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Dear
Heidi:
In this case, you should begin by finding out why the patient refuses to allow use of the lift. Try to find out, for example, whether he has a fear of falling or is fearful that the equipment might fail during the transport. It could even be that the patient becomes anxious when constrained. Once you determine the reason for refusal, you can then provide assurance to help overcome the patient’s reservations. Next, follow up by explaining that current NIOSH guidelines impose recommended maximum lifting limits of 35 lbs. Inform him that except in emergency situations, virtually ALL individuals requiring lifting or repositioning are subject to use of assistive aids such as ceiling lifts, repositioning sheets, mobile floor lifts, and other aids. If your hospital has a safe lifting and caregiver injury prevention policy in place, that policy should be posted and patients should be informed of it during the admission process.
The Lift Doctor has encountered this question in the past, and as a result the Safe Lifting Portal has created a patient “infomercial” designed to run on your internal TV network. The purpose of the 2-minute video is to inform both patients and family members that your hospital adheres to safe lifting policies in order to protect nurses and other caregivers against injuries caused when lifting patients. The infomercial is free of charge – all you have to do is request it by visiting the “toolkit” section of the Safe Lifting Portal.
Stay safe,
The Lift Doctor* |
