Look for reactive air surfaces that promote good immersion, patient envelopment and proper flotation. Quite simply, a reactive support surface can change its load distribution properties only in response to an applied load. Pressure is redistributed based on body movements, so patients are literally floating on pockets of air. They can be powered, but they don’t have to be. In…
The Preferred Treatment is Prevention Pressure injuries are painful, quite often increase patient lengths of stay and carry an annual mortality rate of nearly 60,000. It stands to reason why prevention may be the wisest choice. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While Ben Franklin probably wasn’t referring to pressure injuries, he was spot on! And…
Abracadabra! Pressure mapping is a non-invasive method of measuring the actual pressure between the patient’s body and the surface. Skin assessments are important for good patient care. But they can only provide a superficial snapshot of what is happening on the surface. Conditions such as excessive moisture and friction can easily be identified but it’d take a crystal ball to…
WAFFLE Support Surfaces deliver pressure redistribution that patients and caregivers can count on. At EHOB, preventing pressure injuries is the foundation on which we were built over 35 years ago. It’s what we do. But we’re not your average device manufacturer. Founded by a physician, good patient outcomes have always been our driving force. It has to be. WAFFLE Support…
Safe and Sound So what can be done to ease the patients’ minds? Nosocomephobia. It’s a big word with a simple meaning: fear of hospitals. While not everyone entering the hospital suffers at this level, most people do experience some degree of stress or anxiety. Patients aren’t always versed in how healthcare operates. And toss in an angry wound or…
Using pressure mapping in the fight against pressure injuries A pressure mapping system records the actual pressure between the patient’s body and bed surface or wheelchair. Wouldn’t it be great to know what part of the patient’s body is under the most pressure, particularly in those with sensory issues? You can! Pressure mapping systems offer up nifty visuals on the…
Margaret Lehmann According to the CDC, the prevalence of obesity in the US has soared to 42.4%, with medical costs exceeding the billion-dollar mark. Caring for this patient population poses unique challenges particularly in the area of skin breakdown. Pressure injuries don’t always form in the usual locations like the heels and sacrum. That’s too easy. Sometimes they present in…
Boggy Heels. Where did that term even come from? To understand what a ‘boggy heel’ is and how it possibly relates to the development of pressure injuries, why not start with the definition of a bog. A bog is described as a wet ground too soft to support a heavy body. Now, in medical terms, ‘boggy’ refers to abnormal texture…