Reader Poll Results
Based on your overall awareness of the safe patient handling field, over the past twelve months do you believe momentum has shifted toward acceptance of safe patient handling programs on the part of:
- Direct care nurses and other direct care personnel?
- Nursing managers and administrators?
- Risk and safety managers?
- Executive management?
- State and federal regulatory agencies?
Direct care nurses and other direct care personnel?
Comments:
- More aware of impact on themselves.
- Hospital initiative has pushed this awareness.
- I think the movement has lost steam! Staff only use lifts when Therapy becomes part of pt care plan and readdresses use of lift and patient safety,
- Direct care nursing injury rates have decreased in our hospital, where we have done training.
- We have ergo coaches that help the safe movement committee spread the word about movement of Pts.
- Some enthusiasm. Staff have be ready and waiting for a long time. :-)
- Varies by hospital and city. The farther north I travel, the further along they are in safe patient handling initiatives.
- Big news in our facility... two nurses who were skeptical of SPH equipment FINALLY admitted that it makes transfers easier AND faster!
- We have a pt over 700 lbs and our SPH Coordinator worked so hard in getting all that we need for safety of the patient and care givers.
- We are just starting a business plan for a SPH program
- Our organization has really moved towards investing in more lifting and standing equipment, with emphasis on safety for both the patient and staff
- They still feel they 'don't have time' to get equipment at bedside for use
- Seeing a lot of nurses/nurse assistants injuries due to patient lifting and moving with little to no help due to short staffing.
- Direct care nurses are still burdened with too many time consuming tasks, they do things in the quickest way possible and that is not usually the safest way.
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Nursing managers and administrators?
Comments:
- More aware on the Worker's Comp related to patient handling.
- Do not feel they become involved until brought to their attention.
- Middle management is on board with preventing injuries in their staff. Some are better than others in enforcing use of equipment.
- Our safe Pt. movement chairwomen, is our vp of hospital
- Yes, but process is slow
- I don't think any group is unaware of the need for safe lifting, nor unaware that it is a best practice. It is one of many priorities.
- Ergo Nurses would help more if put in every room...but it also takes more time to use it and I think PCT's should have less patients per PCT on the night shift too, especially on floors with numerous total care patients.
- They want all staff to use equipment but still resist putting equipment into their annual budgets!
- But because of the economy there is not a lot of money to use.
- They see the cost of workers comp injuries increasing due to increasing age & reduced numbers of staff on floor at any given time
- It seems the budget cuts are leaving nursing units short staffed and the patients still have the same demands.
- They talk a lot about it, but the funding is not there, they’re willing to make the change as long as its free.
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Risk and safety managers?
Comments:
- Risk is not as involved. Safety is responsible for the program.
- Were already on board.
- Too focused on hw and id etc - lifting fell by the wayside.
- They are on board with the business plan and are working to pass it.
- Esp. with falls on the increase, and staff injuries increasing as well.
- Increased reporting efforts & deeper case investigation at time of injury.
- Push for changes but again lack funds to implement programs.
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Executive management?
Comments:
- They know the bottom line gets affected.
- Once an employee is out then OT comes into place.
- It appears they appreciate the reduced costs associated with injury prevention.
- Our directives are coming from the main corporation that owns our health system
- Money issues at competing aspects all over health care service leads to reduced focus on any one issue; too many fires to be put out
- Not a concern unless they are lifting money
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State and federal regulatory agencies?
Comments:
- Continue to encourage safe techniques.
- I work as an industrial hygienist in Maryland. Our state health dept has a law requiring safe patient lifting (since 2009) and it is not being enforced, at all.
- Don’t know.
- Initiatives, but no enforcement.
- I heard that we will not be covered by ins. if we injure our backs. Direct patient care providers can hurt their backs even when using lift equipment, or performing any number of other physical duties that are required.
- Have never addressed this during survey.
- Washington State was the second state to create a SPH law, after Texas. Now there are at least 9 states with SPH legislation.
- I work in the VA system and our VISN has recently installed ceiling lifts in all patient care areas with the exception of Dom and psych. Staff love them once they have an opportunity to use them and realize how easy it is.
- Impact of 'never events' on reimbursement provide the environment for follow-up focus by regulators; kick em while they are down.
- It doesn't seem that the emphasis has been placed on worker safety to increase patient safety as of yet.
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NOTE: If you need assistance with your injury prevention program, please contact one of our Safe Lifting Consultants at 888-545-6671 x 307 |
