As an undocumented immigrant living and working with diabetes, Amos spent over a year avoiding medical help – afraid that seeking care might put him at risk of deportation. He managed his condition as best he could, based on how he felt day to day.

That changed when he came to Augusta Health’s Neighborhood Clinic at the Embrace Community Center. Through an interpreter, Amos shared, “Thank you for giving me a chance to manage my diabetes and improve my life. I have been praying for a chance to see a doctor in a place that will not ask me to show papers.”

Today, Amos has a medical home where he’s treated with dignity. He visits the clinic regularly and receives Metformin each month – an affordable prescription that helps him stay healthy and keep working.

This technology, called The Hercules Patient Repositioner, includes a unique drive, mattress, and sheet combination that allows a single caregiver to safely boost a patient back up in bed to a comfortable position with a simple button push. The system operates much like a conveyor and effortlessly boosts the patient up in bed, oftentimes without them even knowing they are moving.

“Boosting using Hercules is very comfortable and allows one caregiver to safely boost by pushing a button,” said Vickie Taylor, RN, Augusta Health Assistant Vice President of Nursing. “The Hercules positioner improves patient experience and comfort while saving valuable nursing time.”

The purchase of this Hercules Patient Repositioner technology is made possible with gifts to Augusta Health Foundation. Augusta Health’s Shenandoah House received four Hercules Repositioners in 2022, and now, with additional donor funds, Augusta Health has installed 42 Hercules Repositioners – 30 for the Medical Unit, 6 for Skilled Nursing, and 6 for the Intensive Care Unit. This is phase one of a threephase project to install repositioners in all inpatient units in the hospital, to benefit patients and team members.

“Seeing, firsthand, the difference this technology makes in the patient and team member experience is powerful. Knowing the generosity of our donors made it possible is truly inspiring,” said Shirley Davis Carter, CFRE, Augusta Health Foundation Executive Director and Vice President of Philanthropy. “A patient may need to be repositioned in bed as many as 10+ times daily. Conventional repositioning methods, such as slide sheets and lifts, are disruptive. Patients don’t have to worry about that unpleasant experience when caregivers use Hercules.”

Traditional patient-boosting methods are also a leading cause of injury for bedside caregivers. This physically demanding, time-consuming task contributes to job dissatisfaction and burnout and is a significant reason nurses leave bedside care.

“Hercules has had a big impact on our Augusta Health Shenandoah House team members,” said Joey Mooneyham, RN, Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah, Clinical Coordinator. “Staff feel safer using the unit because there is less strain on them physically.”

To learn more about The Hercules Patient Repositioner, please visit https://bit.ly/AHHERCULES or watch the video below.