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December 23, 2024
for clinicians
Improper or unsafe patient transfers can lead to serious consequences for patients and healthcare workers, meaning that investing in the best safe patient transfer equipment is essential for healthcare facilities.
In most healthcare settings, patient transfers are a regular part of daily patient care. Whether it’s moving a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, transferring them to an examination table, or repositioning them for treatment, these activities are essential for providing care. Improper or unsafe patient transfers can lead to serious consequences for patients and healthcare workers, meaning that investing in the best safe patient transfer equipment is essential for healthcare facilities.
Improper patient transfers involve a number of risks to patients, such as falling, exacerbating medical conditions, and causing new injuries or issues. Undertrained staff members, insufficient transfer equipment, and understaffing can all contribute to a lack of patient safety when undertaking the patient transfer process.
Nurses, aides, and other healthcare workers are tasked with transferring patients on a daily basis, and the physical demands of this task can result in injuries. Lifting, twisting, and bending during patient transfers can cause musculoskeletal injuries, and repetitive motions over the course of weeks and months can result in overuse injuries. Patient handling injuries account for 25% of all workers compensation claims, highlighting how unfortunately widespread this issue is.1
Injuries resulting from improper patient transfers can have serious legal and financial ramifications for healthcare facilities. Workers compensation claims, lawsuits, and increased insurance premiums due to staff injuries can be costly. If patient injuries occur during transfers, the facility may face legal claims, which could harm its reputation and financial stability. Investing in safe patient transfer equipment helps mitigate these risks. This investment is not just a matter of safety; it’s also a financial decision. Facilities implementing a “zero lift program” have seen statistically significant reductions in both frequency and severity of injuries.2
From another perspective, nurse turnover can have a substantial impact on a medical program’s budget. For every 1% reduction in nurse turnover, hospitals can save an average of $262,300 annually. By preventing nursing injuries and providing robust support for nurses, healthcare facilities can help reduce turnover rates and mitigate these financial burdens.
The SimPull is a revolutionary patient transfer device designed by our team at The Patient Company with the risks of patient transfer in mind. It is the first fully automated patient transfer equipment and its “Zero Lift ~ Zero Force” requirement adheres to OSHA lifting weight limit guidelines for health care workers in the U.S. On average, a SimPull transfer takes just 4 minutes with two staff members, compared to a traditional transfer that requires 20 minutes and four staff members. This efficiency allows medical facilities to allocate time and personnel more effectively. Its reusable technology platform is eco-friendly and cuts down on the recurring costs associated with some patient transfer methods.
Our team is dedicated to reducing the risks of patient transfers while recognizing the financial challenges healthcare facilities face. That’s why we designed the SimPull to deliver exceptional value, saving medical facilities up to $2,244 daily per 100 transfers, as well as greatly increasing patient and staff safety. If you’d like to learn more about how the SimPull can benefit your healthcare facility, our team would love to connect with you.
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