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When every second counts, having the right patient mover can make a critical difference in safety, efficiency, and patient comfort. From emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals to disaster response and tactical operations, patient movers are essential for safely lifting, carrying, and transferring patients when traditional stretchers aren’t an option.
This guide will help you understand the main types of patient movers, compare leading options available through Penn Care, and identify which model will best support your team and environment.
Why Choosing the Right Patient Mover Matters
Selecting the right patient mover is essential to keeping both patients and responders safe during transport. The choice you make affects:
• Patient care and comfort during transfers or extrications
• Lifting safety for EMS and rescue personnel
• Operational readiness during mass-casualty or tactical events
• Ease of storage and deployment in tight or unpredictable settings
Not every mover is designed for the same scenario. Some are disposable and lightweight for rapid deployment, while others are built for repeated use and heavy loads. Understanding the differences equips your team for any situation.
Types of Patient Movers
While the industry includes a variety of designs, the following categories represent some of the most trusted and widely used options across emergency response and healthcare. These categories also align with the patient movers available through Penn Care:
1. Disposable and Limited-Use Patient Movers
2. Reusable and Heavy-Duty Soft Stretchers
3. Specialized and Tactical Evacuation Devices
4. Compact Chairs for Confined Spaces
Each type serves a unique purpose depending on the environment and frequency of use.
1. Disposable and Limited-Use Patient Movers
Disposable patient movers are designed for rapid deployment and simple cleanup. They’re ideal for mass-casualty incidents (MCIs), disaster response, or situations where equipment needs to be deployed quickly and replaced easily. Many limited-use patient movers are lightweight, compact, and fluid-resistant, often made from non-woven or polyethylene materials.
Leading Options:
NAR QuikLitter
Built by North American Rescue, the QuikLitter is the ideal disposable litter for mass casualty incidents, disasters, active shooter events, and everyday patient movements. Its 10 reinforced carry handles support up to 500–750 lbs., depending on the model. Compact and vacuum-sealed, it’s easy to store in trauma kits or vehicles for quick deployment.
Taylor TitanPC Soft Stretcher
Engineered for limited use but maximum strength, the TitanPC carries up to 1,500 lbs. and features 14 handles for team transport. Its fluid-impervious construction helps prevent cross-contamination, making it ideal for short-term or high-turnover operations.
Medline Industries Comfort Glide Disposable Patient Mover
A low-friction transfer sheet ideal for hospital or long-term care environments. It supports up to 575 lbs and reduces the strain of repositioning patients, helping protect caregivers from back injuries. Penn Care customers can choose from disposable or reusable sheets, with or without straps.
Sandel Z-Slider™ Transfer Sheet
This disposable sheet helps prevent disabling back injuries that can result from lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients. Z-Slider™ minimizes friction during transfers and complies with OSHA “No-Lift” recommendations. Available in two sizes, including an XL for bariatric patients, it offers a simple yet effective option for patient repositioning and lateral movement.
MedSource Advanced Patient Mover
Constructed from heavy-duty, non-woven material with a remarkable 1,800 lb. weight capacity, this patient mover provides strength and flexibility for rescue scenarios where traditional stretchers are impractical. Fourteen handles allow multiple rescuers to lift patients safely, and its fluid-impervious material resists tears and contamination. Though the Advanced Patient Mover is disposable, it can also be washed off and air-dried for reuse.
2. Reusable and Heavy-Duty Soft Stretchers
Reusable soft stretchers are well-suited for routine EMS operations, bariatric transfers, and environments that require long-term durability. They’re typically made from strong PVC or nylon and can be disinfected between calls.
Leading Options:
MegaMover® Plus Portable Transport Unit
With a load capacity of over 1,000 lbs. and 14 ergonomic handles, the MegaMover Plus is a reliable, reusable solution for EMS crews. Teams can wipe down the fluid-resistant non-woven material for repeated use, and the design is compatible with standard backboards. It folds compactly for storage and is lightweight enough to carry in response bags.
Taylor Titan II Soft Stretcher
This soft stretcher is a versatile, reusable option featuring 16 SureGrip™ rubber handles and a 1,500 lb. lifting capacity. Its PVC and nylon webbing ensure durability, while the custom carrying case makes storage easy. The Titan II is ideal for EMS crews working in confined spaces.
Taylor Titan XL Soft Stretcher
Essential for lifting bariatric patients in MCI and disaster relief scenarios, the Titan XL is 20 inches wider and 6 inches longer than the standard Titan. It provides extra clearance for responders and supports up to 1,500 lbs., with the same 16 SureGrip™ handles for comfort and control.
Dick Medical Daddy Soft Stretcher
Available in multiple sizes, including the “Big Daddy” model rated for 1,500 lbs., this soft stretcher combines rugged vinyl construction with comfortable, rubberized handles. It’s a practical, reusable solution for high-weight transport.
MedSource Fast Stretcher
Lightweight yet sturdy, the Fast Stretcher offers a 500 lb capacity and ten handles for team lifting. Its small size makes it easy to store in ambulances and first response vehicles.
3. Specialized and Tactical Evacuation Devices
These patient movers are built for tactical, military, and technical rescue operations where storage, weight, and speed are critical. Their designs emphasize portability and rapid deployment without sacrificing strength.
Leading Options:
NAR Emergency Evacuation Litter (EEL)
This compact, nylon-based litter has a 700 lb weight capacity, eight carry handles, and a MOLLE/PALS-compatible storage pouch. It’s designed for rapid casualty evacuation and can be stored and deployed directly from tactical gear setups.
NAR Talon II Model 90C Hand Litter
One of the most advanced evacuation and treatment litters available, the Talon II is built for battlefield conditions, Safe-to-Fly certified by the U.S. Army, and supports up to 1,800 lbs. With retractable handles, automatic locking hinges, and chemical-resistant fabric, it transitions seamlessly between compact storage and full-size patient transport.
Skil-Care Emergency EVAC Transporter
Constructed of heavy-duty nylon with six ergonomic handles and locking straps, this transporter provides secure, controlled movement for patients during emergency evacuations.
Dick Medical Perry Pouch Soft Vinyl Stretcher
A durable, easy-to-clean, soft vinyl stretcher with molded rubber grips for comfort. Its compact size and included carrying case make it well-suited for quick-response teams and facility-based evacuations.
4. Compact Chairs for Confined Spaces
When stairways or narrow hallways make horizontal transport impossible, rescue chairs provide a safer alternative. They’re ideal for urban EMS systems, assisted living centers, and other environments with confined spaces.
Leading Option:
MedSource Patient Mover Rescue Chair
This foldable, fluid-impervious rescue chair is designed to carry patients through tight corridors, stairwells, and cramped areas. It supports up to 350 lbs. and features eight handles for secure, multi-responder lifting. The chair folds compactly for easy storage in rescue vehicles or disaster kits.
How to Choose the Right Patient Mover
When deciding which patient mover to purchase, consider the following factors:
Environment of Use
• Prehospital/EMS: Prehospital teams need equipment that is compact, durable, and easy to deploy in tight spaces, apartments, or uneven terrain. Reusable stretchers with strong handles and high weight capacities, like the MegaMover Plus or Titan II, perform well in this setting.
• Mass-Casualty/Disaster Response: Large-scale incidents require equipment that can be distributed quickly and used by multiple responders across different locations. Disposable or limited-use movers, such as the NAR QuikLitter or TitanPC, are especially effective here, along with compact designs that store efficiently in MCI trailers and response vehicles.
• Hospital or Facility Transfers: In medical facilities, lateral transfers and repositioning tasks are frequent. Low-friction, disposable sheets, like the Comfort Glide or Z-Slider™, help reduce caregiver strain and support safe patient handling practices. Compact reusable stretchers can also assist with in-building evacuations or specialty transfers.
• Tactical/Field Operations: Tactical teams, search-and-rescue units, and military responders need patient movers that are compact, rugged, and quick to deploy in challenging environments. Products that pack small and withstand rough conditions are ideal, like the NAR EEL or Talon II.
We provide a complete list of options for these settings and more in the comparison table below.
Frequency of Use
Reusable soft stretchers are ideal for daily EMS operations, while disposable options are preferred for MCIs or environments with high contamination risks.
Weight Capacity and Size
Consider patient demographics and lifting needs. For patients requiring additional support, stretchers must offer higher weight capacities, reinforced handles, and greater width. Many EMS agencies keep at least one bariatric-capable mover on standby to meet unpredictable call demands. Bariatric-capable models like the Titan XL or the Daddy Soft Stretcher provide higher load tolerance and safer ergonomics.
Portability and Storage
Certain calls require maneuvering through staircases, hallways, and compact indoor spaces where a full stretcher simply won’t fit. Lightweight chairs and compact stretchers offer safer movement in these environments. Additionally, if storage space is limited in vehicles and compartments, compact designs like the Patient Mover Rescue Chair or the Skil-Care Emergency EVAC Transporter fold or pack tightly for easy carrying and fast activation.
Ease of Cleaning or Disposal
Call volume, operational tempo, and available personnel often influence a team’s decision between disposable and reusable designs. Disposable models such as the TitanPC Soft Stretcher, NAR QuikLitter, Medline Industries Comfort Glide, and Sandel Z-Slider™ offer quick deployment and simple disposal, making them useful during high-volume responses or situations where equipment turnover needs to be fast.
Reusable options like the MegaMover Plus and the Titan™ Soft Stretcher clean easily between calls and are built to withstand repeated use, which many teams prefer for day-to-day operations.
Which Patient Mover Works Best for Each Environment?
Different operational settings require different types of patient movers. Some environments require rapid deployment and high-volume readiness, while others demand durable reusable stretchers that withstand daily EMS workflows. The following breakdown highlights which Penn Care products are best suited for standard EMS, hospital, and disaster response environments.
Key Takeaways on Choosing a Patient Mover
Patient movers play an essential role in safe patient handling across EMS, hospital, disaster response, and tactical environments. The best choice depends on your operational setting, call volume, lifting needs, and storage constraints.
Whether you need a disposable, ready-to-deploy option for mass-casualty scenarios or a durable, reusable stretcher for daily EMS calls, the products featured in this guide are among the most trusted and field-proven solutions available from Penn Care. With a careful approach to selection, your team can stay prepared for any situation while maintaining efficiency and safety.
