Implementing powered stretcher and load systems was a cost effective intervention to reduce the incidence rates of stretcher related injuries in a paramedic service

Armstrong, Daniel P.; Ferron, Richard; Taylor, Cindi; McLeod, Brent; Fletcher, Steve; MacPhee, Renée S.; Fischer, Steven L.

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.02.009

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Work equipment for safe PHM was evaluated in two RCTs [12,13] and four cohort studies [14][15][16][17], all conducted in North America. All of the studies looked at effect compared with no intervention.…”

Section: Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the two RCTs, insufficient description of the randomization, outcomes and interventions were the main sources of moderate risk of bias (Table 2). Four cohort studies found that the introduction of work equipment and training reduced the incidence of reported musculoskeletal injuries, the perceived risk of injury and perceived exertion, compared with no intervention [14][15][16][17]. One cohort study was rated as having low risk of bias and the other three as moderate because of unclear descriptions of drop-out, sampling procedures and interventions (Table 2).…”

Section: Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a lack of studies focusing on interventions promoting safe PHM for healthcare workers in paramedic services. We identified only one study showing that implementation of powered stretchers and load systems reduced MSDs [14]. The paramedic setting is very different from the hospital setting, yet both involve physically and mentally demanding work where the use of equipment can reduce the workload.…”

Section: Usefulness Of Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A systematic review of work interventions to promote safe patient handling and movement in the healthcare sector

Wåhlin

Stigmar

Strid

2021

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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Objectives. The aim of this systematic review was to describe interventions which promote safe patient handling and movement (PHM) among workers in healthcare by reviewing the literature on their effectiveness for work and health-related outcomes. Methods. Databases were searched for studies published during 1997-2018. Measures were operationalized broadly, capturing outcomes of work and health. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies with a control group were included. Quality was assessed using evidence-based checklists by the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services. Results. The systematic review included 10 RCTs and 19 cohort studies. Providing work equipment and training workers is effective: it can increase usage. Training workers to be peer coaches is associated with fewer injuries. Other effective strategies are participatory ergonomics and management engagement in collaboration with workers, facilitating safe PHM. Conclusions. This systematic review suggests that interventions for safe PHM with an impact of health-related outcomes should include access to work equipment, training as well as employer and employee engagement. The additional impact of multifaceted interventions is inconclusive.

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Section: Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Usefulness Of Work Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A systematic review of work interventions to promote safe patient handling and movement in the healthcare sector

Wåhlin

Stigmar

Strid

2021

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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“…Studies related to cot design generally supported powered over manual features (26,27), cot legs that folded individually rather than simultaneously (10,28,29), and handles that were designed for both grip and comfort (30). Although powered cots were expensive, heavy and could not be used in many environments, their implementation reduced stretcher-related injuries by over 70% (26,27). However, for EMS services that did not have the funding for powered cots, manual cots with legs that retracted independently required less lifting forces and effort because the non-retracted leg could support a large proportion of the cot's weight while (un)loading (28,29).…”

Section: Cotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One iInterventions that have been implemented in the field and demonstrated large reductions of stretcher-related injuries were powered cots and loaders. Rather than manually lifting/lowering the cot into and out of the ambulance, powered cots can accomplish this with the push of a button (26). However, not all powered cots worked the same.…”

Section: State Of Patient Handing Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Existing Science on Human Factors and Ergonomics in the Design of Ambulances and EMS Equipment

Du¹,

Boileau²,

Wierts³

et al. 2019

Prehospital Emergency Care

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Background: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel face a disproportionally high risk for fatality and injury due to the nature of their work; and current ambulance and EMS equipment design standards do not adequately safeguard EMS personnel from sacrificing personal safety for patient care, a known human factors and ergonomic (HFE) design challenge. Despite the desire to include HFE interventions or considerations into a standard, the effectiveness of existing HFE interventions for EMS is unclear. Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize the peer-reviewed literature on the design features of patient compartments and EMS equipment that affect EMS personnel's performance or well-being. Methods: A scoping review methodology was applied to systematically search and screen for relevant articles, and extract data. Three databases (EmBase, Scopus and PubMed) were searched, and search results were screened for articles that pertained to the performance or well-being of EMS personnel when interacting with the patient compartment or its associated equipment. Results and Discussion: Of the 4125 search results, 48 relevant articles were retained, and then sorted into one of three categories: general design, patient handling, and patient transport. It was concluded that, although research has progressed over the past 15 years, more research, development, and resources are needed. Newer generations of ambulances have not been shown to be safer during collisions and there is a knowledge gap in how occupants and contents of a patient compartment behave during a collision. Crash-tests have been performed with restrained occupants and supplies, however, that scenario is unrealistic in the field. While the existing literature provided initial ideas and innovations for improving the HFE of patient

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The effect of power stretchers on occupational injury rates in an urban emergency medical services system

Pryce,

Weldon,

McDonald

et al. 2024

American J Industrial Med

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BackgroundTo examine occupational injury rates in a dual‐response emergency medical services (EMS) system before and after implementation of a power‐lift stretcher system.MethodsThe seasonally‐adjusted occupational injury rate was estimated relative to medical call volume (per 1000 calls) and workers (per 100 FTEs) from 2009 to 2019, and stratified by severity (lost‐time, healthcare only), role (EMS, FIRE) and type (patient‐handling). Power‐lift stretchers were adopted between 2013 and 2015. Preinjury versus postinjury rates were compared using binomial tests. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used to estimate the trend and change in injuries related to patient‐handling, with occupational illnesses serving as control.ResultsBinomial tests revealed varied results, with reductions in the injury rate per 1000 calls (−14.0%) and increases in the rate per 100 FTEs (+14.1%); rates also differed by EMS role and injury severity. ITS analysis demonstrated substantial reductions in patient‐handling injuries following implementation of power‐lift stretchers, both in the injury rate per 1000 calls (−50.4%) and per 100 FTEs (−46.6%), specifically among individuals deployed on the ambulance. Injury rates were slightly elevated during the winter months (+0.8 per 100 FTEs) and lower during spring (−0.5 per 100 FTEs).ConclusionsThese results support the implementation of power‐lift stretchers for injury prevention in EMS systems and demonstrate advantages of ITS analysis when data span long preintervention and postintervention periods.

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Implementing powered stretcher and load systems was a cost effective intervention to reduce the incidence rates of stretcher related injuries in a paramedic service

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

A systematic review of work interventions to promote safe patient handling and movement in the healthcare sector

A systematic review of work interventions to promote safe patient handling and movement in the healthcare sector

Existing Science on Human Factors and Ergonomics in the Design of Ambulances and EMS Equipment

The effect of power stretchers on occupational injury rates in an urban emergency medical services system

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