SPONSORED HEALTH O METERS PROFESSIONAL SCALES
Acquiring a critical or immobile patient’s weight is not easy. It takes time, and disrupts clinical workflow. Despite the difficulties in obtaining weight measurements, a patient’s body weight is a critical measurement in calculating the appropriate dosage of life-saving drugs. In addition to providing patients with the proper drug dosage, drugs need to be administered quickly, as in some cases every minute is a factor in a patient’s outcome. Faster treatment is also a goal of Process Improvement teams as hospitals across the country are focused on shortening door to needle times to meet American Heart Association 2020 credentialing guidelines and to be designated as a “Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus” certified institution.
Traditional options
Currently, the three most commonly used options for weighing time-critical, immobile patients are weighing beds, hoist scales, and estimation. However, these methods are problematic as they are difficult to use, time-consuming, inaccurate, and uncomfortable for the patient.
Typically most emergency rooms or stroke centers will weigh immobile patients using a stretcher or bed with a weighing scale inside of it. This is not a reliable solution – weighing beds are not always available, as they are often in use or have been moved. Clinicians are not confident in the use of weighing beds as they can be inaccurate due to not being calibrated regularly or properly zeroed before use. In some instances using a weighing bed can increase the number of patient transfers. In the case of an immobile stroke patient, the patient is transferred from an EMS stretcher, to a weighing bed and then to a CT scanner. This extra transfer is a risk to the patient’s safety and a burden on staff’s physical health. Lastly, weighing beds can be very expensive, costing over $15,000 in many cases.
Another less common option to weigh immobile patients is to use a hoist scale. Hoist scales lift patients from a bed to obtain a weight measurement. These scales are not a popular choice as they are difficult to use, time-consuming as well as being uncomfortable and stressful for the patient. Obtaining a weight using a hoist often involves several steps to set up the scale and properly position the patient. And as previously stated, these patients need to be treated quickly and every minute counts.
A third method used to obtain the weight measurement of an immobile patient is estimation. Staff can estimate weight by what is told to them by the patient or by a visual estimate. But estimation is not accurate and can be very dangerous when weight is used to determine drug dosing. The drugs commonly used in the ICU are dosed based on precise patient weight, and an over or underestimated weight measurement can lead to fatal drug levels or inadequate treatment. Weight estimation should only be considered as a last resort when time is critical to providing life-saving treatment.
It is evident that a more efficient and accurate method of weighing immobile patients would provide better patient outcomes, enhance workflow, and reduce the burden on staff.
The Patient Transfer Scale
As a leading manufacturer in the healthcare market, Health o meter Professional Scales focuses on developing and introducing healthcare products that can make marked improvements on patient care and outcomes. To help healthcare facilities overcome the challenges of weighing immobile patients, Health o meter Professional Scales now offers the Patient Transfer Scale. The new PTS-1000KL is an innovative piece of equipment that combines a transfer board with a weighing scale inside, allowing clinicians to quickly and accurately weigh immobile patients without changing their workflow. This easy-to-use scale can be quickly zeroed for immediate use, is always available using its convenient wall-hanging stowing system, and decreases the number of patient transfers. All departments in the hospital can benefit from the Patient Transfer Scale, particularly Stroke Units, the Emergency Room, ICU, and Radiology. In addition to the practical benefits, the Patient Transfer Scale is also an effective cost-saving alternative to other weighing options.
When choosing the right brand, choose the brand that makes it weigh easier for you, the customer and the patient, Health o meter Professional Scales.