They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes; for healthcare staff, that list goes on. Patient transfer trouble also seems guaranteed.
It’s physically demanding, and the risk of injury is high for both staff and patients; for that reason, patient transfer training has been identified as a “crucial component of patient care” by the American Medical Compliance Association. In addition to training, your facility needs to use the right patient transfer sheets.
From intensive care units to operating rooms and routine patient rooms, your staff will face the challenge of repositioning or transferring patients without causing harm to themselves or those under their care.
As hospitals and healthcare facilities move away from patient transfer boards due to infection control concerns, the demand for cleaner, disposable solutions is on the rise. Enter: disposable transfer sheets.
These sheets minimize friction, reduce the physical effort required for lifting, and enhance infection control. This article provides a comprehensive comparison of the top disposable transfer sheet options: the Sloan ezGLIDE and Sandel Z-Slider, to help you make an informed decision about your next supply order.
Throwing It Out There: Disposable Transfer Sheets Are The Modern Alternative to Wood and Plastic Transfer Boards
You’re moving a patient. Whether you’re going from bed to stretcher or repositioning them for a procedure, you don’t need to go “grab a board” anymore. That traditional approach, often relying on manual force, has led to a high incidence of work-related injuries among healthcare professionals.
For staff, the risk of debilitating injuries, particularly to the back, neck, and shoulders, is a serious issue. The National Safety Council highlights that the total economic cost of work-related injuries in the U.S. in 2023 was $176.5 billion, a stark reminder of the financial and human toll of workplace hazards.
OSHA guidelines and recommendations from organizations like NIOSH and AORN emphasize the need for safe patient handling techniques to mitigate these risks.
Beyond staff safety, patient comfort and dignity are paramount. Rough or difficult transfers can cause distress, skin shearing, and pressure injuries, especially for vulnerable or elderly individuals. The World Health Organization notes that unsafe care significantly burdens healthcare budgets, consuming up to 12.6% of total health expenditure in high-income countries, about $878 billion annually.
Modern patient transfer sheets, by reducing friction and facilitating smoother movement, directly contribute to improved patient comfort and skin integrity, while their disposable nature is a key weapon against cross-contamination in hospitals and clinics.
The single-use or single-patient (more on that distinction coming up) nature inherently limits the spread of pathogens, while their design facilitates smoother patient movement, thereby reducing the physical exertion and risk of injuries associated with manual lifting.
Deep Dive: Sloan Medical ezGLIDE Disposable Patient Transfer Sheets
Sloan Medical ezGLIDE sheets were designed by a surgeon for the explicit protection of his staff and patients. After seeing the impact of career-altering injuries and more than one healthcare-acquired infection, Dr. Stewart Sloan saw the need for a more thoughtful approach to the challenges of patient handling. Developed with a focus on minimizing physical strain and keeping infectious material off of surfaces and staff, its design prioritizes ease of use.
Key Features and Design Philosophy
Sloan’s ezGLIDE patient transfer sheets are engineered with a low-friction surface, specifically designed to reduce the shear forces experienced during patient transfers, directly addressing OSHA concerns regarding lifting-related injuries. The material is a durable yet smooth polyethylene, 4 mil thick, and impermeable by virus, bacteria, fungus, or fluid.
Ease of Use and Application: Practical Insights for Healthcare Professionals
ezGLIDE is designed for fast and easy use. Disposable and designed to reduce strain on backs, ezGLIDE also helps to minimize disease spread among patients, which doesn’t come easily with transfer boards. Healthcare professionals simply slide the transfer sheet beneath the patient, either completely or partially, and follow the instructions printed directly on each sheet to move the patient. The low-friction surface allows caregivers to easily glide the patient across surfaces like beds, stretchers, or procedure tables. This simplicity reduces the need for extensive training and minimizes the time required for preparation, making it a practical option for various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
ezGLIDE sheets are disposable, but they’re durable. Instead of being designed for one use, they’re designed to stay with one patient for the duration of their stay. This single-patient, rather than single-use, philosophy keeps infectious materials or viral shed off staff and surfaces throughout the patient’s stay.
Target Use Cases and Ideal Environments (e.g., OR, ER, Patient Room)
The Sloan ezGLIDE is well-suited for a broad range of clinical environments. In the operating room (OR), its ability to facilitate precise patient positioning is invaluable for surgeons and their teams. In the emergency room (ER), where rapid patient assessment and movement are often critical, its ease of use can streamline workflows. For general patient rooms and long-term care facilities, ezGLIDE offers a consistent and reliable method for routine repositioning, helping to prevent pressure sores and reduce staff injuries.
Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective
Pros:
- Significantly reduces friction, easing patient transfers and lessening staff strain.
- Designed to comply with OSHA, AORN, and ANA recommendations for safe patient handling.
- Simple application makes it user-friendly for all healthcare professionals.
- Disposable nature enhances infection control and eliminates laundry costs.
- Helps your facility comply with your state’s “no-lift” laws, where applicable
- Healthcare professionals can try ezGLIDE at no cost with Sloan Medical’s free sample system.
Cons:
- Cost per use could be higher, depending on order size, than thinner alternatives over the long term. (In our experience, this is offset by our case size, reduced injury claims, cuts to cleaning supply orders, and reduced laundry expenses.)
Deep Dive: Sandel Z-Slider Patient Transfer Sheets
Sandel’s Z-Slider series aims to provide advanced features that enhance safety, efficiency, and user experience for healthcare professionals.
Product Variants (e.g., Sandel Z-Slider™ XL) and Details
The Sandel Z Slider is designed for frequent patient transfers. Printed application instructions directly on the sheet help simplify its use for staff. This visual guidance is particularly beneficial in high-stress environments or for less experienced personnel. The material science behind the Z Slider focuses on optimizing friction for controlled movement, ensuring that transfers are both smooth and safe.
Sandel also offers variants like the Z-Slider™ XL, specifically designed for bariatric patients. These disposable sheets are designed to meet various OSHA and healthcare standards.
There is no publicly accessible test documentation for the Z-Slider variants. Impermeability by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or fluids can’t be verified without it.
Application Methods: From Log-Roll Technique to Routine Repositioning
The Z Slider is versatile, accommodating various patient handling techniques. Its design supports the log-roll maneuver, crucial for patients with spinal precautions, as well as routine repositioning in bed or moving patients between surfaces. The printed instructions can guide users through the most effective application methods for each scenario. This adaptability makes it a valuable tool for surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals across different departments, contributing to safer patient handling and reduced lifting strain.
Sandel’s Z-Slider Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Easy to use, with printed instructions to help caregivers
- Low-friction design
- Offers variants for diverse patient needs, including bariatric sizes.
- Disposable nature helps with infection control.
Cons:
- Can be perceived as a premium product, potentially at a higher price point than simpler options.
- The printed instructions, while helpful, require careful attention for full benefit.
- No publicly accessible test results were available at the time of publication, so impermeability is unknown, and infectious material could still be contaminating staff and surfaces.
Head-to-Head: A Comparative Analysis of Performance Metrics
When selecting the right patient transfer sheet, understanding how each product performs against critical metrics is essential. This comparative analysis focuses on friction reduction, durability, patient experience, and infection control to guide informed decisions for healthcare professionals.
Durability and Tear Resistance During Transfer
The durability of a disposable transfer sheet matters, especially when handling larger patients or executing complex transfers.
The materials used for ezGLIDE and Sandel Z-Slider are typically chosen for their strength and resistance to tearing, often being thicker mil polyethylene. For healthcare facilities that frequently transfer patients, especially heavy patients, only ezGLIDE and the Z-Slider will stand up to what you need.
Infection Control Features: Material Properties and Disposal Convenience
Any disposable patient transfer sheet should inherently contribute to infection control by being single-patient use, thereby preventing cross-contamination between patients. The convenience of disposal eliminates the need for laundering and associated costs, further enhancing hygiene protocols in hospitals and clinics.
Independent testing is the best way to verify that the patient transfer sheet you choose is truly impermeable to viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Sloan Medical’s ezGLIDE material has publicly accessible test results for the materials used in our products on our website.
View our ASTM SDOC Materials Testing Approval
Money Matters: Cost and Case Count
Simply put, you get more bang for your buck with Sloan Medical’s ezGLIDE patient transfer sheets:
| Brand | Packaging | Case Count |
| Sloan Medical ezGLIDE | Single-Packaged Sheets | 70 sheets/case |
| Sandel Z-Slider | Single-Packaged Sheets | 48 sheets/case |
| Brand | Packaging | Case Count |
| Sloan Medical ezGLIDE | Multipack Sheets | 90 sheets/case |
| Sandel Z-Slider | Roll | 60 sheets/case |
Sloan Medical’s ezGLIDE cases include more sheets than Z-Slider cases, saving you both money and time spent refilling dispensers or running to the supply room.
Choosing the Right Patient Transfer Sheet for Your Hospital or Facility
Patient transfers are a necessity in any hospital, surgical center, or nursing home, and you have options for the tools you use to make it easier.
If your facility deals with bariatric patients and has fewer infection control concerns, Sandel’s Z-Slider and Z-Slider XL could be the right choice for you.
If you’re looking for a patient transfer option that’s more affordable, truly impermeable by blood- and fluidborne contaminants, and enhances your infection control and safe patient handling protocols, ezGLIDE has your back.
But don’t just take our word for it. Order a sample and give ezGLIDE a try for yourself.
