Administrator
FIX I/V® splints are a smart, cost-effective choice
Other hospitals opt for ready-to-use splints. But these splints are often very small and not very stable. The shape of the FIX I/V® splints conforms to natural anatomy. They are made of two parts, with different materials: the flexible plastic fits snugly to the limb, and the rigid section serves as protection. The inside of the splint is made from hypoallergenic foam to increase comfort.
To fasten, the FIX I/V® requires a minimum of adhesive bandage. Its stability prevents the use of gauze rolls, which has a significant impact on the monitoring of IVs in children. This makes nurses’ lives easier, while increasing the well-being of little ones.
Time = money
2. Our immobilization splints reduce the time spent on rounds to check insertion sites, which nurses do every hour. Undoing a rolled bandage can easily take 5 minutes per child. We estimate that this happens three times per 8-hour shift, adding up to 9 times per day. Over 5 days, that makes for a significant amount of time saved. For a single child, we’re talking about 3 hours and 45 minutes (5 minutes times 9 changes, multiplied by 5 days = 225 minutes).
In terms of money, that adds up to about $281.25 per child (3 hours and 45 minutes times $75 per hour, including benefits).
3. In addition, the new FIX I/V immobilization splint reduces the number of catheter reinsertions, which is often one or two times for every 24 hours. We estimate that it takes two nurses 30 minutes to insert a catheter. Multiplied by two times per day, that comes to 120 minutes. 120 minutes times 5 days = 10 hours, multiplied by $75 = $750 per child.
4. To that, we need to add the cost of making splints from scratch. This process costs between $3 and $12 depending on the materials used.
All told, for one child, that’s a savings of $1123.25.
Even better, in addition to the time and money saved, FIX I/V® adds real value to the health care system.