Orlando Health installs new tech for patients

Orlando Health is the first health care system in Florida to use the Hercules Patient Repositioning system, an automated device able to effectively and efficiently reposition patients in a hospital bed.

The Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital hosted a live demonstration showcasing the new system Wednesday, Nov. 6. 

The system, which can accommodate patients who weigh up to 750 pounds, increases the comfort of patients, optimizes the safety of clinical team members and streamlines clinical workflows. With the system, the task of repositioning a patient becomes more manageable and less intrusive.

Orlando Health leaders said the new system is going to be game changing.

“Our patients will experience increased comfort and an elevated level of care from the use of this new bed device,” Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital President Philip Koovakada said. “We are proud to implement this advanced technology for the benefit of our patients and to improve clinical workflows for our team members who can now perform this important health care task without physical strain.”

LEADING THE WAY

Darius Love, who has been with Orlando Health for two years, serves as the assistant vice president of workforce optimization and redesign at Orlando Health. He is one of the leaders helping to oversee the roll out of the new device. 

“This initiative underscores Orlando Health’s dedication to serving our patients and to being the best place to work by equipping our clinical team members with the tools they need to deliver exceptional care while also prioritizing their well-being,” he said. “We are grateful to be at the forefront of using this advanced technology that simplifies an important health care task for the benefit of patients and team members.”

Love describes the new machine as a treadmill attached to the bed that allows comfort flow and constant movement that transforms care with the touch of two buttons. 

The system comprises a drive, a sleep surface and a specialized sheet and is designed to facilitate seamless repositioning maneuvers. The specialized sheet attaches to the drive at the head of the bed. Clips along the sides of the sleep surface ensure precise alignment of the sheet, preventing any unwanted wrinkling or displacement.

The device is attached to a bed frame and pulls up a patient lying down on a special sheet in about 15 seconds. The device helps to reposition a patient in bed and maintain a healthy blood flow. It also alleviates pressure on injury-prone areas of the body and removes the need for multiple clinical team members to lift and redistribute a patient’s weight in bed. This prevents physical strain on caregivers and improves time efficiency. 

“It’s an amazing way to marry automation and simplification to serve our patients and our team members well,” Love said. “It gives us the opportunity to literally transform care with the push of two buttons. It gives us the opportunity to have our team members at the right place at the right time providing optimal care. It’s not only a win for our team members, but it’s also a huge win for our patients. It allows us to comfortably reposition our patients, keeping them safe and helping to avoid pressure points that could cause ulcers and other safety implications, as well as leaving our team members really engaged and excited about the care that they provide.”

Bianca Timothy, who has served as one of the registered nurses at the Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital for about three years, said the main aspect the new device provides is relief. 

“It relieves other nurses on the floor so I don’t have to keep calling them to come and slide patients up, it allows for better body mechanics and overall is just better for everyone involved in our day-to-day responsibilities,” she said. “Being part of this team means a lot. Orlando Health is thinking of ways to make our jobs better and easier while also providing our patients with the best care possible.”

‘WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER’

Love said Orlando Health has been intentional as far as its phased plan and rollout of the new device. 

Orlando Health has launched a pilot program with the device at the Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. The hospital system currently is in the middle of Phase One, and the system’s impact will continue to be evaluated throughout the release. 

The device will be installed this fall in progressive care units throughout the rest of the system’s Florida hospitals. As soon as Dec. 4, Hercules will be found across all of the Orlando Health Central Florida hospitals and the Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. 

Love hopes Orlando Health continues to lead the way in optimization and innovation within health care systems to maximize patient and team member support .

“We want to be the best place to work, as well as the place that provides the best care for the communities the hospital serves,” he said. “We continue to be open, willing and always looking for ways to reimagine care — not only post-pandemic but (also) for the further future. 

“We want to figure out how to make care resonate with our patients and communities we serve, as well as our clinicians that really lean into their calling of providing care and saving others,” Love said. “The opportunity to have this impact literally means the world, but it’s not just one person that is able to make this difference. We are always better together.”