Pros and cons of using patient trolleys with powered drive assist in your hospital

What is a powered-drive stretcher?

A powered drive stretcher is a patient transport stretcher with the addition of a motorised wheel to enable the effortless movement of patients. 

Most powered drive stretchers have a joystick or twist control system located near the head-end of the stretcher, which is operated by one staff member. 

Below is the control system of the PatientFlow’s PowerDrive motorised wheel system:

What are the benefits of using patient stretchers with powered drive assist?

There are 3 main benefits of using powered-drive patient stretchers.

• Firstly, they reduce the risk of manual handling injuries, due to the forces required to push stretchers being virtually eliminated
• Secondly, the powered ride makes the patient journey more comfortable and consistent, improving the patient experience.
• Lastly, being able to safely mobilise a patient directly from a hospital stretcher is quicker than having to transfer the patient onto another surface or having to use equipment such as a hoist. This, combined with the benefits of easier mobilisation, results in more patients being seen, treated, and discharged in a shorter period, increasing efficiency and improving patient flow in your emergency department.

What are the drawbacks of using powered-drive patient trolleys?

There are a couple of potential drawbacks to using powered-drive stretchers.

• Adding a power drive system to a stretcher nearly always increases the cost of the stretcher when compared to standard stretchers. This could make procuring powered stretchers difficult, depending on the funding availability at your Trust.
• Powered stretchers have a longer learning curve compared to standard stretchers, so staff may require extra training and assistance when implementing the stretchers in the Trust. However, stretchers like the PatientFlow PowerDrive have been designed with ease-of-use primarily in mind, and most Trusts only require a single training session on delivery. 

What are the best powered stretchers available in the UK?

Below are the three main powered-drive patient stretchers available in the UK:

• Stryker Prime Series/Connect with Zoom Motorised Drive
• Linet Sprint 400
• Felgains PatientFlow – PowerDrive version

Below is a comparison table comparing the specs of each stretcher:

I trust this article has given you a clear understanding of the pros and cons of using patient stretchers with power drive systems. 

Which stretcher you choose for your trust will vary depending on your needs and requirements, and we will happily talk this through with you if required.  Often, a hospital would trial a piece of equipment, such as a stretcher, before purchasing, and we would be happy to arrange this for you. 

To get started, feel free to get in touch on 01473 741144, or via the contact form below. 

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