The View from Where I Sit

Tag: pressure

  • Medical House Ltd.

    Medical House’s Managing Director is Mickey Robinson. Mickey started Medical House in 1995.

    Mickey’s greatest joy is when our customers of all ages communicate how Medical House staff have helped them get through and overcome challenges in their homes or workplaces.

    Medical House is a reliable and caring company that provides the very best products and services in the industries we represent. We are leaders in Medical Supplies, Home Health care, PPE supplies, Uniforms and Footwear; and Restaurant, Janitorial and Safety supplies. Our established and professional team are here to serve you. They are similar to BACES in Bradford.

    SERVICES

    • We offer skilled consultation with our occupational therapy, physiotherapy and nursing team.
    • Assessments, CPAP and Oxygen services by self referral or health care provider

    For example, as a disabled customer, I’ve also purchased other items from them like Urine Off spray to clean my wheelchair and new wheelchair cushions.

    They also encourage Compression Therapy. Compression therapy is an effective treatment used to help increase blood circulation in the lower legs, ankles, and feet. The elastic in the stockings helps provide compression to prevent blood from pooling up and fluid from building up in the legs, ankles, or feet. There are different categories of pressure depending on the condition of the individual and how much compression they require.

    CONTACT PERSONTinee Furbert
    PHONE NUMBER4412923622
    EMAIL ADDRESSmedicalhouse@medicalhouse.bm
    WEBSITE ADDRESSmedicalhouse.bm
    PHYSICAL ADDRESS22 Mill Reach Lane Pembroke HM 05
    2 Bakery Lane
    Pembroke HM 07
    Bermuda
    MAILING ADDRESSPO Box DV56, Devonshire, DVBX
    HOURS OF OPERATION9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; Extended Hours Uniform Dept. 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Medical Sales 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Stop the Pressure Campaign

    “Stop the Pressure” is an initiative from NHS Midlands and East, which has been rolled out across the NHS. The campaign used data collected by NHS Safety Thermometer and worked to raise awareness and improve monitoring and management of patients at risk of damage.

    They found that the number of new pressure ulcers was reduced by 50% in one year.

    A key part of the success of the campaign was attributed to a preventive strategy with a number of elements, referred to as the SSKIN bundle, which was communicated with great clarity.

    The acronym SSKIN contains five key steps:

    • Surface – make sure patients have the right support
    • Skin inspection – early inspection means early detection
    • Keep patients moving
    • Incontinence/moisture – patients need to be kept clean and dry
    • Nutrition/hydration – make sure patients have the right diet and plenty of fluids

    As part of a worldwide effort to reduce the prevalence of pressure damage, November 19th, 2020, saw the international Stop Pressure Ulcer Day. This year it will be celebrated on March 24, 2022, through a Virtual Conference.

    https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/prevent-pressure-ulcers/#stop

    www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk

    www.socialcareconferences.co.uk

    www.facebook.com/HealthcareConferencesUK

    https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/conferences-masterclasses/pressure-ulcer-prevention

    Pressure-Ulcer-March-2022Download

  • Hygiene and Amputation

    With foot deformities and insensate feet, Spina Bifida patients are at risk of foot skin breakdown, pressure ulcers, and osteomyelitis. Rarely, pressure ulcers progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Spina Bifida patients may require limb amputation for osteomyelitis, foot ulcers, and squamous cell carcinoma. There is concern that transtibial amputations would have poor functional outcomes in Spina Bifida patients because of lower-extremity weakness.

    However, there is no available literature on transtibial amputation outcomes in this population. More distal calcanectomy and Symes amputations have been successful in restoring ambulation in lower-level Spina Bifida patients. https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/Fulltext/2015/11000/From_Wheelchair_to_Cane__Elective_Transtibial.10.aspx

    Foot Care for Amputees

    LOOK
    Check your feet every day for any changes and use a hand mirror to see underneath your feet.


    PROTECT
    Wear correct fitting shoes and never go barefoot


    PREVENT
    Don’t allow problems to occur – wash and dry your feet properly every day.


    SEEK
    If you notice any changes immediately seek medical advice from a foot care professional


    DO
    Have an annual foot check from a podiatrist.

    For more information, you can search http://www.limbs4life.org.

  • Leg Elevation Rules

    Elevating legs occasionally

    Rest– Immediately rest the affected area as much as possible. Experts recommend 24 to 48 hours of no weight-bearing activities. Continued use of a moderate or severely sprained ankle can delay healing, increase pain, or even worsen the injury. With a mild sprain, activity is generally tolerated after 24 to 48 hours of rest.
    Ice– To help reduce pain and swelling during the first 48 hours after injury, ice the area 20 minutes at a time every 4 hours, using an ice pack covered in a towel. If you don’t have an ice pack handy, an alternative would be to use a bag of frozen peas, corn, or other veggies. Try not to ice the injury for more than 20 minutes at a time, as it may actually cause further tissue damage.

    In the majority of studies, researchers found icing was effective in numbing muscle soreness, but observed — for up to 15 minutes after ice treatment — significantly reduced:

    • Muscle strength
    • Power
    • Fine motor coordination


    Compression– Using an elastic medical bandage, wrap the area to help decrease swelling and internal bleeding (if present). The wrap should be snug, but make sure you have proper circulation. Some signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling. If you think you need to use the wrap for more than 48 to 72 hours, you may have a more serious issue that requires prompt medical attention.


    Elevating your limbs and Exercise! Raise the injured body part above heart level so that gravity can move fluids away from the injured area.

  • PICOs and Pressure Ulcers

    Technology

    PICO is a canister-free, single-use, negative pressure wound therapy system consisting of a sterile pump and multi-layered adhesive dressings. Each dressing has 4 layers: a silicone adhesive wound contact layer, which is designed to minimise pain and damage during peel-back and to reduce lateral tension; an airlock layer for even distribution of pressure; an absorbent layer to remove exudate and bacteria from the wound; and a top film layer, which acts as a physical barrier and allows moisture to evaporate. The pump is operated by 2 AA batteries and delivers a continuous negative pressure of 80 mmHg to a sealed wound. Once activated, using a push button, the battery drives the pump for up to 7 days and LEDs provide alerts for low-battery status and pressure leaks.

    Standard PICO dressings come in 8 sizes: 10×20 cm, 10×30 cm, 10×40 cm, 15×15 cm, 15×20 cm, 15×30 cm, 20×20 cm and 25×25 cm. Multisite PICO dressings come in 2 sizes: small (15×20 cm) and large (20×25 cm).

    The latest version of the technology is the PICO7 system. This differs from the version of PICO notified to NICE by having an improved pump to minimise leakage and an integrated belt clip to allow for easier transport. The PICO7 pump contains a magnet and it should be positioned at least 10 cm (4 inches) away from other medical devices that could be affected by magnetic interference.

    Innovative aspects

    PICO differs from conventional negative pressure wound dressings in that it:

    • has no separate canister
    • is portable and disposable
    • has a proprietary dressing layer that is designed to allow even distribution of negative pressure across the incision and zone of injury.

    The Purpose behind the PICO

    PICO is intended for surgical incisions with low or moderate levels of exudate. This guidance focuses on the use of PICO dressings for closed surgical incisions. PICO dressings can be applied by healthcare professionals including surgeons and tissue viability nurses for people in a range of care settings. Training is needed to place the dressings correctly. My District Nurses are the only ones that can dress, undress and re-dress my wounds.

    Costs

    Standard PICO dressings are available in 8 different sizes. Each pack includes a single-use pump and 2 dressings. The list prices for PICO dressings range from £127.06 to £145.68 (including VAT).
    https://www.smith-nephew.com/key-products/advanced-wound-management/pico/.

    LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THE PRESSURE!!!