Time savings with ceiling track hoist systems.

From the perspective of the Patient Handling Advisor (PHA), time is often used as a defence against using the appropriate or prescribed equipment for high-risk patient transfers. Anecdotal comments report that there is a perceived amount of extra time required to collect the equipment, place the equipment in the correct position and then complete the transfer. In published evidence, time studies have not been used to support the implementation of hoisting in clinical practice since Bell (1984), though some studies did collect time as part of their data (e.g. Alamgir et al 2009). However, the evidence that supports the use of hoists has been well documented in many studies. Jung & Bridge (2009) in a systematic review reported evidence to suggest a decrease in musculoskeletal injuries and physical stress when they compared a mobile hoist with manual handling techniques. Though other reviews (Hegewald et al 2018; Martimo et al 2008; Dawson et al 2007) still cast doubt over the full benefits of the implementation of assistive technology as a method to reduce musculoskeletal injuries, however hoist use has become accepted best practice for full weight patient transfers (Smith 2011; ISO 2012).....