Project Overview

The Ergonomic IV Pole arose in response to a call from the Bio–Medical Engineering Department, of a major public hospital, on Public Liability, OH&S and Equipment Security grounds.
Further analysis of workplace utilisation of drip stands, their current design, life cycles and short comings, informed the designer/manufacturer of a suite of criteria that could be resolved cost effectively over and above the initial concerns.

Organisation

Ergonomic Innovations

Team

Author: Manager — Bio–Medical Engineering
Barwon Health— The Geelong Hospital

Creator: Gary Allbutt
Proprietor/Consultant
Ergonomic Innovations

Project Brief

The marginal stability of existing drip stands, especially those with biased casters and 3 and 4 castered bases, were further compromised by the addition of infusion pumps. These pumps have become important in patient care by the precise metering of intravenous medications over extended periods. Added to this is the increasing preference to ambulate patients soon after treatment.

Patients also frequently have other “attachments”, as components to their treatment and recovery including drainage bags, oxygen bottles, humidifiers and blood warmers.

Coupled to this is the prevalence of carpet across public and patient areas as well as lifts where there are significant gaps in the floor at their entrances.

Further, storage space for un–used equipment is a premium in modern hospitals.

Project Innovation / Need

The following Design Criteria were developed:
Core Requirements—
• Lower Centre of Gravity
• Improve Lateral Stability
• Load Placement over centre of base
• Reduced Rolling Resistance
Further Enhancements—
• Improved Floor Surface Negotiation
• Hand–Hold provided for greater control
• Placement of Hand–Hold to clear foot–fall when walking with Pole
• Attachments for ancillary equipment
• Potential to utilise existing materials of present drip stands
• Reduced Storage space required
• Colour Coded to nominated departments and wards for

Design Challenge

“Owing to the risk of toppling, resulting in possible injury to patients and staff, and damage to expensive hospital equipment, Infusion Pumps are not to be mounted on 3 and 4 castered drip stands.”

While available as a “New” unit the majority have been supplied through an “Up–Grade Programme” where existing drip stands, identified as either actually damaged or as simply unstable, were collected in manageable numbers, 10 to 15 at a time. These poles were then cut down, an attachment socket provided and assembled on the Ergonomic IV Pole Bases for return to service.

Sustainability

All components and materials are sourced from local suppliers and manufacturers. The IV Pole Base, the core of the Design Philosophy is a welded mild steel for its structural integrity and durability, while the 80mm twin wheeled casters are specified above the expected loading requirements to significantly extend the Poles duty life.

Important to the financial considerations of modern Medicine a strong Cost/Benefit philosophy has driven the “Up–Grade Programme” utilising existing material investment, minimising logistical and materials handling issues, as well the attendant “Carbon Footprint” aspects.