A new wearable sensor has been launched that promises to help medical personnel prevent pressure ulcers and other hospital-acquired conditions.
The Leaf System works by monitoring patient movement and alerting caregivers when susceptible patients need to be turned and repositioned.
Dr Barrett Larson, chief medical officer of Leaf Healthcare, said: "There is overwhelming data to support the benefits of progressive mobility in hospitalized patients. The Leaf system monitors and optimizes care throughout the throughout the mobility spectrum, from bed rest to ambulation."
Leaf Healthcare's technology platform is currently being used to help eliminate hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
"Pressure ulcers are very expensive to treat and they pose a huge burden to our healthcare system," Dr Larson said. "Pressure ulcers are just the beginning, the benefits of progressive mobility are far-reaching. Even our customers are finding new and exciting ways to use the Leaf technology.
“Recently our system was deployed in a labor and delivery department to help ensure that laboring women are moving sufficiently, since frequent repositioning has been shown increase the speed labor and reduce C-Section rates."
The Leaf System is comprised of a small, lightweight, wearable sensor that electronically monitors a patient's position and movements.
Data collected by the sensor is communicated wirelessly to central monitoring stations or mobile devices so that caregivers can monitor and be alerted to patient position and movement.
The system provides alerts when necessary to ensure that all patients wearing a Leaf Sensor are repositioned according to their prescribed turning schedules to reduce incidence of hospital acquired conditions such as pressure ulcers.
The Leaf System, US, Barrett Larson, Ulcers
