Secure Tracks launches innovative new patient support system

Oct 13 2010

Weight bearing gait aides such as conventional walkers and belts could quickly become a thing of the past in rehabilitation centers of hospitals as Secure Tracks today announced the launch of its innovative new patient support system. Customized for each hospital's unique needs, Secure Tracks is a purely mechanical system that consists of a ceiling-mounted monorail track, an exclusive trolley and a U-shaped support device that allows patients to stand completely upright and walk with a natural gait without the need for a harness.

The Journal of Arthroplasty reports that falls among hospital inpatients are not uncommon, affecting approximately 2 percent to 17 percent of patients during their hospitalization. Injuries secondary to falls occur in up to 50 percent of patients, with 1 percent to 10 percent resulting in serious injuries such as fractures, subdural hematomas and even death. Falls may lead to fear of falling, prolonged hospital stay and potential legal liability.

"The results from our first clinical study and the feedback we've received from our beta hospital site have been astounding," said Les Dace who co-invented Secure Tracks with his wife, Pamela. "The multitude of health and economic benefits reported from hospital administrators, therapists and not the least of all patients, have confirmed that we are truly offering a product that is revolutionizing gait aides."

Banner Sun Health Research Institute and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in collaboration with The CORE Institute, a premier center of excellence for orthopedics, performed a six-month clinical study investigating the differences between Secure Tracks and a traditional walker as it relates to patient rehabilitation and recovery. Results showed that patients walked up to 152 percent farther and 45 percent faster with Secure Tracks and did so with a more normal gait and less pain.

"At the two-week post-op follow-up, I was impressed by the significant reduction in pain and improved functional recovery of my patients who used Secure Tracks for their rehabilitation," said David J. Jacofsky, MD, renowned orthopedic surgeon and chairman of The CORE Institute. "For the orthopedic community, the introduction of Secure Tracks is sure to become a milestone in the history of innovations."

Hospital administrators are also pleased with the many benefits of installing Secure Tracks, including less physical and mental stress on therapists, increased staff productivity and a potential reduction in workman compensation claims.

"We embraced the opportunity to be a beta hospital site for the launch of Secure Tracks," said John Harrington, CEO of Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center. "We are always looking at ways to improve our patient care as well as ways to help our staff provide that care."

A reduction of the frequency and severity of patient falls also results in a competitive advantage for hospitals. Due to less intensive, costly care and a reduction in liability claims, hospitals can dramatically improve orthopedic service line margins and increase their bottom line. Recent changes to Medicare policy prevents the reimbursement to hospitals for "never events" that shouldn't happen such as falls that occur during a patient's hospital stay. Informed consumers of health care also actively seek facilities that offer the latest equipment that can lead to faster recovery times and improved outcomes.

"Secure Tracks gives me a greater level of confidence that my patients won't fall, and it frees me from having to support their weight," said Don Dixon, physical therapist, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Arizona. "The system is easy to lower from the ceiling and adjust and it takes less time to complete a round of therapy because of the improved gait times. It is clearly a major step forward in the quality of rehabilitation."

Secure Tracks is available in any lengths including curved sections and closed configurations that allow more than one patient to use the system at one time, further increasing therapist productivity. After determining the components needed, professional engineers will provide a hospital with a cost quote and schematics for the project.

Source Secure Tracks