
		February 2010

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 enhanced patient outcomes, safe patient handling, and caregiver injury prevention. If you feel others in your organization might benefit from receiving Safe Lifting News on a regular basis, please forward this copy so that they can sign up!

Sincerely,

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

Results of Last Month's Poll Question

Patient Outcomes

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

From the Reading Room

Trade-offs in patient handling risk: Pushing and Pulling

The Ohio State University Biodynamics Laboratories, under Dr. William Marras' leadership, have produced this provocative research study that addresses two fundamental issues: 1) Does changing patient handling from a lifting activity to a pushing activity eliminate the risk to the caregiver? 2) Is there a difference in pushing ceiling mounted vs. floor based patient lifting devices? Check out the study's conclusions at here.

"One-tenth of the work force files a workers' compensation claim every year"

Being a nurse's aide or orderly is the most injury-prone job in America. Those aides are four times as likely to be injured on the job as the average worker, and their rate of injury tops freight haulers and handlers, and construction laborers. It is more hazardous to lift patients than it is to hoist crates or move furniture because many hospitals and long-term care facilities still do not have adequate lift equipment, safety experts say. Read more here.

Nurses struggle under weight of obese patients (Australia)

In a recent study conducted at Melbourne's Austin Hospital, doctors and nurses have told researchers that obesity is causing problems in diagnosing patients, administering treatment, and even performing simple tasks like moving patients around the wards. Further, these problems extend beyond the hospital itself to encompass ambulance services and even the funeral industry, each of which is having similar issues. Nearly one third of the patients treated in the hospital's emergency department are obese. Read the entire article here.

Designing for dignity — strategies for accommodating obese patients

In many instances, designing for obese patients requires going beyond what is required for patients with recognized disabilities. However, neither the American Institute of Architects nor the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides specific guidance on physical design associated with the care of extremely obese hospital patients. In the interim, it's important that architects recognize and respond to the growing population of obese people. The special needs of the overweight should be considered for all hospital projects, not just bariatric care units. These needs range from wider doorways to heavy-duty beds and toilets, to overhead patient lifts. Read more here.

Handling the bariatric patient (PowerPoint)

This comprehensive PowerPoint presentation focuses on the ergonomic issues of handling obese patients. Topics range from bariatric room layouts to ancillary equipment and design considerations. Read more here.

Applied ergonomics for Long Term Care (PowerPoint)

This PowerPoint from a workshop sponsored by Oregon OSHA covers topics including ergonomic concepts, risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries, elements of an ergonomic program, and a number of safe resident handling case studies. Among the noteworthy quotes in this presentation: "Remember – it's the employee's responsibility to use good work practices and follow the organization's safe resident handling policy and procedures." View the presentation here.

Sample Program – safe patient handling for healthcare

Developed by the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety, this comprehensive sample program can be used by facilities implementing safe patient handling programs. It encompasses policy statements, roles and responsibilities, risk identification, ergonomic controls, patient assessments, engineering controls, work practices, injury management, training, and an annual review. Access the sample programs here.

Bariatric Vehicle Transfer Solutions

Can you provide the name of a manufacturer of a vehicle extractor that will remove a patient weighing 500 or more pounds from a vehicle?

Kelly Fadrowski
Howard County General Hospital

Using a Sit-to-Stand with MS Patients

I am working with a 65 y/o client who has MS. She is wheelchair dependant and is overweight. She is currently using a standing hoist and I feel it is unsafe. The main reason is, I feel she does not have sufficient lower limb weight-bearing ability to support her weight. Her arms appear to be taking the pressure of her weigh and I feel she is at risk of shoulder dislocation. Do you have any information on contra-indications of using standing aids with patients with MS?

Orla Deighan
Health Service Executive

Max transfer distance for Sit-to-Stand lifts

What is the maximum distance that you can transfer a resident in a stand up lifter.

Debra Hunter
Helping Hand Aged Care

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


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