Patient Lateral Transfer Devices Help In Transferring Patients From One Position To Another Without Having Too Much Friction In Order To Prevent Them From Injuries

 

Patient lateral transfer devices are being put into action in various healthcare sectors across the globe, including in regions such as Mexico, Germany, and Japan.  Patient lateral transfer devices are effective repositioning aid or system which makes it easy and safe to transport patients both vertically and lateral by minimizing friction. Electronic air-assisted sliding boards and lightweight patient transfer carts are common examples of such patient lateral transfer devices. They provide patients with the opportunity to move between the examination and procedure tables without exerting much effort or wasting time on moving furniture from one table to another.

Patients using patient lateral transfer devices need not exert physical strength to perform such tasks. There is only minimal physical activity required, and patients need not worry about damaging their bodies during the process. In addition, patient mobility is facilitated by minimally invasive techniques. For example, most patient lateral transfer devices use computers with wireless connections to remotely control the mobility of the patient.

Some devices are even equipped with automatic positioning, which allows the patient's position to be pre-planned before the start of the process. Patients need not worry about precise positioning since the device uses a highly advanced optical system and a computer-based system. Using patient lateral transfer devices correctly can reduce the incidence of hand-to-patient injuries, which are often caused when poorly planned procedures cause the patient's hand to slide towards the floor. Such injuries are more frequent in pediatric patients, whose muscles and tendons are still relatively weak and less flexible than those of adults.

Patients frequently sustain such injuries when caregivers fail to apply appropriate muscle power or apply the proper techniques.  In regions such as Mexico, the rapidly increasing prevalence of hospitals and the number of patients have made the healthcare sector adopt various advanced technologies, such as patient lateral transfer devices. For instance, according to the National Institute of Health, in 2018 the number of hospitals in Mexico was 4629, while in 2019 it became 4707. On the other hand, improperly performed procedures can result in serious or fatal injuries to caregivers, patients, and other third parties. Moreover, improper equipment may also cause skin and soft tissue injuries, further contributing to the occurrence of these types of injuries.