The Connection Magazine The Connection Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 27

happens in skilled nursing facilities,
assisted living locations, home care and
in acute care hospitals every day, leading
to a growing number of injuries to staff,
patients and residents.
The CDC reports that “rates
of musculoskeletal injuries from
overexertion in healthcare occupations
are among the highest of all U.S.
industries.” Data from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics show that in 2014, the
rate of overexertion injuries averaged
across all industries was 33 per 10,000
full time workers. In contrast, the
numbers are alarming in the health care
industry. The overexertion injury rate
was twice that average for hospital
workers, over three times that average
for nursing home workers, and over
five times that average for ambulance
workers. The single greatest risk?
Manual patient handling. 1
With residents or patients it is not
usually possible to move as close as
would be ideal, and health care workers
are often assisting in awkward or
asymmetrical postures. Even when a
patient is cooperative and unlikely to
move suddenly, studies have found that
the maximum weight that should be
lifted in a direct care setting should be
no more than 35 pounds. 2
Put A Comprehensive Program
In Place
So, what can employers do to address
these high risk activities? A.I.M.
Mutual recommends introducing a
comprehensive safe patient/resident
handling program. While developing
a new program may seem daunting,
with the proper components in place,
organizations can successfully mitigate
this injury risk and reduce the likelihood
of staff injuries.
Like any successful safety program,
a Safe Patient Handling Program needs
management commitment to providing
staff with sufficient resources and
support from the outset. In addition, an
employer should:
• Conduct a needs assessment to
obtain a baseline of existing safe
patient handling resources in
place.
• Use a participatory approach that
actively involves front line staff
and any parties who might affect
the success of the program.
• Implement a strong policy.
• Provide staff with ready access
to sufficient amounts and
appropriate types of equipment.
• Train nursing staff to conduct
functional mobility assessments
of residents/patients to ensure
that they are matched with the
appropriate assistive device.
(Train staff on the use of devices
as well.)
• Monitor injuries associated with
manual movement or handling of
residents/patients.
• Conduct accident investigations
and root cause analyses to help
prevent recurrence.
• Establish program metrics and
evaluate program effectiveness. 3
It is important to remember that no
single component stands alone. They
are all necessary for a successful and
1. Centers for Disease Control (2016). Safe Patient Handling and Movement
(SPHM). July 2016. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/safepatient
2. Waters, TR et al. When is it safe to manually lift a patient. American Journal of Nursing (2007). Vol. 107, No. 8.
Available from url: asphp.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/When_Is_It_Safe_To_Manually_Lift_A_Patient.pdf
sustainable program.
An Integrated Approach
In addition, there is increasing
recognition of the link between patient
and worker safety in general and of
the need for integrated approaches to
protect staff and residents/patients.
Fall and pressure ulcer prevention
efforts are paramount and, optimally,
they benefit both staff and patients/
residents. 4 In fact, a recent report from
the Lucian Leape Institute concludes
that “Workplace safety is inextricably
linked to patient safety. 5 ”
Expertise In The Health Care
Industries
A.I.M. Mutual’s Injury Prevention
& Worksite Wellness staff can help
your health care clients review or
establish a Safe Patient Handling
Program. For additional assistance
with implementation of this type of
programming, contact your Injury
Prevention & Worksite Wellness
Consultant directly or any member of
your service team.
Tucker O’Day is a Specialist in Healthcare and Human
Services for Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness
at A.I.M. Mutual. She has consulted in the field of
occupational ergonomics and safety for over 15 years.
3. MA Department of Public Health (2014). Moving Into The Future. Promoting safe patient
handling for worker and patient safety in Massachusetts hospitals. December 2014. Available
from: mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/occupational-health/ergo-sph-hospitals-2014.pdf She holds an M.S. in Physical Therapy from Washington
4. The Joint Commission (2012). Improving Patient and Worker Safety: Opportunities for Synergy,
Collaboration and Innovation. November 2012. Available from URL: jointcommission.org B.A. in Economics and French from Boston College
5. Lucian Leape Institute (2013). Through the Eyes of the Workforce:
Creating Joy, Meaning, and Safer Health Care. National Patient Safety Foundation. Available from URL:
www.npsf.org/about-us/lucian-leape-institute-at-npsf/lli-reports-andstatements/eyes-of-the-workforce
SPRING 2017
University and an M.S. in Occupational Ergonomics &
Safety from University of MA-Lowell in addition to a
Visit us at
www.aimmutual.com
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