Patient lifts, also known as hoists, are hydraulic devices used in hospitals and care facilities to lift and transport patients who cannot move on their own. There are three types of lifts: sit-to-stand, floor, and ceiling lifts. Lifts come with slings to support the patient during transfer.
Sometimes referred to as a patient lift, a patient lift is a hydraulic device used in many hospitals and other intensive care facilities. Hoists are used to gently lift and transport patients who are unable to move on their own will. Depending on the patient’s condition, one of three different models of the patient lift is used to manage the transfer.
Sit-to-stand lifts are one of the most common examples of an electric patient lift used today in hospitals, weight-loss clinics, and nursing homes. These mobile devices can be used to assist in the task of lifting a patient from a sitting to standing position. It is not uncommon for lifts of this type to be used in rehabilitation situations where a patient is trying to regain motor skills lost due to an accident.
Another commonly used patient lifter is known as a floor lifter. This device was originally designed in the mid-20th century and can be used to move disabled patients from a bed to a stretcher. Elevators of this type are particularly useful in the transport of morbidly obese or paralyzed patients who are unable to assist the movement in any way. Using this type of lift means that fewer staff are needed to handle the move – a very important feature in a hospital operating with a small number of staff.
In recent years, newer healthcare facilities have incorporated the addition of ceiling lifts into patient room designs. A hydraulic lift of this type is mounted overhead and can be operated via a control panel located on the wall or at the foot of the bed. When needed, the hoist can be activated and a support sling lowered into position to enable patient movement. Hospitals, nursing homes, and many rehabilitation centers built since the 1990s feature this patient lifter design.
With each lifter design, the apparatus includes some type of sling that helps provide support to the patient. Most of these patient lifting slings are constructed using durable material capable of supporting excessive amounts of weight. Some of the slings are simple designs that provide support for the lower back and buttocks, but others are built to look like a hammock. Many healthcare facilities use more than one type of patient lift, depending on the patient’s condition and the type of transfer or shift that needs to be performed.
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