Patient Lifts

What are patient lifts?

Patient lifts are devices that assist in the moving of a patient, and these devices can vary in the amount of assistance given.  Some common uses for patient lifts are to assist a patient in moving from a sitting position to a standing position, removing a patient from their bed into a chair, or in Bathing.  There are two main types of patient lifts: ceiling-mounted lifts and mobile lifts.

Ceiling mounted lifts

A ceiling-mounted lift is on a track that can move around a portion of a room or the entire room.  These tracks are fixed to the ceiling; the lift sits within the track for easy maneuverability around the room.  Ceiling lifts are used mostly to assist staff lifting patients out of their beds into a chair or wheelchair as these patients are most likely unable to move.

There are two types of ceiling lifts, first is a lift that is fixed into the tract and has a charging port that charges the lift when it is moved to the end of the tract and presses up to the charging port.  The other type of ceiling lift utilizes a permanent hook that is on track; these lifts are placed onto the hook then removed after use.

Mobile lifts

A Mobile lift is on casters and can be moved anywhere that it is required.  Multiple types of mobile lifts can assist patients in different ways.  A mobile sit to stand lift can be used to help reposition a patient from a sitting position to a standing position.  The sit to stand mobile lift has handles on it that the patient can hold onto, as well as a place to rest their knees.  The sit to stand lift will then slowly raise the patient from a sitting position to a standing position, using the lifts actuator.  There are several ways to interface with the mobile patient lift, one is using the on the unit control system, and the other is using a pendant.  Most of the mobile sit to stand lifts are used to help patients get out of bed or to use the facilities.

How does a patient lift work?

The patient lift works by the end-user, placing a sling on around a patient.  Next, the patient’s sling is connected to the lift.  Once the patient lift is attached, an actuator will activate with the push of a button.  The actuator can be activated by either a button on the lift or a pendent (hand control).  The actuator will either raise the arm of the lift on a mobile lift or retract the belt in a ceiling lift to assist in lifting the patient.

What are common failures with patient lifts?

The most common failures with patient lifts are: The belts in ceiling lifts wear out over time, main control boards will get worn out not allowing for movement of the lift, and the actuators on mobile lifts can become stiff causing noise and slow lifting.

How can you prolong the life of a patient lift?

You can prolong the life of a patient lift by replacing the batteries every two years.   The next way to prolong the life of a patient lift is to replace the belts on ceiling lifts as soon as any wear is beginning to show, and lubricating the actuators on mobile lifts if any noise is being heard or lift is starting to slow down.

What does TRH Services perform during preventative maintenance?

During an annual preventative maintenance TRH Services will:

• Check the voltage on the batteries or recommend changing batteries if they are over two years old.
• Replace any belts on ceiling lifts that show signs of wear.
• Lubricate all moving parts on mobile lifts.
• Check all functions, including limits and fail-safes on the lifts.
• Recommend any replacement parts such as control boards or actuators if wear is showing.
• If the customer has any complaints about a lift, we will take extra care in testing the area of the lift the complaint is located.

For more information on TRH Services, and the work that we do with Patient lifts, please call 1-844-371-9488 or email info@trhservices.ca

The TRH Value

TRH Services is dedicated to providing safe and proper operation of all medical equipment, including patient lifts.  At TRH Services, our experts can help educate you on your patient lifts, as well as keep you up to date on your monthly maintenance to ensure your device is in perfect working order at all times. We also provide services offsite and onsite around Ontario.

Written by Melissa Bond
Edited by: Tyler Hasenpflug, C.E.T.