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Katie McKinley, Product Manager
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AliMed’s Air-Assisted Patient Transfer System Drastically Reduces Pull Force for Fewer Injuries
New PPS Glide requires only two staff to assist
Dedham, Mass., Apr. 20, 2022—AliMed, Inc., a Massachusetts-based medical supply manufacturer and distributor, introduced today a single-patient use option for its PPS Glide Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer System. This innovative patient transfer device requires less overall pull force and fewer healthcare staff to safely move patients from surface to surface, minimizing injuries and infection risk while maximizing patient comfort.
As the healthcare industry grapples with unprecedented staffing shortages and rising temporary labor costs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, an already fragile workforce has been saddled with managing more patients with less help. This has made nurses and other staff especially vulnerable to on-the-job injuries frequently linked to common tasks such as patient handling, which often requires multiple staff. To help mitigate these personnel challenges, AliMed partnered with Patient Positioning Systems (PPS) to offer the PPS Glide—a safer, more resource-efficient alternative to conventional shifters and transfer boards.
The Glide uses air-assisted technology to reduce friction by circulating low-pressure, high-volume air through hundreds of micro-perforations on the underside of the device. This creates a cushion of air that allows the Glide to slide more freely when transferring patients, even those weighing up to 1,200 lbs., drastically reducing the pull force—and staff—required for lateral transfers and the overall risk of staff injuries.
“This technology is a game-changer in today’s patient handling market,” said Adrienne Hamilton, Director of Marketing at AliMed. “The pandemic has escalated staffing shortages to an acute state, piling on the costly everyday injuries that already hamper hospitals. The Glide requires minimal strength and just two staff to complete a transfer—critical features that can help combat those challenges.” Hamilton also said fewer staff can mean less anxiety and embarrassment often experienced by larger patients when additional resources are needed to move them.
The new disposable Glide also helps hospitals reduce cross-contamination during transfers in higher infection-risk areas such as operating or emergency rooms, while the already-available reusable model can be used in tandem to minimize facility waste in areas where devices are less frequently soiled and can be cleaned between patients. Both models use the same universal inflation pump and can be left under the patient for their entire stay for multi-transfer use or as a repositioning aid for boosting, turning, or proning.
The PPS Glide is part of AliMed’s growing portfolio of air-assisted devices, with new products for patient lifting and positioning slated for release later in 2022.
About AliMed, Inc.
AliMed, Inc. manufactures and distributes acute and post-acute medical products and devices. For over 50 years, AliMed has innovated to deliver flexible supply chain solutions with superior service and value-based products focused on the safety and productivity of the healthcare community. AliMed’s broad portfolio of products for domestic and international care providers, dealers, and distributors are designed to improve patient outcomes and experiences from “hospital to home.”
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