Six weeks spent in a spinal care unit, after a serious biking accident, has given Pat Wheaton, an insight into hospital settings like he had never imagined. It was this first-hand look at the pain and suffering associated with pressure injuries, that has led to his vital backing of LenexaCARE, medical technology which is taking the pressure off healthcare facilities across the globe.
“I personally experienced the discomfort and inconvenience for patients and staff, of frequent repositioning to avoid pressure injuries,” Pat recalls. “At one stage I shared a room with an elderly patient who, in what became her final hours of life, was clearly in extreme discomfort being log-rolled off debilitating bed sores.”
Though mostly preventable, when a pressure injury (PI) advances to a deep wound, it can prove fatal. PIs remain a devastating complication for patients left immobile for a prolonged period and can often develop inside care facilities whilst being treated for other medical conditions. The result is lengthened hospital stay and recovery time. PIs are not only life-threatening, but recent research reveals they cost the Australian health system over 9 billion dollars annually.
Wheaton’s health asset and technology advisory business Core Connect Group (CCG) primarily works across major projects and supports innovation in the healthcare sector. He has now put his money where his mouth is by investing in the delivery to market of LenexaCARE®, the solution already proving to reduce the prevalence of painful pressure injuries in hospitals and aged care settings.
“Our findings from people assisted by LenexaCARE®, is up to 67% less time spent in an at-risk position. Further roll out would not only reduce the incidence of pressure injuries but result in millions of dollars in cost savings for under resourced healthcare providers, through reduced treatment costs and improved staff productivity,” explains Ajit Ravindran, CEO at Lenexa Medical.
LenexaCARE® uses embedded fabric-based sensor technology to convert traditional healthcare mattresses into smart patient-monitoring platforms. The system serves as an extra set of eyes, monitoring a patient’s time and high-pressure areas during length of stay in a care facility. It delivers clinicians and caregivers with real time essential information for personalised pressure injury prevention and seamlessly integrates into existing nurse call systems, alerting carers when it’s time to step in.
“Pressure injuries are a universal problem, and LenexaCARE is tackling it head on.”
Senior Business and Technology Delivery Executive
2yCongrats Rallas Buttriss (he/him). A leader is only as good as the team. Well done. Proud moment for you and the team. Cherish it mate 👍