Product & Technology Spotlight

New Bed Frames Help Reduce Injuries in Caregivers

Work-related musculoskeletal injuries are a major issue for direct-care workers in the long-term care setting. Back strains and pains account for a majority of these injuries, which are often the result of resident handling tasks, such as patient lifting. To prevent caregiver injury and improve patient care, Hill-Rom, a leading manufacturer and provider of medical technologies, offers an innovative new line of SlideGuard^TM bed frames.

Standard fixed-pivot retractable beds may force patients into a compressed seated position, putting pressure on the sacrum, coccyx, and ischial tuberosities, and increases the risk of pressure ulcers. The head section of the SlideGuard frame moves back by up to 4 inches, which increases the length of the seat and prevents patients from sliding down. According to Hill-Rom studies, use of the frame resulted in a 65% reduction in skin shear and a 7% reduction in peak sacral pressure in patients. You can learn more about Hill-Rom’s line of beds and other products at www.hill-rom.com.

Accessories Help Physicians Integrate iPads Into Patient Care

According to a recent poll by Physicians Consulting Network, 27% of primary care and specialty physicians own an iPad or similar tablet computer and already use it on the job—a rate five times higher than that reported in the general population. To help medical personnel have easy access to their iPads while caring for patients, Griffin Technology has released a new line of iPad accessories ideal for the healthcare setting. The AirStrap Med and AirStrap Lite carrying cases allow physicians and nurses to hold their iPad in one hand while viewing their medical applications and patient data with the other. The AirStrap Med is a lightweight, nonslip, two-piece frame that encloses the tablet and protect it from moisture and fluids.

“Our goal in any of  our healthcare products is to keep the focus on patient care and let the technology stay out of the way until it’s needed,” said J. Curtis, director of B2B product development, Griffin, in a press release. “AirStrap Med is the lightest, most versatile case we’ve ever designed, and it allows full control of the iPad’s amazing multitouch screen even while wearing latex or nitrile gloves.”

Also made by Griffin is the iPad kiosk, which enables tablet devices to be securely mounted onto a floor or table-top stand, and the MultiDock, a compact cabin to charge up to 10 iPads simultaneously. Visit www.griffintechnology.com or call (800) 208-5996 for more product information.

New Device Improves Testing for Peripheral Arterial Disease

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a common test to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a prevalent issue in the older adult. The ABI, which compares blood pressure measurements in a patient’s ankle and in the arms using a pencil-shaped ultrasound device called a Doppler, is considered one of the most reliable and least expensive ways to test for PAD. However, the Dopplex ABIility, by HuntLeigh Technology, is making the test even easier, quicker, and more accurate. The standardized ABI often requires a 15-minute rest period for patients, but the ABIlity does not require a rest period because of its simultaneous cuff inflation feature. The device saves time, as it can take rapid bilateral ABI measurements in 3 minutes, whereas Doppler-based ABI typically takes 30 minutes. The patented two-chamber cuffs use duo sense^TM pneumatic technology to measure systolic pressures; one chamber occludes the vessel, while the second distal chamber senses the returning signals, allowing all four limbs to be measured simultaneously.

Because the ABIility is fully automatic and requires minimal training, the test can be given by most healthcare support staff. Automatic interpretation of ABI reduces operator error, and the device’s accurate, reproducible results have been clinically proven by recent studies. An integrated printer for documentation of results and waveforms provides clinicians with instant hardcopies for patient charts. The ABIlity is also designed to create a more pleasant patient experience, as the four-cuff system is easy to apply and does not require patients to remove their socks. The device is portable and has a variety of accessories that make it accessible for primary care clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and even patients’ homes. To learn more and to read the clinical study of ABIlity, visit https://bit.ly/ABIstudy.

iPhone Application Secures Patient Communication

As more physician–patient communication is being conducted via cell phones, it is important that physicians’ cell phones are HIPAA-compliant and secure. Now available for the iPhone is the MedXCom application (“app”), a fully-automated communications system customized to meet the on-the-go needs of physicians, staff, and patients. The app keeps a record of cell phone calls and conversations, a useful tool for physicians’ legal protection. The app records phone calls with a time and date stamp, and calls can be archived for up to 23 years. Calls can be rapidly transcribed, voice to text, for an additional fee. The app also enables physicians to view patients’ personal health profiles before the call is connected. Other features include prescription of medications through electronic submission, which satisfies requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Caller ID privacy protection for returning patient or client calls. The free app is available in the Apple App store. MedXCom also offers a more comprehensive platform for use in medical offices for a monthly fee. Learn more about MedXCom services at https://medxcom.com.