Patient lifts and other safe patient handling equipment (e.g., mobility and transfer aids) are now required at many healthcare facilities. Some states have laws in place that require the presence and use of safe patient handling equipment in acute care settings. The reason arises from research that shows repetitive manual lifting results in cumulative trauma to the spine of nurses and other patient caregivers. Physical therapists weigh any factors into their selection of a patient lift to meet their patient’s immediate needs.
Patient lift equipment typically comes in the form of passive mechanical lift equipment used to get patients up from the floor following a fall. Active lift equipment, where the fallen person participates in their own fall recovery, are less prevalent in hospitals and clinics. Generally, the selection options between “passive” and “active” fall recovery and transfer equipment by the clinician are driven by the best clinical outcomes for the patient.
Passive versus Active Fall Recovery
Passive fall recovery equipment is used in cases where the fallen person minimally participates in their fall recovery. An attendant or caregiver assists with positioning and operation of mechanical equipment that provides the energy required to lift or transition the person to a seated or standing position.
Active fall recovery equipment is used in cases where the fallen person actively supplies all or most of the physical energy needed to lift themselves during fall recovery. Little or no assistance from an attendant or caregiver is required even during the transition to a seated or standing position.
Obviously, physical therapists compare and recommend various fall recovery equipment to ensure the proper lift is used for each situation. From a physical therapist perspective, the objective is to select a patient lift that meets desirable clinical outcomes of the patient:
From a therapy standpoint, the goal is to use the least restrictive device to accomplish a task while allowing maximum patient participation” – Dr. Al Peraza, Inventor of the ResQUp.
That’s where the contrast between “active” and “passive” fall recovery equipment impacts the clinician’s decision about which to select. While patient lift equipment and other mechanical patient transfer systems are often ideal for the hospital setting to recover patients who have fallen, they often have limitations outside of the healthcare setting where passive systems are impractical.
In the home, passive mechanical patient lift equipment is generally not affordable to the average senior attempting to age in place and may cost thousands of dollars depending of technical complexity. Patient lift systems require slings, motors, batteries, electronic controllers, bulky framework all of which are expensive, and are not easily used by those unfamiliar with medical equipment and no medical experience.
Clinical Outcomes
The clinician’s decision to prescribe fall recovery equipment in the home hinges on clinical outcomes affecting both the patient and the clinician. The bottom line is that the patient needs a simple and safe way to actively participate in their own fall recovery after non-injurious falls in their home. Passive mechanical lift equipment is not readily adapted for in-home use and cannot deliver some important clinical outcomes. Fall recovery equipment should:
Meet specific physical needs of the patient
Preserve the patient’s confidence, independence, and dignity
Lessen the risk of spousal and in-home caregiver injuries during fall recovery and transfers
Have utility as a therapeutic exercise tool to train muscles used in fall recovery and increase strength in hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders,
Be more efficient and easier to use than conventional fall recovery methods taught by PT/OTs that don’t employ equipment,
Work in conjunction with canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, and hospital-style beds,
Be portable, lightweight, and accessible in tight spaces, and
Always be ready when needed.
Self-Help Fall Recovery
The ResQUp device has several potential advantages over a passive mechanical lift equipment for those who fall in their home. In particular, the ResQUp:
Is a uniquely versatile patient lift, transfer aid, and therapeutic exercise tool that solves common fall recovery and mobility problems encountered by people who fall for whatever reason,
Delivers substantial and affordable clinical value to the patient and their professional caregivers,
Costs a fraction of the cost of mechanical lift equipment,
Requires only brief instructions and familiarization prior to use and is maintenance free,
Can be utilized for activities of daily living, such as getting down to the floor to play with a grandchild, change the kitty litter, or do floor exercises, etc., and
Meets an unmet need for a Do-It-Yourself fall recovery device in the home
The ResQUp is the simple solution after a fall
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