In a recent blog article we discussed how very few people actually “like” visiting the doctor’s office.

Not only do you have to get there early and usually wait beyond your scheduled appointment, there’s always an abundance of germs and paperwork too.

Despite how little people enjoy seeing a doctor, there is, perhaps, one other medical professional people ‘like’ seeing even less.

It’s the Medical Lab Professional.

You know, the health professionals who poke you with needles to draw blood.

All joking aside, medical lab professionals are truly some of the unsung heroes of the medical community.

Sure, they may poke you with a needle to draw blood but that’s a very small portion of their job. According to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), medical laboratorians “are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing information from laboratory analyses that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention.”

So, while the doctor is the face of the medical community, medical lab professionals are tirelessly working in the background to help keep you healthy and thriving.

Considering this, in 1975 the ASCLS founded National Medical Lab Professional Week in an effort to raise awareness and honor the work Medical Lab Professionals do.

Their work is not only challenging, it typically requires them to spend most of the day on their feet. Here at SATECH, Inc. we are no strangers to the plight of the medical lab profession.

We have a deep gratitude for the work they do on a daily basis, and have also partnered with hundreds of medical labs around the globe to fight medical lab professional pain and fatigue through implementing SmartCells anti-fatigue cushioning solutions.

Our solutions have been utilized in medical labs ranging from Kaiser Permanente in the private sector to Department of Defense labs and everything in between.

In fact, Kaiser Permanente has been a loyal SATECH client since 2005, and have standardized the use of SmartCells anti-fatigue solutions in their pharmacies and blood draw areas.

Keep reading below to learn about one of our more notable Kaiser Permanente projects.

In July of 2015 the representatives from Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park located in Vancouver, WA reached out to SATECH because their phlebotomists were experiencing pain and discomfort from standing all day.

After reviewing their lab layout and needs, we recommended the standard 1” grey SmartCells poly fleck platform flooring solution that has had proven success in the past. This particular area called for the 3.5” wide grey transition ramp to be used at the base of the chairs as well as the 12” wide transition where the walk off areas were much longer.

That part was simple. What came next presented more of a challenge.

You see, Kaiser blood draw areas require a unique custom flooring solution to ensure the medical lab professional’s daily tasks are not hindered.

No stranger to custom flooring challenges, SATECH installers determined the SmartCells pads needed to be cut and configured in a ‘half-moon’ around the base of the blood draw chairs so the phlebotomists can roll their trays up to the patients without having to roll on or off of SmartCells. Then once the flooring was installed, they applied a total seam seal over the entire floor to prevent fluids from getting under it and hampering infection control processes.

The installation was completed in one day and it turned out great! 

Are you interested in a SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Flooring Solution for your medical lab? Click the button below to request a product sample.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.

It’s 2019 and the modern workplace is vastly different than it was 100, 50, 25, 10,  or even 5 years ago.

However, despite how much the modern warehouse has evolved, many companies still use nearly 200-year-old flooring technology (cement, est. 1824). Even if the company utilizes more optimal workspace flooring such as anti-fatigue matting or runners, the typical product itself is usually only marginally better than cement.

Why?

Because rather than building a better flooring solution based on actual science and research, many anti-fatigue products prey on the misconception that softer is better. Thus they combine material such as foam and gel with a draped top cover and call it an anti-fatigue mat or runner.

The problem with this method is that, when stood on, gel squishes out of the way leaving a worker on the hard subsurface while foam tends to get stiffer the more it is compressed.

So, how do you really fix it?

Simple. Invest in SmartCells Anti-fatigue Solutions, a new generation of cushioned flooring technology.

Over the last few months, we have been exploring the 3 core tenets of our technology that set SmartCells apart from other anti-fatigue products. They are:

1. Support
2. Cushion
3. Rebound or Energy Return

You see, through valid 3rd party research and years of refining our technology, the SmartCells R&D team found that the optimal anti-fatigue solution must not only provide cushion, it must combine this with the optimal level of support and rebound. Bringing all three of these core tenets together in a single solution is what creates the optimal anti-fatigue solution.

Here’s how it works:

Phase 1: Support
SmartCells® Anti-Fatigue Mat technology products have a “resting state” – much like a non-compressed spring – with a natural, supportive, upright force that provides a compressible, soft surface that is also stable and supportive.

Phase 2: Cushion
SmartCells® Anti-Fatigue Products compress and absorb pressure/impact energy from standing, weight-shifting, walking, or from the impact of a fall. After reaching a “critical threshold” the cellular structures soften and collapse laterally, without bottoming out. SmartCells® get softer as force is applied and remain in this cushioned “sweet spot” for as long as the pressure remains.

Phase 3: Rebound
Like miniature springs, SmartCells® Anti-Fatigue floor mats and products store impact energy until pressure is reduced or eliminated. The SmartCells® resilient rubber material and structure work “in-phase” with body movements to actively rebound, releasing their stored energy back into the body.

This scientifically engineered formula for comfort and fatigue relief is why leading companies such as Amazon, Disney, Boeing, and Costco who proactively invest in their employees’ health and safety trust SmartCells Cushioning Technology to get the job done.

Interested in a SmartCells Solution? Click the button below to request a product sample.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.

Working on hard surfaces is one of the leading aggressors for Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs in the workplace. Common MSDs include: sprains and strains, back pain, hernias, carpal tunnel, joint pain, and more.

The pain doesn’t just stop there, though. According to a productivity study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, lost productive time from common pain conditions, such as MSDs, among active workers cost companies an estimated $61.2 billion annually.

Further, since the majority of this loss is while workers are “on-the-job”, companies are losing an average of 23 days per year of productive time from each worker experiencing pain.

There’s no denying. Your workforce is in pain and it is hurting your bottomline.

Can you imagine how much more your company could accomplish if workplace MSDs were minimized?

That’s where anti-fatigue mats, runners and flooring come in.

But not just any ‘anti-fatigue’ mat will do. Research shows that a true anti-fatigue solution which is optimized to reduce worker fatigue and MSDs must be adequately responsive to worker movements.

This critical feature is commonly referred to as “rebound”.

If a mat has a delayed rebound, it will likely already be partially compressed as a weighted load is repeatedly placed on it, reducing its ability to provide fatigue relief and minimize MSDs.

Likewise, a responsive anti-fatigue mat should rapidly rebound to its original shape once weight is shifted. Even better, if the rebound is “in-phase” with the movement, less energy may be used as the mat “helps” with movement, much as a spring would assist.

A good way to test if an anti-fatigue solution is responsive with adequate rebound and cushioning capabilities is with the raw egg test.

Can your anti-fatigue mat do that? Thanks to the patented SmartCells Cushioning Technology, our anti-fatigue solutions can.

Like miniature springs, SmartCells® Anti-Fatigue floor mats and products store impact energy until pressure is reduced or eliminated. The unique SmartCells technology works “in-phase” with body movements to actively rebound, releasing their stored energy back into the body.

Interested in a SmartCells Solution? Click the button below to request a product sample.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.

Don’t you wish the saying “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away” was true? Not only would it save you money, it would keep you from having to ever visit a doctor’s office.

And let’s be honest. No one truly likes visiting the doctor’s office.

A) You have to get there early. B) There’s always an obscene amount of paperwork to be done. C) Germs. Afterall, people generally only visit the doctor when their sick. D) The doctor is typically running late. E, F, G… We could go on.

But, have you ever thought about it from the doctor’s point of view?

They have to put in longer hours in their office. They do a lot more paperwork. They have to interact with all those people who are sick and usually upset because they had to wait. And if they’re running behind schedule they have to work late. Not to mention, doctors have been there for us since we were born to make sure we live a healthy, full life.

When you think of it that way, it really puts it into perspective. Which is why in 1933 Eudora Brown Almond came up with the idea of having a national celebration recognizing and honoring doctors for the work they do.

Although it took 58 years, in 1991 Congress officially made March 30 a nationally recognized holiday known as National Doctor’s Day.

This day is generally celebrated by personally thanking a doctor either in person or with a card or flowers. However, we believe you should take it one step further this year and share the gift of SmartCells comfort with them.

SmartCells anti-fatigue products are engineered to provide optimal levels of comfort for standing workers, like doctors. The optimized design of SmartCells offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which soften under impact and resist bottoming out, this creates the perfect balance for maximum comfort all day

The SmartCells are spring-like, in that they cushion as weight is applied, then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue.

In addition to our unique cushioning technology, thanks to their rubber-based formulation, SmartCells mats will not absorb liquid and are easy to clean which allows for better infection control processes.

The SmartCells line of anti-fatigue mats come with an industry-leading 8-year warranty and are available in a variety of options to best meet the needs of each doctor. Click here to view our options.

Do you have a surgeon or other surgery room professionals you’d like to thank this National Doctor’s Day?

We also offer a line of autoclave safe surgical anti-fatigue mats and ergonomic step stools that incorporate our patented SmartCells Cushioning Technology.

Finally, for doctors who are simply too mobile to enjoy the benefits of SmartCells mats, our line of Zelus Insoles provides the legendary SmartCells comfort on-the-go. You can learn more about them here: http://www.zelusinsoles.com/.

Here at SATECH, we believe that being a doctor shouldn’t hurt. Which is why we are offering a 15% discount on our line of SmartCells Anti-fatigue Surgery Mats. Simply use the coupon code “TYdoc” at checkout.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.

Most people with a little background in human biology know that their heart is a muscle. But it’s not just a muscle, it’s the muscle. The one muscle you absolutely cannot live without.

Much like any other muscle in your body, to keep it strong and healthy you have to exercise it. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity per week.

AKA that dreaded 6-letter word “cardio” which conjures up thoughts of tiring and boring jogs on the treadmill.

We’ve got good news for you.

First, even though that might seem like a lot, when spread out over the course of a week like recommended, it comes to just over 20 minutes per day.

Second, you don’t have to go for a run to partake in cardiovascular exercise. In fact, according to professionals, moderate-intensity exercise is any activity that gets your “heart rate up to 50-60 percent higher than its rate when you are at rest.”

This means you could literally do any physical activity as long as you meet the increased heart rate threshold.

With that being said, we realize there are people out there who want to increase their cardiovascular endurance beyond minimum levels, but still hate the thought of jogging.

If that’s you, keep reading. We have even more good news for you.

You don’t have to run or get on the elliptical or the rower or the stair climber or even the stationary bike.

Yes, you read that right. You don’t have to do any one of those exercises. Instead you could keep things interesting and fun by participating in a HIIT workout.

In fact, research studies have shown that HIIT workouts are “equal to or slightly better than [traditional] cardio for improving overall health and fitness”.

So, what is HIIT?

HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training, is a workout regimen that combines several exercises such as mountain climbers, jump roping, burpees, lunges, planking and more into a short, 20-30 minute workout. Click here to check out this sample HIIT workout.

As the name suggests, these training programs are designed to be high intensity (80-90% of your maximum heart rate) and the exercises are to be completed in timed intervals with short breaks in between.

Keep reading to learn the 6 tips to make sure you experience the most success and cardiovascular benefits from your HIIT workout.

Baby Steps
If you are new to HIIT training, we recommend you ease into your workouts. Yes, it is supposed to be high intensity and you are supposed to push yourself, but you need to do it in a reasonable manner. Don’t go 110%. You do not want to hurt yourself.

Always Warm Up and Cool Down
Jumping immediately into a HIIT workout or stopping it immediately can be harmful for your body. You should warm up and cool down your body for 5 minutes before and after your HIIT workout. A good warm up/cool down could include a brisk walk on the treadmill and stretching session.

Don’t Overdo It
The whole point of a HIIT workout routine is to maximize exercise efficiency while minimizing workout time. As mentioned earlier, a good HIIT workout should be about 20-30 minutes in length. While going longer may help in the short term, you run the risk of an overuse injury. In addition, it is recommended that you only do a HIIT workout up to 3 times a week.

Go Hard or Go Home
Because HIIT is designed to be a short, high intensity workout, for the program to work you need to make sure you are staying consistently at 80-90% of your max heart rate. To find out what your max heart rate should be, click here.

Take a Break
A key term in HIIT is “interval”. To effectively do a HIIT workout you need to make sure you balance your high and low intensity intervals. If you don’t let your heart rate lower enough in your ‘rest’ period you will simply be doing a high intensity cardio session.

Invest in a SmartCells Training and Therapy Mat
SmartCells Training and Therapy products are specially designed to reduce impact stress on joints by up to 90% while at the same providing a safe, stable surface for HIIT workouts.

Available in three different colors (Black, Light Brown, and Grey) as well as three different sizes (36”X60”, 52”X60”, 52”X88”), the remarkable SmartCells Training and Therapy mats are low profile (1/2”) and have molded-in beveled edges to reduce tripping hazards. For custom applications, SATECH offers custom-sized mats as well as a wall-to-wall flooring option that is perfect for in-home gyms, and HIIT workout spaces.

How They Work
The unique SmartCells are spring-like, in that they provide a stable, supportive surface like a non-compressed spring, cushion as weight is applied, then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue and pain from your HIIT workout.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.