New Patient Turning Device for Older or Obese Immobile Patients
Dr. Laura Lee, a rehabilitation medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia, offers a solution to the difficult challenge faced daily by nursing staff and caretakers in repositioning immobile elderly or obese patients in bed. Currently, nursing staff and caretakers must manually turn patients for cleaning after an incontinence episode or for pressure relief to prevent skin ulcers. Dr. Lee and her colleagues have developed an affordable and easily operated patient turning device that allows an individual caretaker to easily and safely reposition, turn, and clean an immobile patient. According to Dr. Lee, this novel patient turning device will lessen the risks of nursing staff injury, which is important given the nursing staff shortage, as well as lessen the risk of caretaker fatigue and thereby increasing the chance that patients can be cared for at home. This novel device:
- Allows a single caregiver to easily clean and change immobile patients in bed.
- Is easy to use for elderly spouses at home with minimal training.
- Is portable, space friendly, and easy to setup.
- Reduces risk of stress or strain injury to caretaker from patient turning.
- Allows a single caretaker to easily turn and reposition the patient, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.
- Remains affordable for the individual homes, small hospital or nursing home.
Further contact: walkingrehab@gmail.com
Vicki J. Huestis
I watched the video of this new patient turning device, and am very interested. Our family has in-home caregivers, 24 hours a day for both of my elderly in-laws. They both suffer from late stage Alzheimer’s. One is completely bedridden. The caregivers are struggling with turning and changing my father-in-law who is well over 200 lbs. One of the caregivers wears wrist supports at all times because her wrists are giving out & very painful.
This device looks wonderful! How can I get more information, and find out how much it costs to purchase? We presently own a manual “hoyer lift”, but no longer use it. Is there a way to modify it into a turning device by purchasing an attachment for it, and perhaps the special sheets? If not, we are still interested in the cost of the full patient turning device.
Please respond ASAP as we don’t want to lose any of our caregivers!
Thanks, VickiJ. Huestis
Vicki J. Huestis
How do I purchase this turning device and how much does it cost?
Thanks,
Vicki J. Huestis
Jane Fruchtnicht
(MedicalAutomization.org Expert)
Medical Automation.org only reports on technological advances. We do not promote or sell products. We would suggest that you contact the company and explore how to access this device. The company URL is http://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/robotsuithal/index.html
Cordially, Jane N. Fruchtnicht
Director, Communications and Education, Medical Automation.org
Sherry Tyson
I am an OT in skilled nursing and have done this somw with a lift. This example needs to be with a 400 lb pt in a variatric bed. Pt needs to be placed far to the opposite side of turn to end up in the center of the bed and positioned after to prevent rolling back. The hips need to be involved in the roll