Read how state-of-the-art ceiling lift technology is boosting patient care.
When the physiotherapy team at Ridge Meadows Hospital (RMH) introduced its new ceiling lift system in November 2022, it marked a meaningful step forward in supporting both staff and patient care.
The journey began with a simple request from the physiotherapy team: A bariatric lift capable of safely handling larger patients in their General Rehabilitation treatment room.
Melanie Gee, an ergonomist with the Safety and Well-being team, recognized an opportunity to do more. “This system not only accommodates every patient size,” she explains, “but also offers standing and walking slings that offload a specific portion of a patient’s weight—crucial for those with diffuse weakness or balance impairments.”
The system boasts a powerful motor with an 825 pound weight capacity and an integrated gait training option. It is equipped with an X/Y axis overhead support structure to allow ceiling lift use anywhere in the room and motor locks to help control movement to meet each patient’s needs. The lift can partially support the patient’s weight and allow movement for rehab exercises, such as sit to stand training. If a patient begins to lose strength or control, the motorized system gently lowers them to the floor, preventing falls and protecting staff from manual catch and lift scenarios.
Since its installation, RMH therapists have embraced the lift’s versatility. “I feel more confident with my staff mobilizing patients with complex neurological conditions,” says Ian Peters, clinical practice leader, Physiotherapy. “The system frees the therapist’s hands, so they can focus on cueing proper gait patterns.”
For staff, the lift has become an indispensable tool: Its bariatric capability ensures that no patient is denied early mobility training due to weight constraints, and the gait trainer option accelerates progress in transfer and walking exercises.
Feedback from patient surveys show that patients appreciate the sense of security the lift provides, leading to reduced anxiety, heightened trust in their therapists and a willingness to attempt standing and walking sooner in their recovery.
While RMH’s General Rehabilitation unit is currently the only site featuring the full complement of motorized gait trainer functionality, other Fraser Health facilities will be following suit. Royal Columbian Hospital’s new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower will feature a ceiling lift with a motor capable of dynamic weight relief, and the New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre will also have a ceiling lift with the same positioning locks and motor.
As this technology becomes more widely adopted, RMH’s early experience highlights the value of collaboration across disciplines in improving patient care. By combining ergonomic expertise with modern technology, the ceiling lift system is helping support mobility, enhance safety and contribute to more effective rehabilitation.
The ceiling lift was made possible by the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation. To learn more how you can support other initiatives like this, visit the foundation page.
Interested in working at Ridge Meadows Hospital? Visit our careers page.
