ABLE INNOVATIONS
Reducing staff injuries with an effortless lateral patient transfer device
Lateral transfers are a routine part of any hospital’s day, yet, despite their commonality, transfers can pose challenges for staff, who are required to perform the move with at least one additional team member.
Frontline heath care teams make hundreds of lateral transfers each year when helping patients move between appointments, for bathing, and for comfort. Though it may seem simple, staff members risk injury to themselves during lifts, and the process can be uncomfortable for patients.
Bruyère decided to partner with Able Innovations to pilot the ALTA Platform™, a robotic patient transfer device akin to a standard hospital bed, in complex care units at Bruyère’s Saint-Vincent Hospital.
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By introducing the ALTA, a single team member can reposition or transfer a patient in a safe and dignified manner.
Staff can safely start a patient transfer independently, reducing wait times for transfers by up to 30 minutes. The transfer eliminates any form of physical lifting for staff and can assist staff in moving up to 350 pounds with its motorized wheels.
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The platform has been shown to reduce the risk of bruising, contusions, skin tears, and abrasions that other lift and transfer methods may cause, ensuring a better experience for patients.
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While piloting the device at the hospital, Able Innovations was able to leverage ongoing clinical feedback to make iterative changes to the platform, working toward relevant and beneficial feature adjustments based on the real-world environment and users.
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Four procured units of the ALTA Platform are now a permanent part of care at Bruyère.
The ALTA Platform offers:
30
MINUTE REDUCTIONS IN WAIT TIMES
350
POUND CAPACITY
<2
MINUTES PER TRANSFER
4X
REDUCTION IN FORCES CAUSING BRUISING AND CONTUSIONS
