Why Hospitals Are Switching to Bridge Air for Safer Patient Handling

Hospitals throughout the world continue to place the utmost priority on patient safety in the constantly changing field of healthcare. With advancements in technology and medical practices, new solutions have emerged to enhance the safety and efficacy of patient handling. One such innovation is the Bridge Air system, which is gaining popularity across healthcare facilities due to its ability to significantly reduce friction during lateral transfers.?

Bridge Air reduces lateral force by 80%~90%, minimizes staff and patient injuries related to transfers and repositioning and is easy to use.

This blog explores why hospitals are increasingly adopting Bridge Air and its impact on patient care and staff safety.

Lateral Transfers

Traditional methods of moving patients can be physically taxing on healthcare workers and uncomfortable, or even hazardous, for patients.?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), when lateral transfers in healthcare are not done properly, several significant issues can arise:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs): Healthcare workers face high risks of MSDs, which can result from overexertion during manual patient handling. Common injuries include sprains and strains, particularly affecting the shoulders and low back.
• Patient Injuries: Improper handling can lead to patient discomfort, injuries, and complications such as skin tears or fractures.
• Increased Costs: Injuries contribute to higher costs related to medical expenses, disability compensation, and potential litigation.
• Reduced Worker Efficiency: Injured or fatigued healthcare workers may be less productive, potentially compromising patient safety and care quality.
• High-Risk Areas: Certain healthcare settings, like acute and long-term care, are particularly prone to these issues due to frequent patient handling.

The Bridge Air system utilizes advanced air-assisted technology that elevates patients on a cushion of air, facilitating smooth lateral transfers without physical lifting. This technology reduces the biomechanical strain on healthcare workers, thereby minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. It also ensures patient safety by reducing contact pressure and friction, preventing injuries such as skin tears or fractures. By enhancing transfer efficiency and reducing injury-related costs, Bridge Air represents a significant advancement in safe patient handling practices.?

Improving Efficiency and Morale

Below shows the direct correlation between study and research done by The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) to the benefit of Bridge Air usage.

• Hospital margins declined by 102% from pre-pandemic levels during the first half of 2022, with 53% of hospitals projected to have negative margins in 2023. This underlines the financial pressures that necessitate operational efficiencies.

• The report notes that nearly 60% of health system chief information officers (CIOs) use more than 50 unique software solutions for managing healthcare operations, which affects the technology return on investment (ROI) and adds to staff burden.

• By consolidating operations and technology, health systems can significantly improve efficiency. The focus on interoperability, enabling clinician workforces, and ensuring privacy and security were named as top priorities, indicating areas where operational efficiency can be directly improved.

Implementing Bridge Air in hospital settings has shown to improve operational efficiency. With easier and quicker patient transfers, healthcare staff can allocate more time to other critical aspects of patient care. This efficiency boost is a boon for hospitals, especially those experiencing high patient volumes and needing swift room turnovers. Additionally, easier handling procedures contribute significantly to staff morale. When healthcare workers have access to tools that make their duties less physically demanding, job satisfaction can improve, which in turn reduces turnover and burnout rates.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial investment in a system like Bridge Air may be higher than traditional “grab and throw” methods, the long-term savings are substantial. Hospitals that have adopted this technology report lower incidences of worker compensation claims and less spending on health issues related to improper patient handling. Furthermore, the durability of the Bridge Air system ensures that hospitals can rely on its performance for the entire length of a patient’s stay, adding to its cost-effectiveness.

With hospital budgets tightly controlled, efficient spending is key and a part of our consideration. Bridge Air falls into the category of hospital consumables and disposables, which typically accounts for about 20% of a hospital's purchasing budget. By investing in such innovative equipment, hospitals can achieve long-term savings through reduced worker compensation claims and lower costs related to patient handling injuries.

The Bridge Air system is versatile and essential, suitable for all hospital environments—from small clinics to large medical centers. Its universal application ensures that any healthcare facility focused on enhancing patient handling practices can benefit from this technology.

Many hospitals leverage the purchasing power of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) like Magnet and Premier to obtain Bridge Air at more favorable prices. These organizations negotiate deals on behalf of member hospitals, which can lead to significant cost reductions and streamlined procurement processes.

Supporting Compliance with Safety Standards

Many hospitals are motivated to switch to Bridge Air as part of their compliance with national safety standards and guidelines for patient handling. Organizations such as OSHA and the Joint Commission emphasize the importance of using mechanical means to move patients safely to prevent injuries. Bridge Air not only complies with these recommendations but exceeds them, offering an exemplary model of what modern patient handling equipment should provide.

Conclusion

As hospitals continue to seek better ways to enhance patient care and ensure staff safety, systems like Bridge Air stand out as essential investments. The technology's ability to reduce friction dramatically, its contribution to safety and efficiency, and its alignment with compliance standards make it a compelling choice for healthcare facilities aiming to modernize their patient handling procedures. By adopting Bridge Air, hospitals are not just investing in a product; they are investing in a safer, more efficient future for their patients and staff. For more product information, visit our product page.