Speeding up the discharge of patients in preparation for Coronavirus

The discharge from hospital of patients to their home, or suitable care settings is a key consideration for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) up and down the country. Timely discharging of patients from hospital can improve wellbeing and increase life expectancy whilst reducing bed blocking, and enabling hospitals to operate more effectively.

Increasing the number of patients discharged from hospital due to the current Coronavirus pandemic has gained a lot of attention for two reasons. Firstly, hospital trusts are urgently trying to find ways to free up beds in preparation for Coronavirus patients. Secondly, fewer carers are available due to large numbers of them being in self-isolation with Coronavirus symptoms.

In order to address the first problem, innovative solutions are required to enable the discharge of patients who couldn’t otherwise be discharged, or to enable discharge sooner than would otherwise be possible.

To address the second problem, single-handed care packages – already a topic well known to CCG’s – should be implemented to make better use of valuable carer resource. This is critical to minimising the amount of carer resources required for discharge and aftercare and to keep as many nurses as possible serving on the front line.

Implementing innovative technology that is easy to use and quick to set up is the way to achieve the above two solutions. In such a small timeframe as currently, full automation – such as using robots or other technologies like AI – simply isn’t possible.

This is where mechanisation comes in. Mechanisation takes away the physical element of care, but without being complicated or time-consuming to implement and use. Mechanisation also retains the personal side of caring which is still so critical for quality care, even in this day and age.

An example of this is the VENDLET V5S patient turning system. It comprises of two roller bars and side rails mounted on a profiling bed. The roller bars turn, initiating a controlled turning motion. The caregiver then uses their free hand to gently guide the patient into the preferred position. The VENDLET V5S can be used for many in-bed care tasks, including the following examples;

• Turning a patient from side to side into lateral, prone or supine positions
• Repositioning a patient back up the bed where they have slipped down
• Applying a sling or changing an incontinence product

See it in action here;

The VENDLET V5S allows for rapid discharge of patients either to home or to a care setting when otherwise they could not be discharged, or the process would take much longer;

• Cases where regular turning and positioning of the patient is essential for pressure relief
• Cases where the implementation of a mechanised turning system would allow a client to return home when they otherwise couldn’t be discharged
• Patients who require turning for personal care and the insertion and removal of slings
• Complicated or bariatric patients who would normally require multiple carers
• Patients with neurological conditions who normally find turning and positioning in bed stressful

If you are currently considering how to speed up and improve your discharge process, then please get in touch to find out how this solution could work for you.

You can speak to our specialist product advisor Harvey anytime on 07876 876794, or get in touch at [email protected]

We’re here to help in this time of need.

Click here to find out more about turning a patient in bed

Click here to find out more about the VENDLET V5S Patient Turning System