Prius: Elegant solution to a slippery problem

[hr]Patient falls are a major issue in hospitals and healthcare institutions. A primary cause of falls is patients wearing antiembolic stockings and slipping on tiled floors.[hr]
Prius Healthcare have developed a Safety Sole stocking with a patented anti slip sole which goes a long way towards helping solve this dangerous problem by providing 6 times the grip of an ordinary stocking.
According to Prius Healthcare, the secret was simply to listen to what the nurses were asking for. For many years nurses had been telling the large multinational companies about their complaints, but were largely ignored. “We came and listened to the nurses. They told us exactly what needed to be fixed.” says Dianne Dickson, Clinical Director at Prius Healthcare.
The first complaint from the nurses was the slippery soles of the stockings. These were causing slips and falls. Prius applied a silicone grip to the sole of the stockings – a simple and elegant solution which provided immediate success.
The nurses also found it difficult to read the sizing on the packets of the stockings they were using. Once again, Prius fixed this with an easy to follow colour coding system which follows the measurements from the tape measure, to the box, to the packet and finally to the stocking. Nurses were amazed how much easier it was to go straight to the correct stocking in the cupboard.
Another issue which had been annoying nurses for years was being able to fit very short patients properly. For a 5’ tall patient, the regular size stockings were too tall, resulting in either rolling down at the knee or bunching at the toe – both potentially dangerous situations. Prius introduced a “short” length which was found to be the most appropriate size for 35% of the patient population. How did nurses manage for so long without a proper size for 35% of patients?
Being quite tight, the stockings are a little hard to put on. The nurses mentioned their useful tip of using the bag as an applicator, and thus was born the applicator bag. A clever reuse of packaging, which also makes nurses lives easier. Prius also added an antimicrobial agent to the fabric to provide extra protection for those little skin nicks and tears which can occur.
The company conducted thorough clinical testing and kept refining the stockings until they achieved a 98% approval rate among clinical users. These stockings are now used in 75% of private hospitals in Australia and are rapidly moving into public hospitals.
“Finally, nurses are able to get the stockings they have always wanted. They are easier to identify and put on, and fit better and are safer for the patients.” said Dianne Dickson.
For more information please contact Prius healthcare on 1300 283 122.