Mumbai: New stretcher at JJ Hospital enables contactless movement of patients

A JJ Hospital staff is seen transporting a COVID-19 patient to another ward

An innovative stretcher designed by doctors at Sir JJ Group of Hospitals has helped resolve the problem of moving Covid-19 positive patients within the hospital premises.

The stretcher has made it possible to facilitate interaction between patients and relatives

Over the last one year, healthcare workers have been finding it challenging to shift patients between wards, for diagnostic tests and operations, as it put them at high risk of contracting the virus. The new stretcher, named Vishaanu Rakshak, is a pressurised protective transport chamber, which ensures cross-infection doesn't take place.

"While designing, the aim was to reduce the risk of cross-infection among the medical staff. We wanted to have a stretcher that allows contactless movement of the Covid-19 patient," said Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, head of the surgery department at JJ Hospital, who conceptualised the design.

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The stretcher works like a portable pressurised isolation system, which is capable of operating on neutral pressure modes. "We can transport patients without them coming in contact with anyone. It is useful in both intra-hospital and hospital-to-hospital transfer of the patient in the ambulance," said Dr Hemant Jawale, a third year resident of surgery at JJ Hospital.

The stretcher has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter at the base. "The HEPA filter ensures that the infected air inside the chamber gets filtered and comes out clean. It also checks for temperature, humidity and the air quality index inside the chamber," explained Dr Bhandarwar.

The stretcher is helping transport 12-14 Covid-19 patients daily. JJ Hospital recently introduced two more of these at its Covid-19 centres in St George and GT.

"Apart from the transportation, we also do contactless intubation, sonography through side portals," said Dr Jawale, adding, "But, one of the most wonderful things that the stretcher has made possible is facilitating interaction between patients and their relatives. We generally do not allow relatives to stay with a Covid-19 patient. Now, while transportation, they get a chance to come close and interact with them."