© WeAssist
News • Assistive mobility system to reduce strain on care staff
An easier way to transport hospital beds
The most important resource of a company – including hospitals – is its staff. This is reason enough to think about optimising working conditions. The two companies Linak and Tente have done just that and are presenting an innovative solution for patient transport at the hospital bedside at the Medica tradefair in Düsseldorf.
The joint project, called WeAssist, is designed to take the ergonomics of transport with a hospital bed to a new level. This assistive mobility system “understands” what the user wants to do. In this way, helping the user with every manoeuvre, for example, when negotiating a ramp. The intuitive and self-explanatory design approach makes it possible to operate the system without any training, the companies state.
The new solution also aims to reduce the immense cost pressure on hospitals. The option of retrofitting existing beds reduces acquisition costs. While this is even easier if a Tente and Linak system is already installed in the beds, the companies point out that the upgrade can be retrofitted inexpensively in just a few minutes. New bed projects do not require large resources either, as the use of WeAssist can be realised with little effort and at a favourable price.
The assistive system is designed to offer the support that a second person would also provide when pushing the bed. This means that the bed transport can be carried out by just one person. This person is noticeably relieved, while the second person has time to take care of other important tasks. The system also significantly improves the ergonomics of bed transport, the companies report, as the strain on the spine, muscles and joints is reduced. Moving the bed is intuitive and requires less effort, with the effect being comparable to using an e-bike instead of a regular bicicle.
The companies point out that thanks to its health-promoting effects, the WeAssist system counteracts the increase in absenteeism in healthcare professionals, as the back no longer has to be bent excessively when transporting beds. This leads to reduced strain on joints, muscles and the spine, so medical care staff feel the relief immediately and benefit from significantly improved working conditions and less effort.
Visitors to Medica will have the opportunity to experience the WeAssist system live on a bed and drive it themselves.
>> Hall 12, Stand B53
Source: Linak GmbH
10.11.2024
