|
The Problem
|
|
Over the last decade it has become inceasingly difficult to discern the differences in all the powered air surfaces that have entered the marketplace. Ten years ago there were but a handful of powered air support surface manufacturers in the industry. Today there are well over forty. A decade ago there were basically three powered air therapies available; alternating pressure, low air loss, and air fluidized therapy. Today, there are closer to ten powered air therapies available. The industry has grown exponentially over the decade and so have the choices.
|
|
The Solution
|
|
To help eliminate some of the confusion that we have noticed within the health care industry concerning powered air therapy support surfaces, Continental Health Equipment has adopted a color coding system to help customers identify the type of wound healing therapy being provided by a specific piece of equipment. Below you will see a table that consists of a listing of therapy types and their associated color marking. All equipment in our rental inventory as well as those pieces of equipment sold in the future will be marked with one of the following color tags when appropriate. Furthermore, all of Continental Health Equipment's internally produced marketing and training materials will also adhere to this color-coding system.
|
|
Examples of Continental Health Equipment documentation presently using the system:
|
 The Continental Health Equipment Printed Product Catalog
The Continental Health Equipment Inservice Presentations
The Continental Health Equipment Support Surface Advisor
The cheweb.net Product Catalog
|
|
|
Therapy
|
Color Code
|
|
Continental Health Equipment does not currently carry any Air Fluidized Systems. Common names for these systems include "Bead Bed" or "Clinitron"
|
|
|
Rotational and Low Air Loss Combination systems provide both rotational therapy as well as low air loss therapy simultaneously. These systems are located on page 16 of the catalog.
|
|
|
Low Air Loss and Alternating Pressure Combination systems provide both alternating pressure therapy as well as low air loss therapy simul-taneously. These systems are located on pages 13 and 14 of the catalog.
|
|
|
Rotational systems provide lateral rotation therapy to the resident. These systems are located on page 15 of the catalog.
|
|
|
Low Air Loss Combination systems provide low air loss therapy. These systems are located on pages 10 thru 12 of the catalog.
|
|
|
Alternating Pressure systems provide alternating pressure therapy to the resident. Continental Health Equipment carries both full replacement mattress systems and seating surfaces that use alternating pressure therapy. The seating systems are located on pages 2 and 3 of the catalog, while the mattress systems are located on pages 8 and 9 of the catalog.
|
|
|
The resident is a candidiate for wound prevention. Consider using the appropriate combination of seating and sleeping surfaces that will limit the risk of pressure ulcer development. The seating and sleeping surfaces that will help prevent pressure ulcers maybe any combination of gel, foam, or air system. Possible seatinng solutions that work well for prevention are located on page 1 of this catalog. Preventative sleeping surfaces are located on pages 5 thru 7 in this catalog.
|
|
|
It does not seem as though the resident is at risk for the development of pressure ulcers. Continue to monitor the resident in accordance with your facilites standard procedures and protocols.
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER
This tool is intended to be used as a guide prior to consultation with the patientŐs physician and wound care team regarding a patientŐs condition. This tool in no way supercedes the physician directives, treatment guidelines, or established facility guidelines. Always consult a physician prior to selection of a support
|
