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PRODUCT APPLICATIONS FROM THE FIELD ADVERTORIAL Caregiver injuries among EMS providers are a constant challenge, with patient transport leading the list of job-related dangers that can lead to lost duty time. Shaun Curtis, risk and safety manager for MedStar Mobile Health- care, a Texas-based EMS provider covering advanced life support ambulance service to 436 square miles and more than 936,000 residents, oversees employee health and well-being among the company's work force. "We were noticing a high frequency of sprains and strains among our providers, and theorized that improved body mechanics could reduce these incidents," recalls Curtis. In the summer of 2015, the safety team began a comprehensive review of available patient transfer equip- ment and trialed powered systems from leading manufacturers. After consulting with ergonomics professionals and seeking input from their field staff, MedStar settled on the Stryker Movement System. "We wanted it to be their decision," Curtis says of seeking buy-in from EMS staff. "They liked the ease of use, and it had all the features we were looking for." MedStar contracted with their remount team and phased in the sys- tem gradually, installing it on 2–3 ambulances at a time and training staff both on the new system and a revamped patient lifting protocol including stretching and proper body mechanics. MedStar staffs a fleet of 57 ambulances responding to over 140,000 calls per year. "It was a smooth implementation and we heard nothing but posi- tive feedback," Curtis says. "If we heard any negatives, it was 'why did this take so long?'" An objective cost-benefit analysis supported their choice with hard data—staff injuries went down drastically, from roughly 60 per year prior to implementation to just 2 in 2016. The company saved over $32,000 in the first year. "Employees drive your success," says Curtis. "While the cost savings are a plus, the primary benefit is improved staff morale. That transfers to your patients and enhances your reputation in the community." Visit www.ems.stryker.com/ Circle 11 on the Product Information Card 46 NOVEMBER 2017 | EMSWORLD.com Back injuries have ended countless EMS careers and interrupted even more, and a lot of them came from lifting patients. EMS workers, researchers have found, have a risk of lifting-related injury that's 21 times higher than the national average. The twisting and turning and hoisting required to get people out of their difficult positions poses a con- stant threat to career longevity. A 30-day trial of the Binder Lift convinced leaders at Louisiana's Lafourche Ambulance District #1 they'd found a way to minimize that threat. "The Binder Lift website says it perfectly: Humans aren't born with handles," says Brady Daigle, the service's operations man- ager. "This device puts handles on a human being for ease of lifting. "Very often our patients who need lift- ing off the ground don't have strong cloth- ing on—they'll have some type of gown or pajamas. Putting the Binder Lift on gives you something to grab onto, whereas without it you have to lift by their arms or legs." The Binder Lift is a torso wrap that can be applied even in confined spaces. It has 19–25 handles to help crews maneuver patients from floor to cot. The wrap design spreads the lifting forces, reducing the patient's risk of skin tears, bruising and frac- tures. It comes in nylon and vinyl, in standard and bariatric sizes. Lafourche trialed the Binder Lift under a program the company offers, equipping supervisors and letting everyone apply it and wear it for familiarity. Staff liked it so much, the service proceeded to outfit all its trucks. "My first concern was that it might take too long to put it on and my medics wouldn't use it," says Daigle. "But once they tried it, they embraced it unbelievably. It's so quick to apply and use, I don't know of anybody who's lifting anybody anymore without it. "Our main focus was to prevent prevent- able injuries to our employees—we try to be proactive and get whatever equipment we can that might benefit us in that way. The price you pay for the Binder Lift is very small compared to just one worker's comp claim." Visit www.binderlift.com Circle 12 on the Product Information Card A Safer Way to Lift Interviews with end users of EMS products and services Protecting Providers' Health