The Hausted video-fluoroscopy chair is a specialist piece of equipment specifically designed to use within our Interventional and Fluoroscopy suites. It is a chair that allows for safe and comfortable imaging of patients with restricted mobility for a large variety of different procedures. One of the primary examinations the video imaging chair (VIC) is specially designed for are barium swallows including those alongside the speech and language team to assess the safe swallowing of patients. This is especially crucial for our stoke patients on the RHCH site.
The specially designed radiolucent back section accommodates the limited space available when using fluoroscopic equipment and provides a clear unobstructed radiological image.
The shortened base is easy to manoeuvre in small rooms with large imaging equipment. The radiolucent backrest adjusts to a full upright position of 90 to a clear, unobstructed view for imaging. This unit adjusts easily from sitting to supine and provides a rotating seat section with a stable work surface during patient treatment. Transport, treatment, procedure and recovery can be performed on the same unit streamlining safe patient movement and handling.
Our Interventional suites are advanced and specialist pieces of technology and this chair will make that technology more easily available for more patients to benefit from for certain examination types.
The chair itself is designed specifically with patients in mind, its radiolucent back portion allows for clear diagnostic imaging through the chair and all of the test can be done whilst the patient is seated in the one position.
for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
“The benefits to not only our patients but also to staff and wider Trust are numerous. In Radiology, our patients come to us from across specialties and departments, therefore the benefits will be seen far and wide across our Trust. Each examination will be easier, quicker, more comfortable and safer for the patients, it will also extend the level of mobility concerns we are able to cope with within our 1 specialist Interventional suite on the Winchester site, especially due to the VICs radiolucent back. It will mean we can keep the patient in the one chair and rotate/move our patients into the positions required without requiring them to stand and staff manually moving a standard stool. Better patient stability will lead to a decrease in patient movement during an exam which will increase image quality, quicker exams and therefore lower radiation dose.
Patient safety is always paramount in our thoughts and the VIC can be raised in the supine position to safely transfer a patient from a stretcher or bed to the chair, which also reduces the risk of injury to staff.
The high-density, non-conductive vinyl-covered foam chair pads support the patient comfortably; arm rests are padded for comfort and the whole chair is infection control approved.
A pneumatic-assisted backrest can be adjusted with levers on both sides of the chair from supine to 90 degrees for patient comfort and procedure positioning. The leg section and the height of the fold-down footrest are adjustable, maximising lower body comfort and stability.
The chair will always be available for us to use depending on patients individual mobility concerns so potential use every day but it will be invaluable and essential for every barium and SALT (speech and language therapy) swallows list. A mixture of inpatients and outpatients we currently run these lists up to 3 times a week with 4 patients on a list. SALT lists every other week approx, depending on need. Potentially this piece of equipment could benefit over 400 patients per year.”