The Right Patient Chair is Vital to Chronic Wound Care

By Ben Hill, Marketing Manager

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. The federal agency estimates that 23% of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed and an additional 96 million adults (38% of all US adults) have prediabetes.

As evidenced by these statistics, diabetes has become an epidemic in the United States, and the demand for diabetic wound care is only going to increase. The diabetic foot ulcer is commonly seen as a marker of far more serious underlying conditions, often correlated with peripheral arterial disease, heart attack, stroke, renal disease, and amputation. 

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) estimates more than 100,000 lower limbs are amputated every year due to complications from diabetes. The good news is that comprehensive foot care programs provided by podiatrists can reduce amputation rates by up to 85%. It is vital that podiatrists are prepared to treat the expected increase of diabetic patients with chronic wounds. One way you can do this is by ensuring you have a patient chair designed to help you enhance and sustain the quality of care provided.

Having the right type of equipment within your clinical environment can increase the level of efficiency and comfort and enhance the delivery of care. How the equipment is designed can mean the difference between it complementing the patient/provider interaction or creating inefficiencies in your environment.

When it comes to equipment, the primary focal point of the podiatry office is the patient chair, which allows you to position the patient to efficiently deliver quality care. As more procedures are performed at the point of care, you need a procedure chair, such as the Midmark^Ò 647 Podiatry Chair, that combines the functionality of a clinical device with the design elements of a chair to provide patient and clinician comfort during lengthy procedures.

Following are examples of how this type of podiatry chair can help you better administer diabetic wound care by enhancing the experience and increasing efficiency.

Enhancing Experience:

• Powered base, back and tilt provide effortless positioning, while easy-to-reach release handles on both sides of foot section allow smooth, one-handed operation.
• Low, 19-inch seat height allows patient to access chair with little to no assistance, increasing comfort and protecting patient dignity.
• Natural chair-like position and ergonomic foot section design keeps patients comfortable during procedures while allowing podiatrists to work from a comfortable position whether seated or standing.  
  

Increasing Efficiency:

• Programable, one-touch patient positioning allows all sections of the chair to move simultaneously.
• Power height, back and tilt allow podiatrists to move patients quickly and precisely into the most effective position for procedures.
• Aseptic design of foot section glides simplifies cleaning and maintenance by helping prevent debris and dirt build up.
  

As more people are diagnosed with diabetes, podiatrists have become the point persons on the wound management team, often the first to recognize the presence of or the impending formation of a limb- or life-threatening wound. To perform this high-quality work, you need a podiatry chair that offers both efficiency and ergonomics.

For more information, visit the Midmark 647 Podiatry Chair product page.