Power to the Patient

In eastern Tennessee, like most of the rest of America, patients are getting larger. And the vertical geography of Jefferson County doesn’t do providers many favors.

“We have a lot of mountains and hills around here,” says Brad Phillips, director of Jefferson County EMS. “When we approach a patient, we’re used to thinking about how we’re going to load them without having a drop getting in or out of the ambulance.”

To make that experience safer for patients and crews both, the service outfitted its front-line ambulances with Stryker’s Power-LOAD cot-fastener system, which lifts and lowers cots into and out of the truck hydraulically, reducing loads on providers’ backs and their risk of getting hurt. 

Communicating wirelessly with Power-PRO cots, the Power-LOAD system supports the cot throughout the process, eliminating the need to steer it in and out and supporting its weight so the provider doesn’t have to. The system meets dynamic crash test standards for occupant safety and features manual backup in case power is lost.

Those are nice attributes in Appalachia, but doubly so for extra-large patients needing transport. Jefferson County has several regulars who exceed 400 lbs. “That was a driving force behind it,” says Phillips, “as well as the history in EMS of back and shoulder injuries from lifting.” Now these patients can travel in any front-line truck instead of waiting for a special resource.

Personnel tested the Power-LOAD system against their challenging terrain early last year before deciding it was their best option. They went live with it last April. And while it’s too soon for a verdict on back injuries, crews quickly became comfortable and embraced it.

“The feedback I get is that they really love it,” says Phillips. “They actually complain now when they’re in a truck that doesn’t have it. As far as injuries, that’s hard to quantify because they’re sporadic, but when you look at the cost of one severe back injury alone, it’s well worth the cost to reduce the risk of injury. Medics tell me their backs aren’t as tired when the day’s over. The crews do notice a difference.”

Visit ems.stryker.com.