Jewell Nursing Solutions is a team of nurses dedicated to creating the best positioning devices for pressure injury prevention. We are founded on the principal that pressure reduction is the most important effort in the fight against pressure injuries. Nurses are the best people to ask about how to accommodate the physical needs of a person at risk of pressure sores, because we do it every day!
Ask any nurse; preventing and treating pressure injuries by reducing pressure makes perfect sense. But as easy it is to understand, the truth is, it is quite difficult to accomplish in practice.
Here is the good news. Removing pressure really does work to reduce bedsores. You just have to do it right. Repositioning, floating and turning must be done so that there is true pressure reduction for a sustained period of time. All you have to do is identify exactly what the physical needs are, and then use a support device that is designed to accommodate those needs.
Knowing how important it is and understanding how difficult it can be, The Jewell nursing team set out to figure out exactly how a support device needs to be designed to support a persons physical needs. Our goal is to make the most effective, comfortable and long lasting support products on the market, and to make those products available to everyone.
Our “Bone” positioning pillows and cushions are the result of 2 years nursing R&D. The BackBone™, HeelBone™ and AnyBone™ pillows are the only positioning pillows designed to provide full functionality and comfort across the entire healthcare continuum, from the operating room to the homecare. We designed our bedsore prevention cushions to honestly work, so that you can concentrate on all the other important things you do.
About The BackBone™ Turning Wedge.
Relax! Our nursing team figured out how to support the most comfortable and effective lateral turned position so that you don’t have to!
The BackBone™ is the most comfortable and effective positioning wedge because…
- The BackBone™ is the only low-profile turning wedge cushion capable of providing pressure reduction at a gentle “just enough” lift between 20-30 degrees. This angle is far enough over to lift the sacrum/coccyx off the mattress, but not too far over to cause pressure on the hip and shoulders on the opposite side. It is why we were awarded a patent on The BackBone™!
- The BackBone™ is the only positioning cushion that supports UNDERNEATH the back AND pelvis. It does not just push from the side like the cheap wedges do. It’s another reason why we were awarded a patent on The BackBone™!
- The BackBone™ is the only single piece wedge capable of full back and pelvis support WITHOUT TOUCHING the sacrum/coccyx. Instead of just a little block of support here and there, like the cheap wedges do. Its yet another reason we were awarded a patent on The BackBone™
- The BackBone™ is the only crescent shaped positioning wedge on the market. Why does a crescent shape work better?
- The crescent shape conforms to the natural curvatures of the spine, providing cradle like support and comfort.
- The crescent shape is less rigid in the center. So when the head of bed is elevated, the BackBone™ flexes with the bend to maintain a stable turned lift. No more popping out or slipping out!
You guessed it. We were awarded a patent on the Crescent shape of The BackBone™ too!
Really, its not rocket science, it just makes sense. The solution is in the patented bilaterally symmetrical wedge angles and crescent shape. These features make The BackBone the only nursing wedge design capable of lifting from the scapula and buttocks without touching the sacrum/coccyx and spine. The BackBone provides support under the entire back and pelvis for an even, gradual and predictable angle of lift. Your person is not forced over too far, nor is he/she “let down” to a flat position because of slipping or lack of support. The BackBone will flex during head of bed elevation so that it can maintain a turned, depressurized angle without slipping.
Above all else, The BackBone is the most comfortable nursing wedge on the planet. Why? Because The BackBone™ is designed to fit humans.
More questions about repositioning and bedsore prevention cushions? Ask your Jewell Nurse!
Info@jewellNS.com
Stories from real people
“I can tell you that we had nothing but rave reviews. All the nurses that used the backbone wedge did not want to give it up. They stated it was so easy to use, stayed in place, kept the patient where they were supposed to be. The patients we used them on (that were alert and oriented) stated they were much more comfortable than the wedges we currently have and were not pleased when I took it away. I know administration likes that we can clean it and frankly, so do I.”
– Magnolia Rehab and Nursing Center in Riverside, CA
“I’m very glad I went with The Backbone, Dad says it is comfortable and his pressure sore is healing. An alternate wedge provided by hospice is quite large and boxy, it’s too big for the bed and not getting very much use.”
– Ellen Litwinovich, Connecticut
“We ordered this as a result of my wife having a stage three bedsore. It worked perfectly. You could use a two pillow approach but would have to constantly adjust the pillows. The wedge was stable and very comfortable. The material dried up quickly when you got it wet. I use it in the mornings as a table for her when she is still in bed having her coffee. Great device. I will be buying another one for when we go away.”
– Daniel Chen, New Jersey
“This is a super tool for any person. Many many uses. Great to prop my bedridden husband on his side. Much more comfortable for him than any other and extremely easy for me to use. I would highly recommend it”
– P. Sannella, Texas
“When we trialed these at our facility the nurses loved them. They are light weight and easily used for a variety of patients. We hightly recommend them” – Julia LeRoux, RN, CWS, AGCNS-BC, Clinical Nurse Specialist
“Really good results with our client. I ended up using on a client with a stage 2 pressure ulcer that was developed over 48 hrs in hospital, post procedure. The caregiver was really able to get him off his sacrum and within 48 hrs the wound has shown great improvement and is almost completely healed. Client was able to tolerate the position really well and he is usually very difficult to keep off his back. Really glad that we have found your product.”
-Pam Conlon-Sandhu RN, BSN, CRRN Agility Health, San Mateo
“We used the wedge on one of our clients with a wound vac for his heel. Over the course of 48 hours, his wound improved tremendously. The staff is really seeing the benefits from the wedge so far.”
-Rebekah McAulay
Our Awesome Wedge
The Backbone Turning Wedge
Satisfaction Guaranteed
- Guaranteed to provide the most gentle, well supported 30 degree turned position of any wedge.
- Contoured support for precision offloading; avoids direct contact with Sacrum/Coccyx area.
- Will not force a turn too far over onto trochanter/hip side.
- Provides full ergonomically correct support under the back and hips.
- Stays in place better than any other lateral positioning wedge.
- Soft, Antimicrobial fabric will not leak, scratch or contaminate.
- The only lateral positioning wedge guaranteed to stay in place with head of bed elevation.
- The only lateral positioning wedge bold enough to guarantee more comfort than any other turning wedge!
How the BackBone™ Works for Everybody
Patients
Stay comfortable and off pressure points – mitigate pressure ulcer risk
Caregivers
Convenient to use and long lasting – save time and conserve labor
Healthcare Facilities
Re-usable, economic and more effective – save $$$, less headaches
So why don’t foam wedges work and how is the BackBone better?
Unlocking the secrets to solve the problem
Once you understand the problem, the solution can be so obvious! The patented BackBone turning wedge ™ represents an evolution of how form follows function.
Turns out, when I began to understand why wedges slip out of place, it was clear what changes need to be made to make one work well. First of all, in our zeal to get a 30 degree angle, wedges have lost sight of the real goal. That is to remove pressure from the sacrum without placing pressure on the greater trochanter. The flat surface of a straight wedge cut to 30 degrees is too steep to support a person at that angle because a persons’ back is not flat. Especially as we get older, our spines tend curve out, and when we turn to the side in bed we tend to curl our backs. So when you place a 30 degree angled wedge against a rounded back, not only is it impossible to get the wedge all the way under the person, but you will actually turn the person greater than 30 degrees and closer to her trochanter. This is why they slip out of place all the time too. When the wedge is to the side, the persons body weight puts a constant lateral force to the wedge, pushing it away. Wedges fitted with a “no slip” surface are great at sticking to the bed sheet, but if the bed sheet cannot stick to the mattress, the wedge only takes the sheet with it.
Another thing I noticed in my nursing practice was that, if a person possibly can, he will always do one of two things when supported by a conventional wedge. 1. He will shift his hips to make himself flat on the bed again, or 2. He will roll all the way onto his side. He does this because laying at a half way, 30 degree angle is like trying to sit half way down. If you are not well supported under the direction your body is heading, your body will feel like it needs to keep going to get to a natural position. Since a conventional wedge supports to the side, the person feels like his back is not supported, so he shifts to a more supported, natural position.
The secret to an effective wedge is that it must fit under a person and across her entire back and hips! A wedge under a person will achieve lift, support and the person’s body weight will push downward and hold it in place. The only caveat is that it must support without touching the sacrum.
The secret to the BackBone’s success is in its unique, bilateral angling and contour design. Since the wedge is cut to the lifting angle on two sides rather than just one, it is possible to get the wedge all the way under a person’s back. The person rests on top of the cushion with an even, gentle lift so they feel well supported and wedge is pinned in place. The contouring shape conforms to the natural “curl” of a person’s back while supporting the hips to achieve a form fitting, ergonomically correct position, even when he is in a semi-fowler position. Pressure reduction is efficient because the BackBone will support while curving away from the sensitive bony prominences of the spine, especially the sacrum.
The BackBone Turning Wedge is a patent pending design because it is the only wedge design that can live up to all the challenges a wedge faces! Once you try the BackBone Turning Wedge ™ you will see why I say the BackBone is the best turning wedge in the world!
Gentle lift without contacting bony prominences
Conforms to support in Semi-Fowler's elevation
Versitile to support in many other ways
