Tag: hospitals

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Exoskeleton Technology Evaluated for Nursing Care

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A new article from the journal Ergonomics in Design reported on research by Tampere University into how exoskeleton technology can help reduce the physical burden of nurses.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Tuuli Turja said, “This message from the field led us to investigate what conditions exoskeletons would need to meet in order to reform nursing. Currently, exoskeletons are mainly used in manufacturing and logistics. Isn’t it high time to introduce exoskeletons in female-dominated sectors, where musculoskeletal disorders are rampant?” she continues. “However, in our study, a very different type of mobile and light exoskeleton was worn by nurses in patient care.”

Two studies evaluated the Laevo Exoskeleton, which is a “passive” device designed to distribute loads across the body via interconnected pads on the back, chest and thighs. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to reduce lower back strain by 40 to 50%. For the first study, pairs of nurses helped elderly patients to wheelchairs from their hospital beds, with and without use of the exoskeleton. In the second study, seven nurses wore the exoskeleton in a real care environment.

The results show that although the nurses were amenable to their use, exoskeletons need specific designs when it comes to the challenges of patient care, such as comfort, interactive features and safety to help them through hectic workloads.

Source: Science Daily

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New Plasma Jet Sterilises Surfaces but Doesn’t Get Hot

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Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a novel way to sterilise surfaces – using a jet of glowing plasma.

The team created a tool which emits plasma, generated from an electric arc and a supply of harmless argon, but only at room temperature. However, their study, testing the plasma jet on a series of different materials, has shown that it can sterilise surfaces of the COVID virus within 30 seconds

Unlike other sterilisation solutions, such as chemicals or UV light, the plasma is completely harmless, with the only inputs being electricity and air – argon makes up 1% of the air we breathe. It was even able to sterilise surfaces such as cardboard, which would be difficult to sterilise with traditional chemicals without slightly damaging it.  

A relatively new technology, “cold” plasma has been used in a variety of medical applications, including cancer surgery, dentistry and wound healing.

Author Richard E. Wirz said the results show that plasma has a great role to play in potentially breaking the transmission of COVID/

“This is only the beginning. We are very confident and have very high expectations for plasma in future work. In the future, a lot of answers for the scientific community will come from plasma,” said Wirz.

Source: Phys.org

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Chinese Doctors Imprisoned for Illicit Organ Trade

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In China, doctors were among six people jailed for illegally harvesting organs in the country’s Anhui province. 

The liver and kidneys of 11 people were removed, after tricking the families of the deceased into thinking they were performing approved organ donations. Organs for transplant in China are in extremely short supply, especially after the practice of harvesting organs from executed prisoners was ended following global criticism and concerted effort in 2015.

Shi Xianglin, son of one the deceased whose organs had been removed, became suspicious when examining the paperwork and local records. He alerted the authorities, and the six were sentenced in July. The case only came to light when Mr Shi spoke to the media about it.

Source: BBC News

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APPs Can Contribute More in Emergency Departments

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A recent study investigated how advanced practice providers (APPs) are being underutilised in emergency department settings.

The study, published in Academic Emergency Medicine concluded that, in comparison to ED physicians,  APPs such as physician assistants and registered nurse anaesthetists, see fewer complex patients and generate less value per unit hour.

The study, which investigates the impact of APPs in the ED on productivity, flow, safety, and experience, is the first of its kind.

However, the study suggests that APPs can be better integrated into EDs, minimising any adverse impact on ED flow, clinical quality, or patient experience. Furthermore, APPs, currently used for low-acuity cases, can add value with independent assessment of critical ED cases.

Source: News-Medical.Net

Journal information: Pines, J. M., et al. The Impact of Advanced Practice Provider Staffing on Emergency Department Care: Productivity, Flow, Safety, and Experience, Academic Emergency Medicine (2020) doi.org/10.1111/acem.14077

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Cash for Medical Intern Posts to be Investigated

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The South African Medical Association (Sama) has said that it will investigate claims that changes of intern position at hospitals are being sold for cash.

On Monday, Sama chair Dr Angelique Coetzee said that this violated doctors’ ethical responsibility to provide treatment to patients regardless of whether that location suited the doctor or not.

Students were reportedly prepared to pay up to R100 000 for posts at their hospital of choice.

“We simply cannot have a situation where intern positions are being ‘sold’ for whatever reason. The placement of interns is a difficult process, and many doctors are unfortunately not placed where they want to be. For those fortunate enough to have found placements, to now sell them to the highest bidders is not fair on others waiting for legitimate placements,” Coetzee said.

The trading of posts reportedly takes place over social media platforms and messaging services, including Facebook and Telegram.

“Given the complexities and historical issues with the placement of intern doctors, the current haggling over preferred placements is out of touch with the realities of the situation. And, ultimately, this sends the message that with enough money, certain people are able to buy themselves the placements of their choice, a situation we cannot accept or tolerate,”  Coetzee said.

Source: Sowetan Live