WHAT: In conjunction with its annual Safety Fair, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital will be hosting a demonstration of recently purchased inflatable mattress technology, which ease patient transfers within hospital and has proven incredibly successful in reducing staff injuries from lifting patients.

In simple terms, the HoverMatt is a mattress which securely inflates around a patient’s body, and allows staff to easily slide a patient from one location to another – for example, from an in-patient bed to a diagnostic table or gurney. The mattress inflates with air while thousands of tiny holes on the bottom of the mattress allow air to escape, reducing friction and resulting in the patient being transferred at less than 10% of their actual weight.

More traditional methods of lifting patients can often result in workplace injuries for staff. Over a six-month period in 2010, for example, 11 out of 15 workplace injuries among Diagnostic Imaging staff at HDGH were due to patient handling and transferring, 10 of which required medical intervention, resulting in 80 days of lost staff time.

In response, HDGH tested the use of HoverMatt, starting with a 60-day trial in Diagnostic Imaging last fall, and a subsequent purchase of 10 HoverMatt products for DI, and another two for Nuclear Medicine. Staff, who were trained on how to use the new equipment, reported no injuries related to patient transfers as a result of the HoverMatt technology.

HDGH will soon be rolling out use of the HoverMatt equipment to other departments inside the hospital including the OR, Emergency Department and ICU.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

WHO: Mike Roberts, OHS & WSIB Manager, HDGH
Andra Forrest, Product Manager – Patient Handling, ArjoHuntleigh
Rod Deeks, Western Regional Sales Director, HoverTech International

WHERE: Conference Room 8 (located near the Ouellette Ave. entrance on administration hallway)