Overhead Patient Lifts | May 4th, 2009 | Author: admin

Overhead patient Lifts: Not just for bariatrics

A combination of factors are driving an increase in the number of dedicated ceiling lifts in the inpatient environment. First, is the increasing number of obese – or bariatric patients. Second, an increase in the acuity level of inpatients. (As healthier patients access outpatient settings, only more sick and less ambulatory ones occupy inpatient beds.) The third and primary reason, is an effort to reduce back injuries and associated lost days among clinical staff.

The nurses role has always included transferring patients for “up in bed” orders or to facilitate basic hygiene requirements. The parallel track of heavier, more acute patients and older nurses has led to an increase in the frequency of lifting related injuries. Today, more and more hospitals are implementing “no lift” policies. Typically the clinical staff is instructed not to attempt a lift of more than 35 pounds. This also creates a safer environment for the patient.

Patient rooms with dedicated ceiling lifts have grown in popularity along with the bariatric population. Patients whose weight exceeded 300, 400 and 600 or more pounds were almost impossible to transfer by nursing staff alone. The use of portable lifts created problems for access and storage. But for any clinician, the process of transferring even a 90 pound patient could easily result in a back injury. It is this reality that has lead many hospitals to outfit a greater percentage of rooms with ceiling lifts.

These devices are available in a variety of designs for most any application. Recessed tracks allow the system to be almost invisible, surface mounted tracks make renovations a snap, while wall mounted or floor mounted units offer options when there is not adequate structural support in the ceiling. Tracks can be installed to allow the patient to be transferred onto a nearby chair or the track can extend into a bathroom over the toilet or shower area.

The retrofit of existing rooms typically requires a core sample of the concrete structure be sent our for a “pull test”. Engineers must also review the steel design. Typical lifts have a capacity of 600 – 1000 pounds and most existing structures were not designed with this in mind. If you are designing a facility today, it is a good idea to make allowances for this future need. Providing the proper infrastructure today is a great way to offer flexibility in the future. Unless demographics suddenly change, average patient weight and median nursing staff age will continue to increase.

Tags: Bariatric, Ceiling Track, Lifts, No Lift Policy

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