If you are a business in the healthcare field treating patients, it's likely you have a high number of overexertion related injuries in the workplace. You may be interested to learn more about a safe patient handling program to reduce injuries to staff and deliver high quality  patient care. Safe Patient Handling (SPH) is a discipline for safely assisting and moving patients in all care settings in a way to minimize potential injury to both patients and employees. The goal is to improve patient outcomes (e.g. decreased falls, HAPIs, and HAPs; early mobility; reduced length of stays). Cal/OSHA requires under CA legislation AB1136 that hospitals must have a safe patient handling policy as part of an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). This program must cover the following: ▪ Risks associated with patient handling & movement must be identified and manual lifting replaced with non-powered and powered SPH equipment. ▪ SPH equipment must be readily accessible (not blocked) and staff required to use equipment is trained on the proper use. ▪ Communication of the role of the RN in assessing the mobility of the patient and communicating a plan to others responsible for moving patients. ▪ Staff are instructed on how and when to stop work to report job related safety concerns. ▪ Patient and visitors are informed of SPH practices and role in care. Safe patient handling programs require the use of aids or equipment to minimize manual lifting and movement of patients during: ▪ Supine repositioning (e.g. turning, boosting, bathing patients in bed) ▪ Supine lateral transfer (e.g. bed to stretcher, stretcher to exam table) ▪ Sit-to-Stand activities and transfers ▪ Ambulation/Gait training ▪ Static positioning/limb holding ▪ Seated repositioning (e.g. sliding up in chair/wheelchair) ▪ Seated or vertical transfer (e.g. transferring from bed to chair) ▪ Transport ▪ Assistance from the floor ▪ Car Transfers This is intended for all patient populations where there are risks managing mobility and movement, including Patients of Size. Aside from the ergonomic risks discussed in other blogs, the most common other contributing factors include: ▪ Inadequate training / not familiar with procedure ▪ Not clearing the work area ▪ Not adjusting the equipment (e.g. bed height) ▪ Using smaller muscles instead of the larger muscles ▪ Not communicating with your partner ▪ Rushing through the procedure ▪ Not using equipment or aids ▪ Poor assessment / evaluation of the patient ▪ Not soliciting help from patients who can move When moving patients, there are key points to proper lifting which include the following: ▪ Maintaining a natural spinal alignment by keeping your head upright, aligning the ears, shoulders and hips, and utilizing a solid, wide base of support. ▪ Keeping the object close to you by keeping the object close to your center of gravity for better stability, and handling the object near its center of gravity for greater control. ▪ Avoiding twisting while under loads. ▪ Flex at the knees and hips(squat or kneel, don’t bend), keep the abdominal muscles tight while lifting, and lower lifted objects by flexing at the knees and hips (squat or kneel, don’t bend). ▪ Keep your head, shoulders, and hips pointed forward at all times and use your legs and step in the desired direction. If you want tips or help with your safe patient handling ergonomics program, call Ergobility today.