Sustainable Injury Reduction with Motorised Transport for Healthcare

摘要

Pushing beds in healthcare has long been identified as a significant contributor to workplace injury. The development of the StaminaLift bed and trolley mover has demonstrated that sound design and ingenuity will lead to a significant reduction of severity and injury rates. The adaptation of these machines to move past the primary focus of hospital beds into the field of managing the movement of bariatric patients, patient lifting machines, bulk medical supplies, waste management and multiple linen trolleys has imparted a positive influence in hospital efficiency and the reduction of injury. An example of this efficiency is the removal of the nurse who was previously required to assist with bed pushing. The nurse now only acts as a medical escort for those patients requiring medical surveillance. The further application of motorising a range trolleys with a single motor drive has produced a lower cost option that has allowed mechanical drives to reach a diverse range of applications. Effective design through consultation, the application of sound ergonomic principles and the adaptation of the machine to man, has resulted in a resounding success story directing one of the future paths for Healthcare savings.