Reader Poll – “Future Directions”

What is the present “mix” of patient lifts in your facility?

Read these comments from a recent “Safe Lifting Day” reader poll…

• “Anything that can be done to keep this issue in front of administration and direct caregivers will be beneficial. I can think of a number of activities that could be scheduled for a "National Safe Lifting Day" at each of our facilities. I’d prefer a "National Safe Lifting Week" or Month or Year - but a day devoted to this would be a good start.”
• “Need more vocal and legislative initiatives to improve nursing understanding and compliance with safe patient handling practices.”
• “Anything we can do to get the importance of safe patient handling out there for caregivers to see and hear about will only help in program promotion and injury prevention.”
• “Employees would relearn skills they might have forgotten. Rewards for non-injured employees performing high risk jobs with equipment would be a good idea I think. Some companies offer safety awards to employees throughout the year to work safely.”

Patient Lifting "Control Panel"

One of our readers, Randy Chamberlain of Faith Regional Health Services, Norfolk, Nebraska, recently faced a challenge that’s probably familiar to anyone administering a safe lifting program. Randy needed to come up with a way to quickly convey patient assessment information to caregivers in a simple, efficient manner. Randy’s solution was to design and fabricate an assessment indicator or “Control Panel” that can be mounted on each patient’s white board. The panel has sliding tiles that unveil the patient’s lifting status, and each indicator can be quickly and easily changed based on the most recent assessment. Click here to read about Randy’s solution in his own words.

Do you have a story or newly developed tool to share? Please send a note to Melissa.nowitz@liko.com and we will try to get it into the next issue of Safe Lifting News.

Reserve these dates -- March 31st - April 2nd 2009

The 9th Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL, -- This conference will give you dozens of opportunities to learn about and discusses diverse topics such as safety legislation, practice tips, technology solutions, effective training techniques, successful organizational strategies, and building a business case for safe patient handling programs. For more information click here.

From the Reading Room

Back Injury Prevention – techniques for reducing back injuries in the healthcare industry

This mini-course covers proper patient handling techniques to help reduce the potential for back injuries to healthcare workers. Includes lifting devices and their uses, safe lifting techniques for moving or repositioning patients, and what to do when a patient falls. Complete with a brief quiz.

Obesity in Patients and Nurses Increases the Nurse’s Risk of Injury Lifting Patients

As the number of Americans who are overweight and obese grows, the risk of lifting injuries to both patients and nurses increases. Occupational back and other musculoskeletal injuries are preventable; however, many changes in the workplace must occur in order to assure prevention and safe lifting.

Back Care for Nurses

Many people are surprised to learn that nursing is the riskiest occupation for back injuries! In fact, nursing has the second highest incidence of all types of non-fatal work-related injuries in the U.S.A. Read more here.

“Substantial Solutions” – choosing the right mobility products when bariatric patients leave rehab

According to bariatric specialist Michael Dionne, PT, of Choice Physical Therapy Inc, Gainesville, Ga, the bariatric population requires a unique approach to protect the patient and reduce worker injury. Safety training programs present a methodical approach to the transfer of patients of size in a clinical setting.

Hot Topic – Injury Prevention for Physical Therapists

APTA, OSHA collaborate on injury prevention for physical therapists
Reducing and preventing injuries among physical therapists and other health care employees is the goal of a regional alliance between the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The alliance will operate in six Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The cooperative effort will focus on prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the safe handling of patients. Click here to read more.