Genesis Health System is about to introduce new pieces of technology aimed at keeping nurses from dropping patients. The introduction will happen on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Genesis' three main campuses.
One of the new pieces of technology is a ceiling lift, which helps paralyzed patients. Nurses used to lift patients out of bed by only using their arms. Now with the new ceiling lift technology, they can use a machine.
"If they're never going to walk again, and they're paralyzed, and we just want to get them out of bed, this is a good tool," registered nurse Marla Ramirez said.
Another type of lift, called a Sara Plus, will be used for patients who can stand. It is more lifting done by machines, instead of people. The machines are not only supposed to improve the lives of patients. They're also supposed to improve the lives of the employees.
"We're not going home with aches and pains from holding that person up, from trying to lift that person up," Ramirez said. "When you take a gate belt, and you stand somebody up, you're making them stand up. The [Sarah Plus] does the work for me."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistants suffer a large amount of muscle injuries every single year.