That’s because in addition to the highly skilled technical tasks nurses routinely take on, using their bodies to reposition patient’s bodies is something that takes a toll but is often overlooked.

With that in mind, two Upper Peninsula hospitals — Munising Memorial in Munising and Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace — are among the first in the state to invest in a device designed to ease the burden, literally, on nurses’ backs.

The device called the Hercules Patient Repositioner is manufactured by the Morel Company of Batesville, Indiana. An unassuming piece of equipment, it automates the physically demanding task of repositioning patients in bed.

According to OSHA, nurses experience musculoskeletal injuries at a rate similar to workers in warehouse and construction jobs. The Hercules system reduces this risk by allowing a single caregiver to boost a patient with the push of a button. This helps save time, protect staff and enhance comfort for patients.

The Hercules Patient Repositioner is shown. (Courtesy photo)

It integrates with existing hospital beds and uses a motorized drive, mattress and sheet system to gently move patients back up in bed. It eliminates the need for manual lifting, which improves safety for nurses and reduces discomfort and embarrassment for patients.

“We are proud to partner with both Munising Memorial and Mackinac Straits Health System,” Bill Hillenbrand, president and CEO of the Morel Company, said in a written statement. “These organizations are taking meaningful steps to protect caregivers while delivering more dignified and efficient care for patients. It reflects the leadership we’re seeing across the U.P. as hospitals invest in safer, smarter ways to care for people.”

To learn more, visit morelcompany.com.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500, extension 544. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net.