Measurement and Data Collection in Patient Care

Digital Physician Chair Scale
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Digital Physician Chair Scale
A digital physician chair scale is an advanced scale used for weighing patients with difficulty or inability to stand. Notably, the Rice Lake 550-010-1 scale (pictured below) accomplishes this fete with a design that can measure up to 600 lbs with outstanding ergonomic considerations (Rice Lake chair scales). Its structure composition consists of a durable plastic that is comfortable against the skin. Moreover, it has swing-up arms that enable access from either side of the chair. It has an indicator attached to the backrest with a friendly user interface. It is a large LCD with a toggle key for interchanging units of measurement (pounds or kilograms). It also has a BMI calculation algorithm, a reweigh function, a tare function and USB (or RS-232) output port. Besides, it has movement-compensation technology (Motiontrap™) that cancels out any inaccuracies due to patient movement during the weighing process. Newer versions of the digital firmware can be installed into the existing system. This apparatus is mounted on an enameled tubular steel frame with an extendable footrest and four interlocking heavy-duty casters for friction-less maneuverability.

Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 1 Rice Lake 500-10-1 Digital Physician Chair Scale
During nursing practice, the assessment of weight is a crucial indicator of patients’ health (Zhu, Norman & While, 2013). Patients with limited capabilities of mobility present a challenge to nurses during practice.

The sheer weight of patients calls for the involvement of more than one staff member during conventional weighing processes using standard scales. The staffing requirements for nurses are rarely met to achieve this efficiently. Zhu, Normal, and While (2013) suggest self-efficacy in the weight management encourages nurses to be efficient with weight management. The digital physician chair scale allows a single nurse to maneuver a patient without third-party help.
Moreover, the transferable data from this digital scale can conveniently be entered into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for broader access of data to multidisciplinary health teams and researchers. Best practice dictates that multidisciplinary healthcare teams get convenient access to patient data before recommending interventions (Melnyk et al., 2010). Also, such data can assess nurses’ efficiency in weight management and patients’ prognosis that can aid in the continuous process of developing and practicing evidence-based care.

References
Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-based practice: step by step: the seven steps of evidence-based practice. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 110(1), 51-53.
“Rice Lake chair scales,” Scales Galore. Retrieved from https://www.scalesgalore.com/Rice_Lake_Chair_Scales.cfmZhu, D. Q., Norman, I. J., & While, A. E. (2013). Nurses’ self-efficacy and practices relating to weight management of adult patients: a path analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 131.