The case in summary: A unique hospital bed has been tested on the ambulance vessel “Thea Jensen”, which transports patients from the island communities in Western Finnmark to Hammerfest hospital. The hospital bed, developed by the Arendal company Stable AS, is gyro-stabilised and dampens 90 per cent of the movements in the vessel, which results in gentler patient transport. Ambulance personnel have noticed a marked decrease in the use of drugs for the patients during the journey to the hospital, especially anti-nausea and pain-relieving medicine. Two prototypes of the hospital bed have been built and tested, one in a vehicle, and the other on board the ambulance boat “Thea Jensen”. Finnmarkshykehuset believes the technology is a quantum leap for patient transport at sea. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The unique hospital bed has been under trial at “Thea Jensen” for the past year. This is the ambulance vessel that transports patients from the island communities in Western Finnmark to Hammerfest Hospital. – This is a much gentler patient transport than what we have experienced before, says Kim Gøran Pedersen. For several years, he has worked as a paramedic on the vessel, which often has health missions in harsh areas. – We can see that this hospital bed has a great effect on the patients. It means a lot to us, he says. – For many people, lying on a sick bed in a vessel moving through high waves can be a stressful and painful experience. In addition, patients often experience nausea and seasickness, says Pedersen. – With a stable hospital bed, the possibility of giving cardiac massage to patients when needed also increases, says Kim Jøran Pedersen. Photo: Allan Klo / news Started with a pool word It is the Arendal company Stable AS that is behind the innovation. The idea for a gyro-stabilized nursing bed came a few years ago. It started with a pool table. – More than 20 years ago, we were asked if we could construct a pool table that could be used on board, among other things, cruise ships, regardless of weather and waves, says general manager Svend Heier. One year later, they installed the world’s first stabilized and seaworthy pool table at Kielferga. – A very seasick engineer on board got the idea to lie down on this pool table, and it helped, says Heier. Thus the idea of a gyro-stabilized bed was born. Svend Heier is general manager of Stable, the Arendal company that has developed the technology for gyro-stabilized hospital beds. Photo: Allan Klo / news Dampening movements Under the hospital bed there is an intricate network of wires and sensitive instruments that stabilize the bed gyroscopically. The technique means that the bed dampens 90 percent of the movements in the vessel. Pedersen has already noticed a marked decrease in the use of drugs by the patients during the journey to the hospital. – There is less use of anti-nausea medicine, and perhaps most importantly, reduced use of pain-relieving medicine. Many patients who travel by ambulance ship experience increased pain when we go through high waves. – With a hospital bed like this, the need for pain relief is significantly lower, says Pedersen. Maritime Partner/Finnmarkssykehuset 40,000 kilometers The ambulance vessel covers an area that stretches from the county border towards Troms in the west to Hammerfest in the east. Every year, the ambulance vessel covers around 40,000 kilometres, or the same distance as the circumference of the earth. In 2023, around 400 patients were transported to Hammerfest hospital by ambulance boat. – The majority of assignments go from Øksfjord, Hasvik and Alta, says general manager of Loppa Medical Services, Mats Martinsen. The vessel is also often in use when winter-closed roads prevent ambulance vehicles from getting to and from the hospital in Hammerfest. A network of cables and hydraulic parts, the hospital bed is kept steady despite heavy seas. Photo: Allan Klo / news Can there be talk of installing stabilized hospital beds also on ambulance vehicles? – It is something we are looking at right now. In addition to this hospital bed, we have built a prototype that is being tested in an ambulance in Southern Norway. Here, a stabilized bed will dose the bends by tilting it up towards the outer edge of the bend, says Heier. Two prototypes Two hospital beds have been built and tested, one in a vehicle, and the other on board the ambulance boat “Thea Jensen”. The purpose is to create a bed that compensates for sudden movements, such as braking, acceleration, sharp turns and uneven surfaces on the road and at sea. – To achieve this, several sensors are used, including gyro and accelerometer. This ends up in an advanced mathematical model that adjusts the angle via electric motors on the hospital bed. – The result is that the forces affecting the patient are reduced by more than 90 per cent, says Heier. The gyro-stabilised hospital bed initially looks like a normal patient bed, but underneath the shell, advanced technology ensures that the bed remains stable. According to Finnmark Hospital, the system stabilizes 90 percent of the movements in the vessel. Photo: Allan Klo / news Finnmarkssykehuset believes the technology is a quantum leap for patient transport at sea. – Could it be relevant to install such hospital beds in ambulance vehicles? – An assessment of installation will be made in each individual case, as some ambulances have weight restrictions, says acting head of clinic at Finnmarkssykehuset, Jonas Valle Paulsen.
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A revolution for patient transport in harsh areas – news Troms and Finnmark
