Robotic device being used to transfer patients within Bruyère Health

Bruyère Health is using a robotic device to move patients to and from appointments within the hospital. CTV's Peter Szperling reports.

Bruyère Health is using a robotic device to move patients to and from appointments within the hospital.

With just a click, a patient can be moved from their bed with little effort.

“I think it’s definitely the future for all of medical care workers,” said Porter Nick Lamothe.

He’s using an innovative new device to transfer patients within the hospital – like from their room to an X-ray appointment.

“I’ve started using this about three months ago, and I love it,” he said.

The device looks like a typical hospital bed at first glance, but it is designed to transfer patients in and out of beds, to and from appointments at the hospital.

It’s a far push from the old way of moving patients around.

According to Bruyère Health, the traditional method involved up to three or four staff members. This system uses just one, with the push of a button.

“This is revolutionizing care at the bedside because it requires less time of our staff. Our staff can remain at the bedside caring for our patients,” said Paula Doring, Bruyère Health senior VP clinical programs and chief of nursing.

She says this device is called ALTA Platform. It can reduce staff injuries.

“Lifts and transfers are probably the highest cause of back injuries in health care. And it usually happens when you’re doing patient transfers,” she said. “So, using this device will minimize the number of staff injuries. We don’t want our staff to have back injuries because that’s something they can live with a lifetime. And this allows them even to come back to work if they were on a modified return to work to safely transfer patients”

How does it feel for the patient?

During a demonstration for CTV News Ottawa on Friday, a Bruyère staff member was used as a mock-patient.

“It feels comfortable. I don’t really have to do much, just lay here. It just slides underneath. It tickles a little bit,” said Moses Muwamga.

The device has been in the works for a number of years. It started as an idea in 2018.

“So, the intent that my partner and I came up with was to bring really known technology and automation to healthcare and really restore some dignity to healthcare workers, as well as the patients,” Philip Chang, Able Innovations chief technology officer told CTV News Ottawa.

The Toronto-based company behind the device says it is also in use at healthcare facilities in Nova Scotia, Toronto, London and Vancouver.

“So, our device is the first of its type to allow a single caregiver to conduct a lateral transfer without any physical effort. And what that allows them to also do is actually focus on the patient,” said Chang.