The MOVI-1 is the first
truly ergonomic transport wheelchair designed to protect the
patient and the nurse/caregiver. The inspiration for MOVI-1 began,
as innovations often do, with personal stories. Will Ferniany,
PhD., is the CEO of UAB Health System, one of the four
largest academic medical centers in the US. Based on his
experience in senior leadership Dr. Ferniany recognized that there
had to be a better way to transport patients with greater comfort
and improved safety for both patients and staff. The MOVI-1 features are an
adjustable sitting angle of the back and seat controlled with a
battery operated electric motor that reclines 25 degrees, to
forward 15 degrees. Either the nurse/caregiver or patient operates
the motor. Plus a lumbar curve built into the back and a non-skid
footrest that adjusts flat to the floor for safe patient handling.
According
to data from an American Hospital Association study, more than
1 million people in a hospital fall annually in the U.S. And
more than 500,000 hospital falls
happened during wheelchair transfers. The MOVI-1 flush to floor footrests substantially reduces this huge problem. Details are below.
PATIENT
FEATURES: PAL (patient
assist lift) is a battery operated motor under the
seat that lifts 600 lbs, allowing the patient to move from a
comfortable reclined position of up to 25 degrees backwards,
to 15 degrees forward. This lift chair feature is a giant leap
forward in patient and nurses/caregiver safety. MOVI also
incorporates FTF (flush to floor footrests) that adjusts to
rest flat to the floor when patients are entering or exiting
the chair. The footrest is also covered in a non-slip surface
to reduce the chances of slips and falls. According to data
from an American Hospital Association study, more than 1
million people staying in a hospital fall annually in the U.S.
And more than 500,000 hospital falls
happened during wheelchair transfers. American Nurse
Today estimates the annual cost for fall related injuries are
$30 billion. Image the costs to your hospital? The MOVI flush
to floor footrest greatly reduces this problem.
Pressure ulcers: Affect more than
2.5 million patients annually. About 60,000 people die as a
direct result of pressure ulcers each year. Medicare
estimated in 2007 that each pressure ulcer added up to
$151,700 in costs to a hospital stay and estimated total costs
range from $9 to $11.6 billion per year in the US. There are
more than 17,000 lawsuits related to pressure ulcers annually.
It is the second most common claim after wrongful death and
greater than falls or emotional distress. Because the MOVI-1
allows the patient to sit in a range of reclined positions,
this allows body weight distribution over a much broader
surface area. Pressure concentration on many critical tissue
areas is reduced.
NURSES/CAREGIVERS: Also benefit from the PAL
(patient assist lift). They perform the heavy lifting and
pushing necessary to transport patients within a hospital.
Back injuries in acute health care, due to moving patients,
can account for 33-65% of a system’s workers’ compensation
costs. MOVI-1 reduces the need to physically lift a patient
during transfer.
This electric wheelchair mimics the
bio-mechanics of standing. In other words, how patients would
enter and exit a chair without any assistance. And it
substantially reduces the
chances of slips and falls, thus
minimizing injuries that are caused by lifting people from a
traditional wheelchair. The job takes a toll physically and is
often cited as a leading cause for nurses leaving the
profession. Nurses/caregivers average 18.6 transfers per
shift.
Considering their average patient weighs more than 180
pounds, nurses/caregivers can be lifting more than 1.6 tons
per shift! A 2011 health and safety study by the American
Nursing Association showed that disabling injuries from
lifting are a top concern among 62% of nurses. Eight in ten
nurses said muscle and joint pain is a frequent occurrence.
Simply put, traditional wheelchairs designed 81 years ago were
not designed for all of the current day uses we demand. The
MOVI ergonomic transport wheelchair is an innovative approach
to patient transport that addresses these major concerns.
Contact:
Tom Gaede - ErgonomicHome.com
Phone home free: 1-877-550-2678 (or)
281-655-9798
Email: tom@ergonomichome.com
