Nausea Relief Vending Machines
Feeling better is, in some cases, just a sniff away at Peace Arch Hospital.
Thanks to a new project brought to life by Dr. Amir Behboudi after he participated in a year-long physician quality improvement course, a few new treatment nausea vending machines in the White Rock hospital offer patients potential relief from nausea and vomiting symptoms by dispensing isopropyl alcohol wipes.
"When I did the research, I came across a lot of articles that looked at when patients smell an (isopropyl) alcohol swab for up to five minutes, it improved the symptoms of nausea and vomiting – sometimes even better than Gravol and Zofran," Behboudi said.
Through a process that took several steps, Behboudi and others involved through the course first targeted patients at the triage stage, when they first enter the hospital, then through posters, pamphlets and stations set up throughout the hospital, so as not to miss any patients.
"We put a treatment station at the waiting room, then extended it to all the rooms in the ER... From that we noticed that patients were using it quite a bit, and that feedback was positive," said Behboudi.
As much as 80 per cent of patients so far have reported relief from nausea and vomiting symptoms, and often, the rubbing alcohol wipes work better than name brands such as Gravol or Zofran, which can cost as much as $4 per tablet, he noted.
"With these, a pack of 200 costs $3," Behboudi said. "We want to empower patients – independent of staff – to be able to alleviate (their) symptoms while waiting... up to 80 per cent notice some improvement."
Currently, it is suggested only non-pregnant adults use the wipes, as not enough study has been done on potential effects on pregnant women, and studies done with children show that they are too sensitive to the scent, he explained.
While the study started last summer, the machines – two 'regular' and one with a more fancy, digital display screen – have been installed for about a month in the White Rock hospital, thanks to the support of Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, said Behboudi.
Peace Arch Hospital Foundation supported not only the costs of the vending machines, but their volunteers help keep them stocked with wipes, he continued, and added he is hopeful to see the treatment vending machines in hospitals throughout the region. The machines cost $200 each; the ones with the screens cost $400.
