Stewart Memorial Hospital, along with generous support from the Hospital's Foundation, has launched a new initiative to reduce workplace injuries. This past week, ceiling lifts were installed throughout Stewart Memorial Hospital, making it the first facility on Prince Edward Island to implement a full ceiling lift program.
Ceiling lifts are used to transfer patients safely. The lifts provide secure transfers which greatly enhance patient care and comfort. There is less risk involved for health care workers with this type of transfer due to the stationary nature of the lift. A track is securely mounted to the patient's room ceiling. The lift is able to move along this track and can raise and lower patients with the touch of a button. The lift can also move the patient along the track with the use of a handset. There are a few patients who, with the use of a ceiling lift, can do their own transfer.
The Stewart Memorial Hospital Foundation has been very active in recent years to fundraise for improved hospital equipment. Three years ago, the Foundation planned to replace all manually operated beds with state-of-the-art electric beds and new mattresses. This was accomplished at a cost of some $80,000. Next was the purchase of a stand-up lift costing $2,539. The implementation of the new ceiling lifts costs $34,000.
Clyde Minard, Chairman of Stewart Memorial Hospital Foundation, said "These programs could only be achieved with the financial support of our hospital community and the Board is indeed grateful."
Faye Feener, Nurse Coordinator at Stewart Memorial advised that "Twelve years ago Jean Guy Marcotte, the founder of ceiling lifts in long-term care, started showing health care facilities how they could make a positive change by addressing the problem of back injuries among nursing staff. Evidence compiled over the last ten years has shown that ceiling lifts can dramatically change the lives of workers in long-term care environments."
"Statistics show that facilities using ceiling lifts reduce nurse back injuries by 75 percent," said Ms. Feener. "Nursing staff undergo less stress and they feel more energetic as a result of using the equipment. Management feels the benefits too with less staff absenteeism, improved morale and reduced costs. We are also finding that patients love the new lifts."
Ms. Feener, along with Resident Care Director, Joan Hubley, researched the ceiling lifts through an assessment of government studies and articles from British Columbia, Toronto, Wisconsin, and Quebec. Through the research, it was found that many health facilities confirm what lift users already know – the equipment is very effective in increasing safety for caregivers and patients.
For more information, contact: Rod Stanley at (902) 888-8026.