PIVOT
A bi-directional hospital transfer chair
November 2023
RMIT Industrial Design High Achievers Award
PIVOT is a versatile bi-directional hospital transfer chair, facilitating attendant-facing transfers for full engagement. It caters to a diverse patient base, including needs arising from mental health challenges, communication barriers and alike. PIVOT minimises fall and flight risks without restraints, enhancing care delivery, hospital workflows and OHS outcomes for staff.
Challenge
Current transfer chairs require nurses to push from behind, limiting their ability to interact and respond to the needs of an aging patient population and those affected by poor mental health.
Falls and flight risks result in high injury rates and significant costs, yet the only solution available is physical restraints, which are reserved for the most extreme cases due to their detrimental effects on patients.
Face-to-face communication is crucial for easing patient anxiety, discomfort, and restlessness, by fostering trust, conveying empathy and building staff-patient bonds. Its absence disproportionately impacts vulnerable patients, notably hard-of-hearing or non-native speakers.
Solution
PIVOT, a general-purpose bi-directional transfer chair, accommodates both attendant-facing and traditional transfer methods to meet the diverse needs of hospital patients.
Standing in front of the patient minimizes fall and flight risks, eliminating the need for restraints. Staff can compassionately engage patients to distract from hospital surroundings and upcoming procedures, easing anxiety and fear.
PIVOT accommodates users of all sizes and heights, from the 1st to 99th percentile, by considering anthropometrics, biomechanics, ergonomics, and proxemics. It is optimised for comfortable eye contact while maintaining safe navigation practices. PIVOT offers seamless transitions when adjusting for different users to minimise staff workload.
Impact
PIVOT, a general-purpose bi-directional transfer chair, accommodates both attendant-facing and traditional transfer methods to meet the diverse needs of hospital patients.
Standing in front of the patient minimizes fall and flight risks, eliminating the need for restraints. Staff can compassionately engage patients to distract from hospital surroundings and upcoming procedures, easing anxiety and fear.
PIVOT accommodates users of all sizes and heights, from the 1st to 99th percentile, by considering anthropometrics, biomechanics, ergonomics, and proxemics. It is optimised for comfortable eye contact while maintaining safe navigation practices. PIVOT offers seamless transitions when adjusting for different users to minimise staff workload.
Other Key Features
PIVOT has no removable components, eliminating any cause for lost or misplaced parts. Colour-coded elements facilitate easy identification: yellow for staff controls, green for patient areas, white for moving parts, and blue for stationary components.
Staff controls are centralised on one side to minimise staff efforts. The backrest moves easily between sides and automatically angles for optimal eye contact and comfort.
Footrests mechanically adjust to accommodate varying leg lengths, with flip-out footplates enhancing bi-directional support and reducing fall risks among patients when exiting the chair. An integrated gear system allows both footrests to move to the other side simultaneously.
The extendable push bars all staff to respect the personal space of patients and follow proxemics recommendations. They feature numerical indicators for precise extension and auto-locking. The vertical design caters for varying staff heights, providing an ergonomic pushing position, and supports patients entering and exiting the chair.
The brakes can be activated at any point along the push bars, making it accessible for all staff and feature a unique fifth wheel for smooth deceleration. The customized castor arrangement, controlled by a single pedal, offers versatility in manoeuvrability. Adjustable seat height, retractable accessory mounts and dual IV pole support, further enhance functionality.
