 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
The Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee makes no representations or warranties as to the quality, content, nature, or reliability of the information contained in this website, including but not limited to its currency, accuracy, or completeness. You expressly agree that use of this site, including all content or date distributed by, downloaded, or accessed from or through this site, is at your own risk.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Train the Safe Patient Handling Committee
The primary responsibility of the committee is to establish, implement and monitor the Safe Patient Handling Program.
• Role of the committee
• Hazard assessment techniques
• Selection of equipment
• Organizational change techniques
• Program evaluation methods
One Hospital's Story:
Every hospital can provide examples demonstrating the importance of a safe patient handling policy. One reason for this website is to acknowledge some of the complexities involved with the implementation of such a program, and to hopefully provide some tools for resolving those issues. Here is a real-life example from one hospital that highlights both the need and complexities involved:
Story as reported by a "safety coordinator":
"This patient unexpectedly jerked her legs down while an RN was getting her back to bed and she was injured. We are seeing a number (3 in the last 2 weeks) of unexpected patient movements/actions during transfers that are resulting in staff being injured. Maybe we should start to expect an unpredictable patient movement or action as "expectant" and error on over protection by using devices more frequently in these "routine" transfers. Should or can our practice/policy be that, when available, in non-emergent situations, we ALWAYS use patient transfer devices for routine tranfers.
Should the RN have been lifting the legs of patient? Could she have had the bed in chair position? Is there a better transfer tech? I believe we need to error on the side of caution."
Response from an RN at the same hosptial:
"A couple of thoughts come to mind. One of our jobs as nurses is to encourage our patients to get out of bed normally so that they can go home. It is not realistic or in the best interests of the patients to move them with slings all the time. Physical therapists are upset with the number of times we use slings and lifts because we are not promoting the patients using their own muscles."
"The second thought is, had this RN gone through a body mechanics class and was she lifting correctly? I am seeing (& yelling at - albeit nicely) nurses who are just bending over to swing the legs up. When do we start insisting that if you are not correctly using good body mechanics or not choosing to use a lift or slider bag; you need some follow up classes with your group."
"I do not mean to sound insensitive, but I am getting tired of hearing the excuse "It was easier to just slide them using the sheet or have them stand to pivot holding on to me." I got after Dr ----- this weekend because he wanted to try standing a short stout woman who had no leg strength in one leg. No belt just him and I. I made him wait until I got a belt!!! Just my two cents."
Response from the "safety coordinator":
"This is a great spring board to get the Safe Patient Handling team to write policy around using devices, etc...We will begin a re-write in earnest next month."
Resources and Tools:
Swedish Hospital developed a powerpoint presentation for training on overhead lifts and has made this available: Overhead Lift Training: Application and Use.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), together with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Veterans Health Adminstration's Patient Safety Center, developed a presentation designed to be used in training for patient care workers by schools of nursing. This presentation is still in draft format, but is available throught he NIOSH website at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/safe-patient/.
The Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia has created Reference Guidelines for Patient Handling. This document provides the following:
| • |
Background information discussing the importance of a patient handling program
|
| • |
Development of a patient handling program including policies and reporting procedures
|
| • |
Risk identification, assessment and control
Guidelines for individual tasks
|
Go to Step 3: Write Your Safe Patient Handling Policy
For questions or comments about this site please contact
Washington's Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee at
sph@washingtonsafepatienthandling.com
|
|
|
|
