MOULTRIE, Ga. – Colquitt Regional Emergency Medical Services department recently acquired a new powered loading system that will allow EMS workers to transfer patients with ease and speed. The loading system was purchased by the Colquitt County Board of Commissioners as part of a capital equipment contract with Colquitt Regional.

The Stryker Power-LOAD, first obtained by Colquitt Regional in 2017, is a powered cot fastener system that features a battery-powered hydraulic system that lifts and loads the cot into the ambulance. This new acquisition comes in addition to the Power-PRO XT, a powered ambulance cot, which the department first started using in 2010.

After a patient is placed on the cot, the cot is then hooked to the loader and pulled into the ambulance using a battery powered hydraulic lift system. Having this equipment has significantly reduced the typical strain experienced by EMS workers on the job.

“The addition of the Power-LOAD has already proven to be extremely effective in reducing strain and back injuries to our EMS workers,” said Colquitt Regional CEO Jim Matney. “Colquitt Regional continues to be proactive by incorporating equipment that circumvents work-related injuries.”

The number of workplace-related injuries among EMS workers continues to be a concern in hospitals across America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 21,900 EMS workers were treated in US hospital emergency departments in 2016. Of those injuries, 36 percent were caused by overexertion and bodily reaction.

In addition to reduced strain and battery power, the Power-LOAD has many other benefits such as a linear transfer system that guides the cot during loading and unloading, inductive charging that automatically charges the battery when in transport position, head end LED indicators that keep the operator informed of position status, and a control panel that allows for complete operation of manual and powered cots, among others.

“Providing a safe work environment for our employees is a top concern at Colquitt Regional,” said Hospital Authority Chairman Maureen A. Yearta, Ed.D. “Implementing this innovative technology further displays our commitment to maintaining a culture of safety.”

For more information, contact Amy Williams, director of EMS and non-emergency transport, at 229-589-0233 or visit www.colquittregional.com.