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More than 500 new mattresses that promise to make patients more comfortable and help prevent skin breakdown will be put into service this weekend, as teams are poised to execute a massive mattress swap on Saturday and Sunday.
“BWH is making a significant and most appropriate investment to improve the safety and comfort of our patients,” said Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services.
The AtmosAir 9000 mattresses made by Kinetic Concepts, Inc., of San Antonio, Tx., feature a self-adjusting technology designed to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. With nine air cylinders inside the mattress and a system of chambers and valves, these mattresses automatically adjust to body weight and evenly redistribute pressure. There are additional supports at the mattress rim and under the shoulders, seat and legs for additional patient comfort.
“These mattresses performed very well during a trial study last spring on Tower 12,” said Lucy Feild, PhD, RN, quality program manager. “They do not take the place of nurses’ role in turning patients regularly and good nutrition, but these mattresses will be an important part of nursing’s efforts to prevent pressure ulcers.”
The new mattresses eliminate the need for most overlays now used for at-risk patients. They are suitable for patients who weigh as much as 500 pounds, but they will not be used with patients with unstable spinal fractures or patients in cervical traction.
This weekend, teams comprised of staff from Nursing, Central Transport, Environmental Services and Materials Management will execute a giant mattress swap on Saturday and Sunday. Nursing leaders and the mattress swap teams will coordinate this process for each unit in collaboration with nurses in-charge. With about 30 minutes advance notice, Central Transport will work with Environmental Services staff to clean and remove current mattresses, clean and position the new mattresses on a patient’s bed frame, and PCAs and staff will make the bed. PCAs and nurses will assist patients with moving.
Patients deemed too sick to be moved, who have infection control concerns or ask not to be moved will be accommodated, and the mattress swap for those beds can be completed later. Lift teams are available to help with these patient moves, too.
These new mattresses are slated for 10 observation beds in the Emergency Department, CWN 7 and throughout the Tower, except 9AB and any special ICU beds. Remaining units will receive the new mattresses in the fall.