Author Archives: Brandon Provo

Aquatic Exercise Equipment by AquaCreek

AquaCreek ProWave

ProWave Water bikes — Aqua Creek ProWave

SMI-BioMed provides a full offering of Aqua Creek Products for water aerobics and water training equipment in addition to body lifts. Aquatic exercise is one of the safest and most effective was to get fit and stay healthy. The ProWave pool bike offers and incredible physical, cardiovascular, and fun workout right in your own pool. It is a top choice for aquatic spin classes. It has a smooth operation with tension knob that allows a user to adjust the resistance on the fly and comes in multiple fun color choices.

Aqua Creek TidalWave

pool bike, water spin class — Aqua Creek TidalWave

The TidalWave is another great option for an aquatic exercise bike. It offers many of the same options as the ProWave bike, but also has the flexibility to maximize storage space. With the distinctive folding “X” design of the TidalWave, it provides storage capabilities for your facility that you simply cannot get from typical pool bikes. Another unique feature is the recumbent seat which is an incredible asset for aquatic rehabilitation facilities.

AquaCreek Wave Rider Models

The Water Rider Pool bikes are a complete line of aquatic bikes suitable for almost any level of exercise, rehabilitation, or spin class. These bikes have a unique, perforated, fast-draining frames that can be quickly and easily removed from the pool. They come in a variety of models:

The Water Rider 3 is a simple, fun, daily use pool bike designed to maintain your fitness and improve your cardiovascular functions.
The Water Rider 4 offers a more intensive workout for moderate spin class or rehabilitation situations.
The Water Rider 5 is the ultimate spin bike suitable for heavy use in professional-style spin classes.

ProTone Fitness Machine

New to Aqua Creeks line up is the ProTone fitness machine. The ProTone offers complete independent upper body workouts for people will disabilities all from the comfort of their own wheelchair. The self-adjusting tri-handle grips and sliding adjustments even allow users with quadriplegia to use it easily and comfortably. With 16 different structured exercises, the ProTone provides the user a completed upper body workout. The ProTone is a commercial quality fitness machine for people with disabilities that is priced affordably enough for home use.

Additional Pool Exercise Equipment by AquaCreek

AquaJogg Treadmill offers all the benefits of walking or running in the low impact atmosphere of an aquatic environment.

Elly Pool Elliptical machine combines the benefits of rowing, ross-country skiing, stepping, and cycling in one product and in the beneficial low impact quality of an aquatic atmosphere.

WX-Tramp Premium is an Aquatic Trampoline that offers the ability to improve coordination, balance, and all-around physical condition all in a fun and safe aquatic environment. Both trampoline models offer excellent workout capabilities, the hexagonal trampoline can be easily stacked for quick and easy storage.

Patient Lift Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance

CEILING TRACKS & PATIENT LIFT INSTALLATIONS & REPAIRS
hoyer

An important part of any safe patient handling program is making sure your equipment and handling tools are safe for use. In order to ensure the safety of the patients being transfer, and to protect the care provider, the equipment must be in proper working order and free from deficiencies. The manufacture of all safe patient handling equipment lays out it’s recommendations on how to schedule an annual inspection and service for your equipment, and identify where common problems can be hidden.

Just like changing your cars oil after so many miles, your patient lift and slings will need a safety inspection after so many lifts. Whether you have a Hoyer, Vancare, or any other manufacture; patient lifts are subjected to strain and can malfunction. A trained and qualified technician should carry out the inspection with specialized testing equipment and examine your equipment by following the manufacturers 25 to 40 written points on the equipment’s inspection list. Having your equipment stamped safe for use should be a crucial part of your facility’s safe patient handling program.

After several hundred patient lifts and countless washes, a sling starts to lose its integrity. Each sling should be inspected before each use, if there are any rips or fraying, it should be taken out of service immediately. The lifts themselves are put under stain from daily use, an inspection can reveal cracked welds, warped boom arms, loose or missing bolts, as well as degraded battery function. Facilities with over head track systems, the track anchors should be secured and tightened. Specialized load testing tools need to be used to test the health of the lifting device, the charging system, safety limit switches, and condition of all parts, and the entire track.

Annual inspections can detect a small problem before it becomes a large one, or results in a patient fall from a malfunction. When problems come as a surprise, the equipment can no longer be used, forcing staff to revert to manual lifting techniques, and an expensive emergency service call may be needed. The comfort of knowing your patients and staff are protected by having equipment stamped with approval that it meets all safety requirements.

Another very important aspect of your facilities yearly inspection is that it should include an evaluation on the safe patient handling equipment on hand, and how it meets your facilities needs. If the staff do not have access to an adequate supply lifts, slings, and other aids, studies have shown that they will instantly resort to previous patient moving techniques. Old techniques that have been shown to cost a facility work hours due to injury, as well as injuries to patients and residents.

Click here to visit our Inspection and Repairs Page.

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VANCARE VERA II B450

Battery-operated sit-to-stand patient lift for residents up to 450 lbs.

Vera II Sit to Stand patient lift by vancare

Sit-to-Stand patient lifts have some notable differences when compared to a conventional floor power or manual patient lift. The conventional floor lifts use a sling to strap system to cradle the person being lifted and lifts their entire weight. A powered Sit-to-Stand lift still uses a sling of sorts but the weight of the person being lifted is transmitted through their own legs to a platform on the lift. The feet of the patient are securely placed on the foot platform with their knees positioned against a knee block pad which will prevent their knees from bending during the lift and transfer.

One of the most popular Vancare Sit-to-Stands with users is the Vera II 450. The Vera II comes in a variety of models making it ideal to meet any needs that a healthcare facility may have. In the post today we will be covering a multitude of the different options that are available with the Vera II product line.

Sit-to-Stand lifts often have a smaller base than a conventional floor lift and can be maneuvered in smaller areas but are limited to transferring a person from a sitting position in one location to a sitting position in another location. While great for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a commode, chair, toilet, or bed, it can’t be used to transfer a person into or out of a bath tub and it cant’t lift a person from a bed unless they are able to sit up on the edge of the bed.

Patient lift vera 2 vancare safe patient handling

The Vera II line comes in a variety of lifting capacities; 350, 450, and 600 pounds. Each model can be ordered with a manual base spread or a power base spread. The Vera II line is also preferred by staff members because it comes with an adjustable base that allow for easier access to wheelchairs as well as geri chairs. It’s heavy-duty frame construction gives it far superior tip-resistant support than older models. The Vera II lift is an effective and efficient way to reduce injuries among nursing staff, helping reduce sick leave, workers compensation claims, staff turnover, and liability insurance premiums.

The Vera II Series lifts are a great choice for sit-to-stand lifting needs. When it comes to Safe Patient Handling, there are more tools necessary to accomplish a safe working environment. That is why Vancare also offers a complete Ergonomic Patient Management Program with many equipment options as well as program choices. To make daily routines easier for staff, Vancare has an optional scale that will accurately weigh the patient while in the lift. In addition to a scale, Vancare’s Intellipack is a high tech option that allows for data collection in the control box, work & cycle counter, service indicator, all displayed for instant viewing on control box LCD.

For more information about Vera II B450 and other Sit-to-Stand lifts by Vancare Click Here.

To view a detailed description of the Vera II B450 by vancare, or download the brochure Click Here.

To see all of the Safe Patient Handling Equiptment and other lifts offered by Southern Minnesota Inspection, please Click Here.

Vancare Vanderlift II B450

(Vanderlift II is available in B450 and B600 models.)

The battery-operated lift that helps transfer residents with minimal effort, regardless of most range-of-motion limitations. Reduces back injuries among nursing staff, resulting in less sick leave, worker’s compensation claims, staff turnover, and liability insurance premiums.

Today we are taking a look at the Vanderlift II from Vancare. Vancare took what people loved about the original Vanderlift and made it even better, and more versatile than it’s predecessor. No safe patient handling program is complete without the proper safe patient handling equipment. Vancare has always shown their dedication to quality, and proud to be made in The United States.

The Vanderlift II takes advantage of a smooth electric worm gear lift drive, instead of a hydraulic cylinder. A worm gear lifting drive gives the Vanderlift II a greater line pull, smooth and slower movement that is appreciated by patients. It is much more cost efficient than the hydraulic lift drive, which can run on the more expensive side. The Vanderlift II also has a hand held controller for up and down movements that is easily secured to the lift itself for storage. The lift also has an auxiliary down switch mounted on the control box, as well as a manual emergency controls. As a standard model the Vanderlift II has 3″ dual front casters, 4″ single rear locking casters, and that can be modified with lower or higher options depending on a facilities needs. The construction of the Vanderlift II boasts a padded hanger assembly with welded steel frame, which is protected by a baked on, chip and rust resistant finish, that will last for years.

Its a battery-operated lift which allows one staff member to transfer residents/patients weighing up to 450 lbs quite easily. The Vanderlift II uses a memory free battery that is protected against overcharging. The typical recharge time is anywhere from 6-10 hours. However, a fully charged battery can complete approximately 150 transfers per charge. An optional wall-mounted battery charging station can be included which allows for 24-hour service and facility, or provider, is never without a functioning and charged lift in the event of an emergency. The Vanderlift II is also equipped with a low battery audible and light indicators.

The Vanderlift II has a manual base that expands easily to accommodate any bed, chair, toilet/commode, tub, and most specialized equipment. Clears most under-bed frames, including Clinitron beds, Styrker frames and
tilt tables. Optional caster sizes available to adjust base height if need be, while also lifts high enough to access all known beds and tables. The Vanderlift II also makes it very easy to to be able to tend to the patient with hands-on care while the lifter is raising or lowering. The hand held control device has a magnet back that can be secured anywhere on the frame of the lift itself, freeing both hands. With both hands free, a caregiver is able easily have full control of patient positioning into chairs, beds, and so on.

The Vanderlift II comes with a Four-point sling connection, and it is easy to use and easy to position, without having to get under the patients pelvis. VANCARE’s comfortable assorted slings accommodate residents up to 450 lbs., regardless of most range-of-motion limitations. Custom slings are also available from Vancare to meet any need that a facility or an individual patient may have, and allows toileting without soiling the sling. The Slings from Vancare range in sizes from small to the XX-Large, and do not use any chains or metal supports. The sling has a built in head rest, and comes in a variety of materials including disposable, mesh, and high heat laundering. There is such a large variety of slings that are compatible with the Vanderlift II, that any patient can be accommodated including contractures, amputees and rigid patients, also quadriplegic and comatose.

There are also several additional accessories that can modify the Vanderlift II to make the users day easier. There are 2 add-on scale options the built-in VanderScale and the Hanging VanderScale which can weigh patients up to 450 pounds. The built-in VanderScale is ideal when taking a patient or residents weight is a routine procedure in your facilities day-to-day functions. The built-in VanderScale offers distinct advantages over the hanging scale. The hanging scale causes a loss of 4.5 inches of lifting height. This could be unacceptable if a bed doesn’t lower enough like many specialty beds or if your facility is planning on using the lift for ambulation. It also puts the scale in easy reach and reading of the caregiver.

The hanging VanderScale is available for lifts that weren’t originally purchased with the built-in scale option. The hanging scale fits between the sling arm and the boom.

Another popular option that is available is the Intellipack for Series II Lifts, which includes the Vanderlift II. The Intellipack is a high tech option allows for data collection in the control box, work & cycle counter, service indicator, all displayed for instant viewing on control box LCD. The Service Data Tool Kit gives you the ability to read out service data on your laptop.

The Intellipack features a full LCD display on control box that gives you the following information at a glance:

How many full lifts the patient lift has done WITH a person/load on it. (does not count a lift if the patient lift is empty)
How many seconds your lift has ran with a person/load on it.
If your lift has been overloaded beyond its weight capacity it will shut down momentarily and display the number of overloads.
Count down of days until service is due. (This lets ALL staff know when the lift should have its maintenance inspection performed.)
Battery level indicator on LCD display and on the hand control.
To find out more about the Intellipack, Click Here.

For more information, and other Vancare portable lift models, Click Here to see SMI’s Vancare Product page.