
			October 2009

Dear Subscriber,

Welcome to the latest Issue of Safe Lifting News. Our mission is to keep you informed about what's happening in the world of safe patient lifting and caregiver injury prevention.

In this issue for Safe Lifting News, you can test your knowledge with new Safe Lifting Crossword, below. As always, we encourage our readers to submit questions for our popular column, "Ask the Lift Doctor." Again, thanks for your ideas and feedback; we truly appreciate your interest and participation!

Sincerely,

Melissa Nowitz
Editor in Chief
888-545-6671
Melissa.nowitz@hill-rom.com

Safe Lifting Crossword Puzzle serves dual purpose

You might find this crossword puzzle personally challenging... Or, you might be able to use the puzzle as part of your institution’s efforts to encourage caregiver participation in your safe patient handling program. Why not print out blanks and challenge your employees to submit their entries? Even offer them a prize for completing it correctly!! We hope you’ll enjoy participating... Click here to test your knowledge of Safe Lifting with our new Safe Lifting Crossword.

The Controversial Results of our September Poll

September’s issue carried a poll question that sparked quite a number of responses as well as some strong opinions on both sides of the issue! Here’s the question: “Patients sometimes refuse to be lifted by mechanical means. Do you feel all patients or residents should be required to sign an “consent” form upon admission, requiring their cooperation in use of patient lifting systems in order to prevent caregiver injuries?”

Click here to see the results and read some of the comments from participants.

From the Reading Room

Saving Backs? – Hospital finds it’s déjà vu all over again

Ergonomics specialist Catherine Gouvin, OTR/L, CHT, remembers how impressed she was when she heard of a Connecticut hospital that had reduced its patient handling injuries by almost 50% and cut its lost workdays by two-thirds by purchasing lifts and training its work force to use them.

Then, in a kind of lost-in-the-future moment, she discovered that was actually her own hospital. It had once had a successful ergonomics effort, but the program lost its champion, its focus, and its effectiveness.

The story of ergonomics at Lawrence & Memorial (L&M) Hospital of New London, CT, is a cautionary tale. Without continued support, a safe patient handling program won't remain viable, Gouvin says. "We had devalued the safety culture," she says. "There was a lack of ownership of the program. There was no monitoring." Click here to read the entire article.

What are work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)?

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, including cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), are a group of health problems caused by overuse or misuse of muscles, tendons, and nerves. WMSDs are caused by any combination of several factors. Read more here.

How much lifting does an ICU nurse do?

Here’s an interesting message board on the topic of patient lifting requirements in the ICU setting. You might be interested in adding your comments. Click here.

Safe Handling and Lifting Legislation: Rules Aim To Protect Both Residents and Caregivers from Risk of Injury

The long-term benefits of proper lifting equipment far outweigh the costs of work-related injuries. In nine case studies evaluating the impact of lifting equipment in health-care facilities, injuries decreased by 60-95 percent, workers’ compensation costs decreased by 95 percent, insurance premiums dropped 50 percent, medical and indemnity costs decreased by 92 percent, lost work days decreased by 84-100 percent, and absenteeism due to lifting and handling was reduced by 98 percent. In addition to these benefits, moving/ lifting patients with proper lifting devices requires fewer employees, enabling health-care providers to redeploy their workforce. Read more here.

AIHA Position Statement on Safe Handling of Patients and Residents

The American Industrial Hygiene Association believes that management systems are the best/recommended approach to hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. As such, AIHA recommends that hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities have a written safe patient handling policy or related policy incorporating all the necessary elements of a management system. Read the policy statement here.

Reducing Nurses’ Injuries from Lifting Patients

The safety of patients and employees continues to garner more attention as health care facilities strive to prevent nurses’ injuries from lifting patients.

“Every day across the country, hundreds of nurses and other caregivers sustain a work-related injury or illness,” said Robert Williamson, RN, BSN, MA, nationwide director of associate safety at Ascension Health in Saginaw, Michigan. “Manually lifting and handling patients is a leading cause of musculoskeletal injuries.” Read more here.

Safe Patient Handling Law Has Taken Effect in Minnesota

By July 1, 2010, every clinical setting in Minnesota where patients are moved will be required to develop a written safe patient handling plan. Further, by Jan. 1, 2012, they must achieve the goal of ensuring safe handling of patients by minimizing manual lifting of patients by direct patient care workers and by utilizing safe patient handling equipment according to a law now in effect in the state.

Plan ahead for next year’s SPHM Conference…

Be sure to set aside time for the Tenth Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference, March 29 – April 2, 2010, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Note: If you are interested in submitting a poster abstract, they should be no more than 500 words in length stating the research study or program description. All abstracts must be received on or before January 15, 2010. Authors will be notified of acceptance no later than February 15, 2010.

Click here for details.

Gait belts -- In-service for aides

How to in-service nursing aides on how to use gait belt for transfers?

Sheila Johnson
Pittsburgh nursing facility

Slings and procedures for amputees

What sling and procedure is best for transfer of partial amputee patient? I am one of the trainers, thank you.

JT
VA Health System

*The Lift Doctor is actually a panel of clinical and bioengineering lift specialists at Liko