Do proper patient handling techniques, coupled with new technology, help reduce the risk of injury development amongst health care workers?

This project will provide a biomechanical comparison of commonly used patient handling techniques performed using a standard hospital bed outfitted with and without a Vendlet (vendlet.com) patient transfer device. This Vendlet technology has the potential to significantly reduce the musculoskeletal and joint strain to health care providers in both acute and long-term care facilities. The Vendlet is a powered patient turning aid, which replaces the bed-rail system of the hospital bed. Using a set of rollers that can be adjusted for height, the Vendlet mechanically moves the bed sheet beneath the patient in a controlled manner. The system can assist in turning the patient as well as reposition them in the bed. The technology is currently not available in Canada, but this validation research has the potential to promote its incorporation in Canadian health care facilities.
This research will provide the health care industry with a much-needed quantification of the physical demands associated with commonly used patient handling techniques.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michelle Cardoso;Wayne Albert

Student:

Partner:

ResearchNB

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Moncton

Program: