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Reduce Injury Risk and Improve efficiency with Single Patient Use Slings
CategoriesPatient Handling,  Slings and Lifts

The Importance of Single Patient Use Slings in Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Patient Handling

by sphmedicaladmin

In the dynamic and demanding environment of healthcare, ensuring the safety and well-being of both patients and staff is paramount. Single patient use slings have emerged as an innovative solution that promises to enhance safety, improve accessibility, and provide a substantial return on investment. This article delves into these benefits in detail, making a persuasive case for their adoption in healthcare facilities.

Enhanced Safety for Nursing Staff

Single patient use slings play a critical role in minimizing the risk of cross-contamination, a persistent challenge in healthcare settings. Unlike traditional reusable slings that require thorough cleaning and sanitization, SPU slings eliminate the possibility of lingering pathogens, thereby enhancing patient safety. Furthermore, they contribute significantly to reducing nursing staff injuries. By streamlining patient transfers and minimizing the associated physical strain, these slings protect caregivers from musculoskeletal disorders commonly resulting from repeated lifting and movement activities.

Single Patient Use Slings; Accessibility and Availability

The SPH Medical breathable repositioning sheet is the gold standard of Safe Patient Handling tools to reduce risk of injuryIn emergency situations, time is often of the essence. Single patient use slings are strategically designed for hassle-free access, thereby cutting down wait times and facilitating immediate patient care. Their widespread availability across hospital facilities ensures that healthcare workers have prompt access to these crucial tools, thus enabling quicker responses and enhancing overall efficiency.

Evidence-Based Benefits

The efficacy of single patient use slings is supported by a growing body of evidence. Studies have shown a marked decrease in nursing staff injuries when utilizing these tools, emphasizing their contribution to a safer work environment. Testimonials from healthcare professionals who have integrated single patient use slings into their practice reflect positive outcomes, including improved patient experiences and satisfaction.Disposable Slings in all sizes are kept in stock at SPH Medical

Return on Investment

While the initial investment in single patient use slings may seem significant, the long-term financial advantages are substantial. Implementation leads to a reduction in worker compensation claims and lowers the incidence of sick leave due to fewer staff injuries. Additionally, the morale and productivity of the workforce see tangible improvements, translating into better patient care and operational efficiency.

Single Patient Use Slings and Sling Attachment Methods

When it comes to attaching slings to mobile and overhead lifts, two primary styles are widely used: the hook and loop style and the clip style. The hook and loop slings, often paired with repositioning sheets, are more commonly employed due to their versatility and ease of use. These slings offer a secure fit through a simple wrapping mechanism around the lift’s attachment points, allowing for quick and efficient operations. On the other hand, clip style slings are designed to securely attach to lifts via metal or plastic clips, providing robust support for heavier loads. Understanding the advantages and appropriate applications of each sling attachment method can aid healthcare facilities in selecting the most suitable equipment for their patient handling needs.

Extensive SPH Medical Sling Portfolio

SPH Medical’s sling portfolio provides an impressive range of options tailored to meet diverse patient handling requirements. These slings are available in a comprehensive array of sizes and weight capacities, accommodating patients up to 1000 lbs. This extensive selection ensures that every patient receives the level of care and support they necessitate, enhancing both safety and comfort. Furthermore, SPH Medical’s slings are designed for universal compatibility with various hook and loop or clip style lifts. This feature allows healthcare providers to integrate the slings seamlessly into existing systems, minimizing the need for costly equipment upgrades and aligning with the objective of flexible and efficient patient care solutions.

Transitioning to SPH Medical’s Single Patient Use Slings

Hospitals looking to enhance safety and achieve cost savings can seamlessly switch to SPH Medical’s single patient use (SPU) slings. These slings are designed with the latest safety standards, minimizing infection risks and improving patient handling. SPH Medical provides comprehensive support, including detailed guidelines and training sessions, to ensure your staff is fully equipped for the transition. Collaborating with SPH Medical allows healthcare facilities to streamline their operations while maintaining high safety standards, ultimately reinforcing their commitment to both patient care and budget efficiency.

To effectively implement SPU slings, hospitals and healthcare facilities should take proactive steps, such as revising their procurement processes, ensuring comprehensive staff training, and promoting ongoing research into safe patient handling practices. By prioritizing these initiatives, healthcare providers can significantly improve the quality of care and safeguard both patients and personnel.

Single-use slings have revolutionized healthcare by significantly improving patient safety, reducing cross-contamination risks, and offering economic advantages through cost efficiency. Their introduction marks a crucial step forward in patient care practices, emphasizing the importance of adopting these tools in healthcare facilities. Administrators should consider implementing single-use slings to enhance safety protocols and achieve cost savings, thereby promoting a safer and more efficient healthcare environment. By embracing these innovative solutions, healthcare providers can harness the benefits of modern technology to deliver exceptional patient care. Keep up with industry developments and consider incorporating single-use slings into your facility’s protocols to stay ahead and improve overall outcomes.

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.

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