Safety Tutorial for Physical Therapist Aids Theresa Carr Utopia High School

2 Training Tasks for Physical Therapist Aid Clean and organize work area Clean and organize work area Disinfect equipment after treatment Disinfect equipment after treatment Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment Transport patients to and from treatment areas Transport patients to and from treatment areas Record treatment given and equipment used Record treatment given and equipment used Perform clerical duties Perform clerical duties Maintain equipment and furniture to keep it in good working condition Maintain equipment and furniture to keep it in good working condition

3 Pre-Test Can assist in therapeutic massage? Can assist in therapeutic massage? Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment? Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment? Allowed to disassemble equipment? Allowed to disassemble equipment? Fills out forms on patients? Fills out forms on patients? Coordinates patients treatment? Coordinates patients treatment?

4 Pre-Test Answers Can assist in therapeutic massage? TRUE Can assist in therapeutic massage? TRUE Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment? FALSE Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment? FALSE Allowed to disassemble equipment? TRUE Allowed to disassemble equipment? TRUE Fills out forms on patients? TRUE Fills out forms on patients? TRUE Coordinates patients treatment? FALSE Coordinates patients treatment? FALSE

5 Appropriate Clothes Physical therapist aid uniform Physical therapist aid uniform Hair is to be worn away from the face and secured if necessary Hair is to be worn away from the face and secured if necessary White or black soft sole shoes White or black soft sole shoes

6 Safety Equipment Medical gloves and face protection Medical gloves and face protection Wheelchairs in proper working order Wheelchairs in proper working order Chairs and tables sterilized and secured Chairs and tables sterilized and secured Physical rehabilitation machines inspected Physical rehabilitation machines inspected

7 Tools Massage instruments Massage instruments Physical rehabilitation tools Physical rehabilitation tools Measuring tools for flexibility Measuring tools for flexibility Sanitizers Sanitizers Tools to repair equipment Tools to repair equipment

8 Equipment/Machinery Massage equipment Massage equipment Physical rehabilitation machines Physical rehabilitation machines Heat and cold therapy Heat and cold therapy Elastic physical therapy bands Elastic physical therapy bands Ultrasound machines Ultrasound machines Wheelchairs Wheelchairs Tables Tables

9 Electrical Ultrasound Ultrasound Message Message Wheelchairs Wheelchairs Repair equipment Repair equipment Computer system Computer system

10 Floors, Doors, Exits Floors must be clean and sanitized Floors must be clean and sanitized There cannot be things on the floor which would cause a patient to fall There cannot be things on the floor which would cause a patient to fall Doors must be identified Doors must be identified Exits are clearly marked Exits are clearly marked Doorways and exits must be unobstructed Doorways and exits must be unobstructed

11 Chemical Hazards Cleaning fluids Cleaning fluids Sanitizers Sanitizers Ultrasound gel Ultrasound gel Massage creams Massage creams

12 Ergonomic Hazards - Lifting Ergonomic training will be provided Ergonomic training will be provided Proper lifting of patients is required to prevent injury Proper lifting of patients is required to prevent injury Knowledge of safe movement of equipment Knowledge of safe movement of equipment

13 Infectious diseases Gloves must be worn during ALL patient contact Gloves must be worn during ALL patient contact Face masks are required if patient has an infectious disease Face masks are required if patient has an infectious disease These patients are separated from others These patients are separated from others Everything must be sterilized Everything must be sterilized

14 Fire Where are the fire extinguishers? Where are the fire extinguishers? –At every entrance/exit –In all separate physical therapy rooms –Secured on the wall in the main therapy room –In the hallways and restrooms All employees will participate in fire drills and will learn how to use extinguishers All employees will participate in fire drills and will learn how to use extinguishers

15 Robbery, Bomb Scares In case of an emergency that threatens the patients and staff: In case of an emergency that threatens the patients and staff: –The staff will move patients to a previously identified “safe” site –Designated staff member calls 911 –Emergency care is delivered, if necessary

16 Angry/threatening Customers Remain calm and non- threatening Remain calm and non- threatening Physical Therapist Aid will summon their supervisor Physical Therapist Aid will summon their supervisor Make sure other patients are safe Make sure other patients are safe

17 HOW and to WHOM DO YOU REPORT AN INJURY Secure immediate care from qualified staff member for injured patient Secure immediate care from qualified staff member for injured patient Report injury to supervisor Report injury to supervisor Fill out accident report Fill out accident report

18 Post Test Lifting patients can cause injury? Lifting patients can cause injury? Fire procedures are not required? Fire procedures are not required? PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment. PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment. Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim. PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim. Exits must be clearly marked. Exits must be clearly marked. All employees will participate in fire drills. All employees will participate in fire drills. Protective gloves are optional when handling patients. Protective gloves are optional when handling patients. If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should summon their supervisor. If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should summon their supervisor. In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over. In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over.

19 Post Test Answers Lifting patients can cause injury? TRUE Lifting patients can cause injury? TRUE Fire procedures are not required? FALSE Fire procedures are not required? FALSE PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment. TRUE PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment. TRUE Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. FALSE Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. FALSE PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim. FALSE PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim. FALSE Exits must be clearly marked. TRUE Exits must be clearly marked. TRUE All employees will participate in fire drills. TRUE All employees will participate in fire drills. TRUE Protective gloves are optional when handling patients. FALSE Protective gloves are optional when handling patients. FALSE If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should summon their supervisor. TRUE If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should summon their supervisor. TRUE In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over. FALSE In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over. FALSE

20 Safety Web Resources American Physical Therapy Association American Physical Therapy Association New York Physical Therapy Association New York Physical Therapy Association Journal of American Physical Therapy Association Journal of American Physical Therapy Association OHS Physical Therapy Safety Committee OHS Physical Therapy Safety Committee