handling and understand the unique injury risks and needs of each and every type of patient care environment.  Their experience includes implementing a complete range of solutions in Labor and Delivery, ICU, Med Surgery, Imaging, General Surgery, Rehab, and many other departments.

Q: 4. How does the system reduce the risk of injuries to nurses?

A: Hospital staff who perform frequent repositioning tasks or lateral patient transfers are at risk of suffering a back injury.  These high frequency tasks are predictable and the old fashion way of manually boosting, turning or transferring patients is a well known cause of career ending back injuries.  Although lower severity back injuries along with strains and sprains are common and often do not receive much attention, these injuries cause facilities significant losses in productivity and money.  The Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mattress improves nursing efficiency and improves patient care by reducing the need for 3-4 nurses to perform a task. For manual handling or alternative non-air friction reducing devices, it takes at least three hospital employees to transfer a patient, but with the Air Transfer System it only take two.  This increased efficiency means that they nurses can perform other tasks or attend to their other patients rather than being constantly called to assist.

Q: 5. Is the single Patient Use version breathable (Can it be left under patients)

A: SPH Medical has conducted thorough pressure mapping, and breathability testing on its Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mat to ensure that it is safe for patients as well as caregivers.  Based on pressure mapping and moisture vapor transmission testing, there is minimal impact to the support surface and patient when lying on the Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mat, making it safe to leave it under patients all day.

Having housekeeping staff make the unoccupied bed with the Air Transfer Mat means that nurses have the ability to boost, turn, and transfer whenever needed.  This increase in availability and accessibility equals improved safety for nursing staff.

Q: 6. Does the motor or Air Supply go with the patient during transport (on the bed or gurney)?

A. Yes.  The SPH Medical Air Supply has convenient hooks on the back that allow it to hang on the foot of the bed or the stretcher.  In some cases the transport staff moving a patient will put the air supply underneath the stretcher if there is space.  Several transport carts and stands are available to hold the Air Supply and Single Patient Use Transfer Mats.  Some hospitals prefer to leave the Air Supply in each department so you just use the Air Supply at the destination end to transfer or move the patient.  In this scenario where the entire hospital has Air Supplies you never need to bring it with you.

Q: 7. Can the Air Transfer System be left under patients during X-Ray or CT Scan?

A: Yes. The majority of air transfer mattresses are safe and radiolucent and offer a safe environment for imaging procedures and x-rays. If you are requesting information on a product, confirm with the company.

Q: 8. What is the typical cost for a Single Patient Use Air Transfer mattresses?

A: Price ranges typically range from $75 to $100 each, depending on contract relationships and volume purchases, without including Air Supply and Transport Stands.

Q: 9. What is the Return on Investment realized when implementing a hospital-wide Air Transfer and Positioning solution?

A: Air Transfer and positioning solutions can help reduce injuries, costs, and resources. Hospitals can save hundreds of thousands of dollars on direct injuries with the implementation of Air Transfer and positioning solutions. But indirect injuries have been estimated, but indirect injuries cost three to ten times as much.

A national survey of 1,000 hospitals shows that patient handling injuries account for 25 percent of workers’ compensation claims. Patient handling injuries are the most expensive type of hospital workers’ injury. Along with direct expenses, hospitals have indirect costs that are hard to measure but have a tangible impact on finances and resources. These include overtime, training, productivity, morale, employee turnover, and incident investigation time.

Q: 10. Are air-assisted devices safe for handling patients?

A: An Air Transfer System is one of the safest transfer and repositioning solutions available today.  This proven technology has now been in use for more than 30 years and has been implemented on virtually all hospital units where repositioning, turning, and lateral transfers occur.  There are other injury prevention solutions that are currently used in hospitals to lift move and transfer patients but nurses and technical staff have reported that the Single Patient Use Air Transfer Mattress is the most convenient and user friendly Safe Patient Handling solution.  Today the SPH Medical Air  Transfer System is considered the gold standard of patient transfer systems.

In addition to being safe for caregivers, the single patient use Air Transfer Mattress has become a key component of the hospital infection prevention plan.  Even prior to COVID-19 the hospitals have been focused on the reduction of HAI’s or Hospital Acquired infections.  The Single Patient use version of the Air Transfer Mattress stays with the patient during their entire length of stay and when soiled, or the patient is discharged, the item is thrown away.  No laundering or messy spray and wiping disinfection is required.

It is also important that the mattress inflates at the perimeter before inflating at the center. As a result, the patient rests in a cradle, which reduces the chances of tipping over.

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