Innovative device supports nurses and patients in south-central Indiana

Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and IU Health is always looking at new ways to support and uplift them as they provide the highly-skilled and compassionate care their patients deserve.

One of the more recent innovations within the IU Health South Region is a new device placed on all inpatient beds to assist with the common, yet time-consuming and potentially straining, task of moving a patient up in their bed.

“Every nurse who’s worked with hospitalized patients knows how important it is to ensure their patients are positioned correctly in their bed, for both their comfort and ease of care,” said IU Health Bloomington Chief Nursing Officer Cynthia Herrington, DNP, FNP, RN, NE-BC. “The Hercules Patient Repositioner allows a single caregiver to move a patient with the simple push of a button, helping reduce the risk of team member injuries and improving overall patient comfort and experience.”

Nurses typically need to reposition patients 6 – 10 times a day per patient, and before the repositioner tool it could take up to 8 – 10 minutes to gather the team members needed to move the individual. This typically required two to four people working together. Also known as patient boosting, this essential task can contribute to low back pain issues, which affects up to 72% of nurses according to the World Health Organization.

With the innovative repositioner device, one caregiver can push a button and within seconds the specially designed bedsheet moves to slide the person’s body back into optimal position in their bed. The repositioner also offers several key benefits that prioritize the safety and well-being of nursing and other care teams, including:

• Reducing physical strain of the caregivers who would typically need to work together to physically lift and move the individual.
• The device streamlines the repositioning process, allowing the caregivers to complete the task more quickly. This can ensure patients can be quickly made more comfortable while freeing up time for the care team to focus on other aspects of patient care.
• The repositioner can help reduce the risk of falls or discomfort during repositioning.

“When I first learned about the tool, I knew that this could be an asset for all bedside caregivers and the patients we serve,” said Herrington. “I can’t give enough thanks to all who have made this possible, including team members for contributing to the IU Health Foundation campaign supporting this initiative, IU Health Foundation donors, the IU Health Innovation team and the Bloomington Hospital Auxiliary Board.”

Innovations like this help move healthcare forward for both patients and caregivers, and the IU Health South Region is excited to be able to support these individuals in this new way.