Introduction
When Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana, sought to enhance patient care and improve caregiver safety, they made a bold decision to invest in The Hercules Patient Repositioner (Hercules) instead of the bedside computers originally budgeted for their ICU. The results? A remarkable improvement in caregiver efficiency and patient satisfaction, and a drastic reduction in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) and workplace injuries.
Background
In late 2013, Memorial’s nursing leadership attended a conference where they first learned about Hercules. Impressed by its potential, they invited The Morel Company to demonstrate the product at their next nursing practice council. After evaluating the benefits, the leadership team and clinical nurses decided to allocate their funds toward Hercules, making Memorial Hospital the first facility to adopt this innovative solution. The impact of Hercules quickly spread throughout the hospital, leading to multiple units adopting the system.
Transformative Impact in the ICU
In March 2014, Memorial’s ICU became the first department to install Hercules, with 18 systems installed on all beds. Ann Steffe, Director of Critical Care Services, initially expected a reduction in back injuries among nurses. However, the results exceeded expectations:
- Zero Caregiver Injuries: Reported injuries, lost workdays, and light duty assignments due to repositioning tasks dropped to zero.
- Zero Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI): The ICU’s HAPI incidence rate plummeted from 3.3% to 0%.
- Increased Patient and Caregiver Satisfaction: Patient satisfaction, measured by the Press Ganey survey, rose by 1.3%, while caregiver satisfaction increased by an impressive 21%.
Reflecting on these outcomes, Ms. Steffe remarked, “Hercules has worked out tremendously for everyone and in ways we didn’t even anticipate!”
Hercules’ Expansion to Post-Acute Services
The success in the ICU soon attracted attention from other areas of the hospital. Cheryl Welp, Executive Director of Post-Acute Services, recognized the potential benefits for her Skilled Care and Inpatient Rehab units. Staffing shortages during night shifts often made it challenging to reposition patients, but Hercules changed that. Staff efficiency improved significantly, reducing the need for overtime, and patients reported a more comfortable, pain-free experience.
One memorable moment was when a patient with a broken hip and shoulder cried with joy after experiencing a painless boost with Hercules. The product even earned specific mentions in patient satisfaction surveys—a rare occurrence for a medical device.
As Tonya Heim, Vice President of Patient Services, noted,
“When nurses who have used the Hercules product look back on their career, they are going to say, ‘WOW, what a difference that made in my life!’”
Success Stories in Labor/Delivery and Med-Surg
The positive effects of Hercules reached other departments as well. Nurses from Labor & Delivery and Med-Surg units who had assisted in the ICU quickly lobbied for the system in their departments.
In Labor/delivery and Med-Surg, Hercules proved especially beneficial. Nurses frequently needed to reposition expectant mothers, particularly those with epidurals who couldn’t assist in moving themselves. The system alleviated strain on caregivers during critical moments of labor and delivery. A notable example was a 32-year-old nurse who had torn her rotator cuff, boosting a patient—an injury that Hercules could have prevented.
Similarly, in Med-Surg, Suzanne Burgess, Director of Post-Surgical & Pediatrics, shared how patients who had experienced Hercules during previous stays returned asking for the comfortable, automatic boosting system. Hercules had become an essential part of patient care in these departments as well.
Conclusion
Memorial Hospital was the first to adopt The Hercules Patient Repositioner, and its success has been transformative. From the ICU to Post-Acute Services, Labor & Delivery, and Med-Surg, Hercules has improved patient and caregiver safety, enhanced efficiency, and boosted satisfaction levels across the board.
Are you ready to enhance safety and satisfaction for both patients and caregivers at your healthcare facility? Learn how The Hercules Patient Repositioner can make a difference today!