How to Choose Lifting Slings

First, identify how many patient lift slings slings your healthcare setting needs. While there isn’t one right answer to this question and the quantity will depend greatly on the patient population in a building, below is a general starting point. These per-lift recommendations will change based on the acuity level of patients and body type.

Sit-To-Stand Lifts:

Sit-to-stand lifts help patients who have some mobility, but need assistance rising from a sitting position. Sit-to-stand lifts allow caregivers to comfortably and safely assist mobility patients with sitting and standing. Below are a few sit to stand lift sling considerations:

Standing Slings: 2 medium and 1 large

Standing slings are ideal for patients who can bear half or more of their own weight and have sufficient head and neck control. These types of sit-to-stand lift slings can take patients from a seated to standing position.

Transport Slings: 1 medium and 1 large

Transport slings provide back support up to a patient’s shoulder area and underneath their thighs. Transport sit-to-stand lift slings can be used for seated transports, such as bed to chair or in room transport.

What Are Specialty Patient Slings?

Keep in mind that you may have patients who, based on weight, shape or specific health needs, require other sizes or sling types (hygiene, walking, gait training, repositioning, etc.)

A few examples of patient-specific slings include:

• Bariatric Sling
• Repositioning Sling
• Harness

What materials are slings made from?

Patient lift slings can also be customized to meet specific needs through their sling material. Common lifting lift material includes:

• Poly. Poly slings are the standard lift sling material and are strong and durable.
• Mesh. Mesh slings are commonly used for bathing, as they dry and let go of water easily.
• Padded. Padded Sit-to-Stand sling material offers added comfort for patients.

Lifting Slings Chart: Multi-Brand Compatible Slings

Direct Supply offers a variety of sling and lift solutions for your healthcare setting. Discover our multi-brand compatible sling selection and learn more about this versatile offering in this Multi Brand Sling Vlog.

Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings have passed compatibility testing and are appropriate to use with leading brands of lift equipment. The lifting slings compatibility charts below contain our Direct Supply multi brand compatible sling models, material and size options:

Floor Lift Slings Chart:

Sit-to-Stand Lift Slings Chart:

Shop the full collection of Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings to standardize and save on slings in your healthcare setting.

A best practice is to assess the needs of each individual patient to determine the lift and sling mix you should purchase. Some benefits of purchasing patient-specific slings include:

How Do I Determine What Sling My Resident Needs?

While fit and comfort are important assessment factors when choosing the correct sling, there are other essential considerations to take into account. The determination of the correct sling model and size must be done by a licensed clinician. That designated licensed clinician should:

1. Assess the resident and determine that the resident actually requires a lift/assist device
2. Determine the correct lift/assist device and sling based on the resident assessment and the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to determine the appropriate sling based on the desired function.
3. Document the specific recommended lift/assist device (make, model and weight capacity) and sling (make, model and size – including any specific attachment instructions). Remember, slings can be made of mesh, breathable fabric, nylon, quilted, padded and may have parts that can be plastic or metal. Be specific.

How Do I Ensure Proper Usage?

Having the proper equipment is an excellent start, but making sure your staff and residents know how to use them is absolutely essential. Be sure to follow any and all manufacturer instructions and safety compliance instructions. Additionally, consider these tips:

What Are the Biggest Factors in Choosing a Wheelchair Cushion Type?

Wheelchair cushions are not a one-size-fits-all solution for your fleet and should be suited to each patient individually. As you make this assessment, the two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits. These different options cater to unique conditions, however, and using the wrong wheelchair cushion could lead to hazardous positioning. Choosing the best wheelchair seat cushion type can provide long term benefits for patients and can prevent and heal skin breakdown.

What Are the Different Wheelchair Cushion Shapes?

The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.

When choosing a wheelchair seat cushion shape type, it’s important to consider a patients’ mobility and positioning needs. Do they need pain pressure relief for posture issues, such as posterior pelvic toilet or pelvic rotation? Skin breakdown can be prevented by choosing a wheelchair cushion type that comfortably positions patients. 

Anti-Thrust Wheelchair Cushions: Used to help mitigate slide for seniors and patients who are constantly moving in their wheelchairs. An anti-thrust wheelchair seat cushion prevents sliding with a high-front and low-back cushion design. 

How Can I Choose the Best Wheelchair Cushion Material?

The three most popular wheelchair cushion material types are foam, gel and air. The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.

• Foam Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for maximizing immersion with a greater degree of pressure management and offloading properties.
• Gel Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for regulating body temperatures and reducing buildup of moisture.
• Air Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for advanced pressure management and all-day comfort with a cool and dry surface.

Wheelchair Cushion FAQ:

What are the different types of wheelchair cushion shapes?

The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.

What are the types of wheelchair cushion material?

The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.

What are the biggest factors in choosing a wheelchair cushion type?

The overarching two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits.

The Benefits of Choosing the Best Wheelchair Seat Cushion Type

Knowing how to choose the best wheelchair seat cushions for patients in your healthcare setting can create comfortable wheelchair experiences and prevent pressure sores and skin breakdown. Refer to our blog on using equipment to prevent skin breakdown to see how mattresses and other assistive devices can also increase your patients’ quality of care.

Aging in Assisted Living is not new. What’s changed?

It’s actually a combination of several leading factors, including consumer demand, expanded capabilities and changes due to healthcare reform. Seniors are waiting longer than ever to move into Senior Living, and those who live in Senior Living want to stay in their current apartments longer. Today, the average age of a resident in Assisted Living is 87. In 2000 it was 80.

Advances in medical care are helping people live longer with more chronic conditions. When you look at the research, the first incidences of cardiovascular disease, heart failure and stroke significantly increase over the age of 80. This may mean Assisted Living residents are taking more medications, need more transfer and mobility assistance, and have an increased risk of frailty.

How are providers responding?

When working with Assisted Living providers who want to expand their services, I often ask them what they are able and willing to provide. This is an important question with two distinct parts. The ability to provide additional or new services is largely based on state licensure and regulations. Many states limit the type of care and assistance a resident may receive in Assisted Living.

Once a provider understands what they are able to provide, we’ll discuss what they are willing to provide. Adding additional services may change how their business operates, affect how many staff and the type of staff needed, change policies and documentation, and possibly require adding equipment. Many providers will add services like on-site visits by a physician or nurse practitioner, the ability to meet with a dietitian or social worker, or expanded home health services with on-site nursing care and physical therapy.

What’s one of the more interesting changes you’ve seen?

As a nurse, I’m always interested in how nurses are adapting to the care environments they practice in. High acuity nursing in Assisted Living can be challenging due to the regulatory environment that often limits how much nursing care can be provided.

One of the interesting changes I’ve seen is adapting a community health model to Assisted Living. Viewing the Assisted Living facility as a community and applying principles of community health nursing can encourage a more coordinated approach to serving a resident’s needs within the boundaries of regulation and licensing. The community is better aligned to support the individual through screening programs, risk reduction interventions, health education, environmental modifications and physical activity.

What products are Assisted Living providers adding to meet these changes?

We are seeing Assisted Living providers select products that help improve outcomes and meet their residents’ health and wellness goals. Sometimes it’s as simple as a scale placed in an apartment so the resident can record a daily weight as part of managing heart failure. Or it may be equipment that helps with staff efficiency, like a vital signs monitor on a wheeled stand that can take blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation. We’ve also seen providers increasing opportunities for activity with exercise equipment, like stepper machines with virtual reality games and four-in-one exercise machines that offer varying resistance levels.

In the last few years, we’ve seen providers add more mobility aids and transfer devices to help increase safety. Many providers are realizing the risk of staff and resident injuries increases when residents require more assistance. In addition, senior mobility aids and walking devices can help residents maintain their independence. There are also newer types of transfer and lifting devices that often work better for senior mobility needs and living environments in Assisted Living.

Oxygen Concentrator Price Considerations

You may want to rent your oxygen concentrator if the up-front cost to purchase is too high or you do not wish to take on preventive maintenance tasks due to staffing restrictions.

But how do you determine when you are paying too much to rent and it makes more sense to buy? You need to measure the daily oxygen concentrator price rental rates and how many units you are renting against the cost of the device you are considering purchasing, an estimate of the costs of filters and the cost of an oxygen analyzer. And keep in mind where the money is going – maintenance tasks can be simple and routine, and rental fees add up when they include bringing in outside technicians to do maintenance. 

Many concentrators have at least 3-year warranties, indicating that the expected life of a machine is at least that long. So when you’re considering owning vs. renting, divide the up-front cost by the expected equipment lifespan to get a clearer picture of how that compares to your rental rate.

Aside from the hard cost, keep in mind that equipment downtime while waiting for an outside technician means a resident might not have access to the respiratory therapy he or she needs. By owning the unit and taking responsibility for the upkeep, you may be able to have your concentrator back up and running faster. 

If you are considering buying oxygen concentrators for your community, below are the oxygen concentrator pricing tiers to answer “how much does an oxygen concentrator cost?”

Browse portable concentrators, 5L stationary concentrators, and 10L stationary concentrators available for purchase.

When renting, it’s important to know you won’t necessarily get a brand new concentrator delivered to your door. You might get a used unit and not know how well it was cared for before. As a result, it may be nearing the end of its useful life and could be susceptible to failure or other issues. When you buy, you know you’re getting a never-used device.

What oxygen concentrator maintenance is needed?

Maintenance can be fast and simple. As an example, a typical maintenance schedule is outlined below. If you purchase an oxygen concentrator, follow the specific manufacturer’s preventive maintenance schedule for your unit.

Whenever performing maintenance, record the type of maintenance, the elapsed operating hours since the last maintenance check and make sure the flow meter is set for the prescribed liters-per-minute flow rate. 

What oxygen concentrator maintenance tools should be used?

Traditional pen and paper may do the trick, but can get lost in the shuffle or ignored. Direct Supply’s TELS Platform allows you to schedule preventive maintenance tasks on each unit to help you ensure maintenance tasks are being performed. Plus, instructions can be loaded into the TELS app so staff can follow along from the convenience of their device instead of digging for the owner’s manual. By tracking and reporting on the maintenance for each device, you have all the information you need to keep each unit running at peak performance.

Which oxygen concentrator is right for my community?

If you decide to buy an oxygen concentrator, it’s time to pick the brand and model that works for you. Here are a few key considerations:

Help Increase Safety

The most important thing to consider when using a sit-to-stand lift is helping to ensure safety for both the resident and the caregiver. Before using any lift equipment, you must complete a resident assessment by a qualified clinician. The assessment should be:

1. Multi-factorial (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.)
2. Documented
3. Communicated to caregivers
4. Repeated (at time of admission, passage of time, change of condition, etc.)

While the assessment outlines requirements for the resident, we recommend a similar process to help ensure the caregiver is prepared for the lifting procedure and knows how to use a sit-to-stand lift. A caregiver should follow the below sit-to-stand lift instructions:

1. Know the resident’s care plan requirements
2. Verify the resident’s name, physical capabilities, mental status and medical condition
3. Complete a visual lift and sling inspection before each use

4. Disinfect hands and sling both before and after use
5. Engage the resident and explain the lifting procedure

Help Improve Outcomes

After ensuring the proper requirements and procedures are met, the next step is to look at the many ways a sit-to-stand lift can improve outcomes in your community. In addition to simple transfers, these lifts can be a powerful exercise tool to help improve residents’ strength as a way to reduce dependency on lifting devices. To meet the shift of rising acuity in senior living, transfer and lifting devices can help achieve residents’ health and wellness goals. ​Additionally, they can open up a wider range of activities and interventions that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Consider these applications as potentially applicable for a resident:

The Pressure’s On

Hospitals are now taking a closer look at their Post-Acute networks and sending patients only to those facilities that can demonstrate the optimum level of care, including what happens after a patient’s discharge. Administrators and CNOs need to re-evaluate whether they are properly preparing patients as they transition to home.

Patient Education & Preparation Plays a Key Role

But there is good news! An easy way to help improve outcomes, gain referrals and increase satisfaction scores is not with more staff resources or medical procedures, but with some simple tools and communication. Patients who have a clear understanding of their self-care instructions are up to 30% less likely to be readmitted or visit an ER.² In fact, in many cases, using well-crafted discharge materials alone can reduce hospital readmissions by up to 74%.³

Pursuing these strategies may slightly increase operating costs. But, in this new era of value-based reimbursement, rewards are now available to facilities that keep patients out of the hospital.

What to Look for in Patient Education

Not all patient education is created equal. Those old, ineffective pamphlets and teaching techniques don’t cut it anymore. Today’s patient education has been re-engineered to reflect the patient’s point of view and is designed specifically to be used at home – where it matters most. Re-examine your patient education and see if your program is up to the task.

Here are a few of the best practices to look for:

Your Bottom Line

Patient education done right will have a two-fold effect. First, with tightening Post-Acute networks, you’ll be able to help differentiate your facility and create closer ties with referral sources. Second, it may down overall costs. Staff are on-boarded faster and can spend less time teaching. Patients are more engaged and ready for discharge. They understand their role and exactly what to do when they get home. The result is usually lower readmissions and higher satisfaction scores that directly affect your bottom line.

Try Patient Education at Your Organization

Use patient education, including Care Kits, to help you reduce readmissions and avoid penalties. Each Care Kit contains expertly crafted patient education, practical tools and core devices your patients will likely need at discharge. Care Kits are also branded to your facility to differentiate you and help you gain referrals.

¹ Jordan Rau, Medicare Cuts Payments to Nursing Homes Whose Patients Keep Ending Up in Hospital, Kaiser Health Care News, December 3, 2018

² Brian W. Jack, MD, Veerappa K. Chetty, PhD, David Anthony, MD, MSc, et al, “A Reengineered Hospital Discharge Program to Decrease Re-hospitalization,” Annals of Internal Medicine 150(3), Feb. 3, 2009, pp. 178-187, http://www.annals.org/content/150/3/178. abstract

³ Source: Communication Science, Inc makers for Care Kit.

Many skilled nursing facilities are adopting electrocardiogram (ECG) devices as a tool for in-house clinical use in an attempt to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions. The ability to acquire ECGs on-site quickly can help providers communicate with outside physicians for diagnosis guidance more efficiently.

As the popularity of in-house ECGs rises, so too does the number of product options available. Today, we’d like to highlight two industry-leading ECG designs: a traditional tabletop model from Welch Allyn^®, and a portable, web-based concept from Spaulding Medical^℠.

While the ultimate goal of these devices is the same, their unique features and benefits set them apart as distinct product solutions. We’ll review some pros and cons of these of each, but first let’s address some common questions about ECGs in general, so we’re all on the same page.

ECG Basics:

What’s the difference between an ECG and an EKG?
Nothing! They’re the exact same thing. The full word, “Electrocardiogram,” features the letter “C” in English and the letter “K” in German, where the ECG device was invented. Hence ECG and EKG are separate spellings of the same device.

What do they mean by “12-lead report”?
A 12-lead ECG is a full diagnostic picture of the heart’s rhythms. It refers to the measurement of 12 different areas, and allows physicians to formally diagnose cardiac issues. While there are 1-, 3-, and 5-lead ECG concepts that have viable applications, a post-acute care physician is generally going to want a full 12-lead ECG before making significant diagnosis or readmissions decisions.

Why are there only 10 wires for a 12-lead report?
ECGs feature 10 physical lead wires that attach to the resident. These 10 physical leads are electrodes that efficiently measure rhythms for 12 different areas of the heart, which is what makes a full 12-lead ECG report. So, your 12-lead ECG will arrive with only 10 physical wires – this is normal!

How do I read the report?
Post-Acute nursing staff typically aren’t the ones who have to do this. Your staff needs to know how to place the electrodes and operate the device, which is detailed in the training materials provided by each manufacturer. The resultant readings will be sent to a specialist who will provide over-read and confirmation of the report. It is important, however, to have procedures in place for knowing when an ECG should be taken, and how to communicate readings with the appropriate physician.

What’s the difference between interpretive and non-interpretive devices?
Some ECG models come with interpretation features that include a basic analysis at the top of each report. These interpretations are based on clinically validated algorithms and serve as a quick overview to provide initial guidance, but do NOT replace the need for a formally trained physician’s analysis.

Why would a Skilled Nursing provider want an ECG onsite?

Determining why providers are turning to ECGs can help inform your decision of which device is right for your community. Seeing how they are being used may inspire new practices for you to better identify and manage changes in condition. 

1. Acuity is rising
   It should be news to no one that Skilled Nursing residents are living longer and being admitted with more chronic diseases than ever before – congestive heart failure being among the most common. Advanced resident conditions are requiring more advanced capabilities to manage.
2. Improving workflow efficiency
   It can be expensive and time consuming to use outside mobile services for ECGs. A SNF provider in Michigan reduced the time it took to acquire an ECG and get it to a physician from 24 to 48 hours to merely 5 to 20 minutes by using an ECG in-house instead of an outside mobile service.¹
3. Avoiding unnecessary hospital readmissions
   This goal is not new, but comes with more scrutiny and cost than in years past. The ability to quickly diagnose a change in cardiac condition via a full diagnostic 12-lead ECG report has proven to help reduce some unnecessary hospital readmissions in SNF settings.¹
4. Variety of uses
   An ECG can be used in many other instances aside from determining cardiac failure. While many providers may feel they don’t need an onsite ECG because their current utilization of outside ECG services is relatively low, having an ECG onsite may make the following situations much easier:
   1. Getting baselines upon admission
   2. Testing the potential impact of medication adjustments
   3. Pre-op ECG orders
   4. STAT orders

ECG Comparison – Tabletop vs. Web-Based

Cardiac monitoring technology is ever-evolving, but here we’ll compare two distinct types of ECGs available today: traditional tabletop vs. web/app-based ECGs. Both models provide accurate, clinically validated 12-lead ECGs with computer interpretations. From there, however, they differ dramatically.

Tabletop: The Welch Allyn CP150

The Welch Allyn CP150 tabletop ECG is our best-selling ECG due to ease of use and industry-recognized brand name.

• Device and mobile stand are relatively bulky, making storage and transportation more cumbersome than smaller, portable alternatives
• Paper-based reports require scanning or faxing to transmit to physicians outside of facility
• Viewing reports electronically requires saving data on a USB stick and purchasing additional software to upload the data to a PC

Key Takeaway: Extremely reliable and easy-to-use despite bulky size and limited functionality. Ideal for settings where onsite training is essential and paper-based reports are acceptable.

Web-based: The Spaulding Web-ECG

This innovative, portable solution uses a Bluetooth-enabled “puck” attached to the resident using the traditional 10 electrode lead wires. The puck pulls ECG data from the resident and transmits it to a web-based app that can run on nearly any type of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet or computer. Once the 12-lead ECG is displayed within the app, it can automatically send computer-interpreted results to physicians and other caregivers via secure email, fax or printer. It can also store reports in Spaulding’s ECG website that is built for each unique facility.

• Wi-Fi connectivity is essential for system to function
• System requires username and password to access, enhancing security at the cost of being slightly more cumbersome
• Spaulding’s automatic ECG email feature does not currently allow the user to select specific physicians to receive specific ECG reports. If you are registered in the system as a “Reader” you will get all ECGs taken from that facility. This can be an issue for SNFs that work with multiple referral sources that don’t share resident information.
• Spaulding offers a series of online training videos and optional live webinar training, but does not offer onsite training

Key Takeaway: Extremely portable and feature-rich solution that is ideal for tech-savvy providers with strong Wi-Fi in their building. Facilities with Wi-Fi concerns, tendency to lose smaller devices, or those that require onsite training may want to consider a more traditional ECG solution.

¹ Spaulding Electrocardiograph Helps Ciena Healthcare Improve Resident Care While Reducing Return Hospital Visits

There are many factors to consider when evaluating the AED preparedness of your community. Given the life-saving ability of these crucial devices, it is important to understand all aspects of implementation, including functionality and placement, to make sure you are prepared when a critical situation arises. Below are four questions to ask as you research AEDs for your community.

What functionalities does the AED offer?

While all AEDs analyze cardiac rhythm, there are slight variations in what different models offer in terms of efficacy. Some options include fully automatic shock delivery as well as real-time visual and verbal guidance during CPR rescue to improve delivery. Others remain more manual in their approach. Choose a model that caters to the needs of your staff and procedures.

Once purchased, one of the most important needs is the ability to practice using the AED. Quality of rescue and chances of survival dramatically improves with the ability to train staff and practice with the unit itself. If practice mode is not a function, look for practice devices and manufacturer training in-services to prepare your caretakers.

What kind of maintenance does it require?

All AEDs require regular inspections to ensure the battery is working, the pads are not expired and all necessary supplies are accounted for. Follow your AED policy and manufacturer’s instructions to determine what checks should be done daily, weekly, or monthly. All AED manufacturers require that you replace the pads and batteries after the AED is used.

When not used in an event, batteries and pads have a “use by” date that normally lasts two to three years. Consider AED models that integrate batteries and pads into a single-use cartridge with one expiration date, leaving you with less to worry about. 

What is the total cost of ownership?

When examining the price of these units, it is a common mistake to focus solely on the initial cost. Batteries and pads are essential for AEDs to function and remember that they need to be replaced after every use, or when they expire, whichever comes first. While the entry cost of some AED units is low, these replacements can add up. Factor these added purchases into your decision.

How many do I need, and where should they go?

According to the American Heart Association, for every minute a defibrillator is not used, the victim’s rate of survival decreases by 10% – AEDs should be placed within 3 minutes of any location in your community, allowing 1.5 minutes to get to the device and 1.5 minutes to get back at a brisk walking pace. Take into account the obstacles and paths a staff member must navigate, including security doorways and stairwells that may slow them down. The layout of your community will dictate the number of AEDs that you need.

AEDs must be visible and and not tampered with. We strongly recommend cabinets with sounding alarms and wall signage to alert responders to the location of the AED. Out of sight is out of mind, so keep these devices noticeable, especially in high-risk areas like rehabilitation gyms. And remember, AEDs are not just for residents. Family, guests, visitors and staff may also benefit from this life-saving device.

Affecting more than 75% of all residents in Long Term Care within the United States, Urinary Incontinence (UI) is an important topic to understand before taking steps to address it (CDC, 2014). Most importantly, the dangers of UI are both physical and mental. Physically, an incontinent resident may have an increased risk for falls, skin impairment and infection. The emotional toll can be even greater – self-consciousness can lead to embarrassment, depression and social isolation.

Addressing this serious issue in your community requires inter-professional collaboration and a team approach. The following tips can help your team tackle UI holistically and tailor interventions to the individual needs of the resident. Remember, not all urinary incontinence is permanent and many residents can experience reduced episodes, reduced risk of infection and improved quality of life with a focused, team approach.

1: Avoid making assumptions

Despite popular belief, UI is not a normal part of aging. For many residents, this condition is avoidable, treatable and in some instances, reversible.

2: Get ahead of the problem

Assess for UI upon admission to the community. This could include interviewing the family to understand prior voiding habits and behaviors, interviewing the resident and using a bladder ultrasound device for the first few days to determine post-void residuals and toileting patterns of each individual resident.

Beyond admissions exams, it is also important to establish organizational protocols for addressing UI with residents. Procedures for assessment, developing interventions and communication strategies should be considered.

3: Educate staff

Expand UI education beyond nursing staff. Other team members can be crucial in the success of a UI program, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, activities and environmental services.

Teaching residents and families about UI can help them better understand the condition, treatment and goals.

4: Reduce unnecessary catheterizations

Traditionally, the only way to assess for post-void residual was through catheterization. Introducing organisms to the urinary tract via catheterization increases the risk for UTIs and should be avoided if possible – especially when other solutions might be more effective.

For most residents, using a bladder ultrasound to determine post-void residuals (PVR) can help you make more informed decisions. While a typical PVR volume is usually 5 to 10 mL, results can vary and should be interpreted on an individual basis. PVR gives you data to help determine whether catheterization is the optimal solution for your residents.

5: Develop a bladder behavior management program

Tracking voiding patterns with the help of a bladder scanner provides you with information about the resident’s habits, allowing staff to more accurately predict when a resident may need assistance going to the toilet. Using a bladder scanner even when the resident doesn’t feel the need to go can also help them remember sensations in their body and recognize when they need to void.

Learn more about the benefits of bladder scanners or contact your account manager for a consultation to determine what product solutions might be right for you. 

Prevalence of Incontinence Among Older Americans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 3(36). 2014.