Patient Handling Equipment Is Used For Moving, Lifting, and Managing Patients in Several Healthcare Centers

  

                                                        Patient Handling Equipment

Patient handling equipment is used all over the world, including in regions such as Germany, Mexico, and Japan. Patient handling equipment is mostly used in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities to move, support, or transport an individual or body part conveniently to the caregiver. The equipment ensures the security of health care workers and physicians while conducting routine tasks such as transferring a patient from one room to another or assisting physicians with their patient's examinations. Some patient handling equipment for instance wheelchairs, crutches, oxygen tanks, medical apparatus, hospital beds, etc. are used frequently. Although these devices may not look so bulky at first, actually they have wheels, rims, and casters that make it easy for the patient to push it and safe for the caregiver or the patient to be able to pull the patient handling equipment. There are even some moving devices that can be driven by the patient.

Many safety procedures must be followed when using patient handling equipment to move patients. First of all, the patient must be lifted steadily and gently to prevent sudden falls. Next, care must be taken not to hurt the patient's body in the process of transferring them. Lifting the patients forcefully can lead to severe injuries such as broken bones, bruising, and twisted or sprained muscles. A strong base should be used when lifting someone. In regions such as Germany, the increasing prevalence of hospitals has increased the usage of patient handling equipment. For instance, according to Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft e.V. (German Hospital Federation), in 2019, in the region there were approximately 1914 hospitals in Germany.

Lifting and moving patients is an integral part of most intensive care units. It requires both strength and alertness. This is why hospital beds are generally the safest place to lift patients because most people who are seriously ill or injured probably cannot stand on their own until they are well enough to talk. Therefore, moving patients requires strong caregivers, such as nurses, surgical nurses, and psychotherapists. Because of the risk of falling, most patients who are admitted to an acute care hospital stay in a bed, unless they are having surgery, are placed on a standard bed. For this reason, most hospitals provide specific patient handling equipment, such as adjustable beds and lift chairs.