New chair scale aims to reduce injury risk

A new chair scale with a lifting seat has been launched with the aim of reducing risk of injury to residents and supporting the musculoskeletal health of staff when weighing individuals with limited mobility.

The Marsden M-250, a chair scale that features a seat that rises and lowers to help the resident comfortably get into, and out of, a sitting position, has been introduced in response to requests from customers for easier ways to weigh patients who cannot stand unaided.

The company also claims the device could reduce costs to healthcare.

It has a tilting seat base, operated by a handheld remote control, that rises to the resident and then lowers them into the seat. Once weighing is complete, it rises to assist them from sitting to a near-standing position.

Mark Coates, operations director at Marsden, said: “The biggest challenge of weighing residents with limited mobility is the time it takes, the stress on the individual and the amount of effort required by staff.

“When developing the scale we had to consider the benefit to the patient and the member of staff. What’s safest and easiest for the healthcare professional without compromising comfort for the patient?

“Our finished product has been tested by individuals with varying levels of mobility, and with both one and two members of staff. In some cases, the effort required by staff to help the resident out of the seat was greatly reduced compared to a standard chair scale or wheelchair.”

Richard Black managing director at Marsden, added: “Better patient outcomes is one of our main aims at Marsden, but we also strive for improved user experience and reduce costs to healthcare. The new M-250 ticks all the boxes.

“An accurate weight is essential for delivering the correct care and treatment - but the weighing process can sometimes be so difficult or time-consuming that it causes undue stress to the individual as well as members of staff.

“We have designed the M-250 to reduce risk of injury to residents as well as support the musculoskeletal health of health staff when weighing individuals with limited mobility.”