Issue #1 -- Better utilize a decreasing staff base.

Issue #2 -- Cut the cost of worker and patient injuries by decreasing risk from
transfer.

Issue #3 -- Retain good staff.

Issue #4 -- Increase the quality of patient care.

As first appeared in Hospital News, February, 2001.

Issue #1 -- Better utilize a decreasing staff base.

Janet Bykowski, a medical care center manager for a 310-bed east coast hospital, needed a way to mobilize her patients more frequently in the face of decreased staffing. Typically, it took more than two people to transfer one of Janet's patients whose mobility was decreased due to arthritis, respiratory conditions, diabetes, cancer, stroke or general weakness. Until she purchased 13 Turn Stands two years ago.

"The Turn Stand augments our staffing. It allows us to transfer with just one or two caregivers," says Ms. Bykowski. Now, her staff can move more patients more often and with less staff assistance. "It makes my staff happy because it is a low dollar item that really replaces a person. The Turn Stand is cost effective like a low-cost staff person who's always on stand-by."

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Issue #2 -- Cut the cost of worker and patient injuries by decreasing risk from transfer.

Over 50% of nursing injuries occur while handling patients!

"Mobility is key to improving patient outcomes, " says Dr. John McCarthy, orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedic Surgical Associates, Natrona Heights. As a surgeon who does many hip and knee replacements, he emphasizes the importance of mobility to healing and the risks associated with moving patients. Dr. McCarthy has used the Turn Stand stating, "The device really does work quite well. It's a tremendous help allowing the patient to be transferred more safely."

He also points to the potential the Turn Stand has in decreasing dangerous patient slips and falls as well as back injuries staff can experience during patient transfer. "I certainly feel that as a transfer device it has potential benefit when you compare it's cost to that of a staff back injury or patient hip fracture."

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Issue #3 -- Retain good staff.

After conducting a three-month trial of the Turn Stand, Karen Grywinski, RN, ONC, unit manager, and her staff at West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny Valley, overwhelmingly saw the need for the Turn Stand in their orthopedic nursing and medical/surgical unit and bought one nearly three years ago. Because the Turn Stand can "greatly decrease the risk of injury during transfer," says Grywinski, the device sent a message to the hospital staff that administration cared not only for the needs of the patients but that they cared about the safety and wellbeing of the staff.

"The Turn Stand increased satisfaction among staff because they could see the physical benefits of using it." Retaining good staff is an important issue for Karen as with all healthcare facilities and she found the Turn Stand to be helpful with keeping staff. "Anything that you can give them to make their job go more smoothly and more safely is a plus for retention, " says Ms. Grywinski.

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Issue #4 -- Increase the quality of patient care.

When asked about how the Turn Stand increases the quality of patient care, Nurse Grywinski, Ms. Bykowski and Dr. McCarthy all agreed that the Turn Stand does so in three ways. First, the stand is sturdy and has handlebars for support, so it allows the patient to participate in their own transfer, giving them the feeling of more control over their own body and mobility. Second, the stand increases patient dignity because they don't need to be so closely handled and physically moved by staff. Third, the stand shows the patient that the facility management is concerned about their safety as well as their mental outlook. Both of which increases with Turn Stand use. As Ms. Bykowski says, "It (the Turn Stand) gives the hospital a positive image. It's a real patient-family satisfier."

For more information on the Williamson Turn Stand, contact Marsha, Williamson Medical Devices, at 724-763-2285 or email her at marsha@williamsonmedical.com.

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