GREEN BAY, Wis., – It was the first time John Pakiela, D.O., the chief flight physician with Cleveland Metro Life Flight in Cleveland, Ohio, had set eyes on Greece. It was also the first time he had used Graham Medical’s MegaMover™ Plus portable transport unit.
Dr. Pakiela, along with the flight crew, embarked on an overseas transport of more than 5,000 miles with a quadriplegic patient who suffered from a spinal cord injury. The patient was recovering from a recent surgery in the U.S. and required extensive care during the transport back to his home in Greece.
In addition to the long air travel, the patient also had to undergo many transports from the hospital bed, to a cot, to an ambulance and then onto a jet. For the duration of the travel, the patient also had to be frequently turned to prevent ulcer sores. Each step of the journey, Graham Medical’s MegaMover Plus portable transport unit played a critical role in the patient’s comfort and care.
MegaMover Plus
MegaMover Plus is ideal for transferring patients from areas inaccessible to stretchers and to transfer patients from stretchers to beds. It provides an impressive 1,500 lb. load capacity and the built-in pockets allow for a backboard to be inserted to assist in spinal or neck injury transports. In addition, when folded, its compact size provides convenient storage and easy accessibility when not in use. The 12 handles allow up to six emergency professionals to assist in patient transport or transfer.
MegaMover Plus Impacts Delivery of Care
Dr. Pakiela’s first exposure to the MegaMover Plus was when he evaluated a sample last spring. It was during the transport to Greece that he found out how valuable a piece of equipment the MegaMover Plus was, “The patient’s comfort and health were our priorities. The MegaMover Plus was put to the extreme test with a transport of this duration. It really played a key role in our overall delivery of care,” commented Dr. Pakiela.
In addition, MegaMover Plus was used for disaster drills at MetroHealth Medical Center and a nursing home in The MetroHealth System. Since MegaMover Plus was introduced hundreds more have been ordered. Dr. Pakiela stresses the importance of having them available in case of disaster, in particular because of the hospital’s design with two separate patient towers, which makes it a challenge to transport patients efficiently and carefully. MegaMover Plus is also vital for the nursing home population because of patients’ lack of mobility. “Everyone raved about MegaMover Plus. Their ease of use, portability and re-usability are all benefits to the patients’ care and the caregivers,” said Pakiela.
In the last two years, Graham Medical has developed a number of emergency products including ComfortOne Disposable Sleeping Bag with Pillow™, Comfort1™ blanket, Visiblanket™, FlexAir™ Pillow , ComfortCase™ pillowcase and Space Blanket (to contain body heat). For more information regarding MegaMover Plus, contact Cathy Schuch at 1-800-236-8701 ext. 5332 or visit www.grahammedical.com.
Graham Medical is a subsidiary of Little Rapids Corporation of Green Bay, Wis., and is a leading marketer and manufacturer of single-use products for emergency services, physician offices, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, chiropractic offices, and hospitals. Product categories include drapes and stretcher sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow cases, patient transport units, capes and gowns, specialty garments, exam table papers, professional towels and washcloths, and other related products. For more information, visit Graham Medical on the Web at www.grahammedical.com.
