1. By: Katie Lewandowski & Jane Schunn
Safe Patient Handling
By: Katie Lewandowski & Jane Schunn

2. Objectives
This presentation will take a look into safe patient handling and after viewing it the audience will be able to do the following:
Give 2 statistics regarding healthcare injuries.
Give 2 example of how to safely handle patients.
Give 3 facts about safe patient handling.

3. Introduction
Injuries and musculoskeletal disorders are common in nurses and are often caused by manually lifting and moving patients.
The single greatest risk factor for overexertion injuries in healthcare workers is the manual lifting, moving and repositioning of patients (CDC, 2014).
Rates of musculoskeletal injuries from overexertion in healthcare occupations are among the highest of all U.S. industries (CDC, 2014).

4. Statistics
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that in 2011, the rate of overexertion injuries averaged across all industries was 38 per 10,000 full time workers (CDC, 2104).
By comparison, the overexertion injury rate for hospital workers was twice the average (76 per 10,000) (CDC, 2014).
On average, U.S. hospitals recorded 6.8 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees in 2011, compared with 3.5 per 100 full-time employees for all U.S. industries combined (OSHA, 2014).

5. Myths & Realities from The American Nurses Association
Reality
Proper body
mechanics (including
the use of gait belts)
prevent patient
handling injuries.
Decades of research shows that
“proper” body mechanics are not
an effective way to reduce injuries.
There is no such thing as safe manual
lifting.
Healthcare workers
who are physically
fit are less likely to
be injured.
Research does not support this.
Good health and strength may
actually put healthcare workers at
increased risk because their peers
are much more likely to seek their
assistance when manually lifting
healthcare recipients.
Manual lifting is
safer and more comfortable
for healthcare
recipients.
It is the role of the healthcare workers
to teach and explain that the use of
the technology is safer and more convenient
for both healthcare recipients
and healthcare workers.

6. Root Cause Analysis Problems associated with Safe Patient Handling:
Not enough education
Nurse work loads
Short staffed
Save time
Patient obesity

7. High Risk Patient Handling Tasks
Patient handling tasks that have been high risk of musculoskeletal injury for staff performing the task are the following:
Transferring a patient
Lifting a patient
Repositioning
Bathing patients in bed
Making an occupied bed
Dressing patients
Turning a patient
Any tasks with a long duration

8. Patient Assessment
Assessing the patient prior to movement is critical in having a safe outcome.
The items that should be assessed are:
Patient’s level of assistance?
Can the patient bear weight?
Does the patient have upper extremity strength?
Patient’s level of cooperation?
Patient’s weight and height?
Has the patient had surgery?
Are there any pressure ulcers; paralysis; fractures; IV’s; or anything unusual that may hinder the move?

9. Inferences and Implications and Consequences
Analysis of the risk to patients and staff posed by patient handling and movement shall be done prior to initiating the task.
Avoid hazardous patient handling and movement tasks whenever possible.
Use mechanical lifting devices and other approved patient handling aids for high-risk patient handling and movement tasks except when absolutely necessary, such as in a medical emergency.
Use mechanical lifting devices and other approved patient handling aids in accordance with instructions and training.

10. Safe Patient Handling Solutions
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, there are four primary principles that should be used for manual patient/resident handling in conjunction with SPH techniques when handling and moving patients/residents, which include:
1)Maintain a wide, stable base with feet.
2) Put the bed at the correct height.
3) Try to keep the work directly in front to avoid rotating the spine.
4) Keep patient as close to your body as possible.

11. Safe Patient Handling Solutions
Always use the correct piece of equipment for the need at hand.
Mechanical patient lifting equipment is used to lift, transfer, reposition and move patients. Examples include:
portable base sling lifts
stand assist lifts
mechanized lateral transfer aids.
Patient handling aids are used to assist in the lift or transfer process. Example include gait belts, stand assist aids, sliding boards, and surface friction-reducing devices.

12. Safe Patient Handling Solutions
Patient handling aids are used to assist in the lift or transfer process. Example include:
Gait belts
Stand assist aids
Sliding boards
Surface friction-reducing devices
Following a safe patient handling program will save many a nurse from a musculoskeletal disorder.
Safe manual handling techniques must be used in combination with proper body mechanics, equipment, technology for safe patient handling and movement.

13. The American Nurses Association(ANA) Position on Safe Patient Handling
The ANA supports actions and policies that result in the elimination of manual patient handling.
Patient handling, such as lifting, repositioning and transferring has conventionally been performed by nurses.
The performance of these tasks exposes nurses to increased risk for work related Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
A Safe Patient Handling (SPH) Program decreased injury to healthcare workers and patients, while improving the safety of patient care delivery.

14. Conclusion
Evidence-based research has shown that safe patient handling interventions can significantly reduce overexertion injuries by replacing manual patient handling with safer methods guided by the principles of ergonomics (CDC, 2014).
In the case of patient handling, ergonomics involves the use of mechanical equipment and safety procedures to lift and move patients so that health care workers can avoid using manual exertions and thereby reduce their risk of injury (CDC, 2014).
Remember safety first for you and your patient.

15. References
American Nurses Association (ANA). Retrieved September 09, 2014, from
Safety/Healthy-Work-Environment/SafePatient/SPHM-Trifold- Brochure.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC - Safe Patient Handling - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic. Retrieved September 07, 2014, from
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Safe Patient Handling - Worker Safety in Hospitals. Retrieved September 07, 2014, from