Making a Smart Move toward Patient Handling Reduces Care Giver Injuries and Improves Nurse Satisfaction

Purpose:
With implementation of bariatric suites, and a strategic focus on safety, the hospital deployed a safe patient handling initiative to decrease musculoskeletal injuries and improve nursing satisfaction. Our hospital became a pilot site for a comprehensive safe patient handling initiative.

Significance:
With a nursing shortage expected to increase by 2020, solutions that reduce patient handling injuries must be implemented. In our healthcare system, an employee is injured every 36 seconds, and one third of workers' compensation costs are the result of moving or transporting a patient.

Strategy and Implementation:
Our hospital customized and implemented a core set of resources and materials provided by our healthcare system. We used ‘proven practices' and processes shared by a team of nurses and other direct care providers, including a set of essential program elements, toolkit of policies, communication materials, business case templates, and a full complement of training materials. “SuperUsers” were staff nurses, transporters, and others who function as peer coaches. To establish a baseline, we conducted a three-year average workers' compensation claim analysis and estimated a three-year cost savings. Our Occupational Health Nurse oversaw implementation and rollout. We formed a multidisciplinary committee, purchased equipment, identified SuperUsers and trained all involved staff before going ‘live.' Our national healthcare system conducted a ‘360 degree' site evaluation, resulting in a plan for expanding the program.

Evaluation:
Program effectiveness is demonstrated by reduced care provider injuries, decreased costs, and increased nurse and care provider satisfaction in several key areas: help with moving patients, and increased Task and Job enjoyment scores. Interviewed staff reported less back, wrist and shoulder pain.

Implications for Practice:
Key drivers of success were engaging senior management and front line staff; building the program incrementally; training SuperUsers; selecting committee members who are motivated; and keeping equipment in working condition. Barriers must be overcome early and successes celebrated often.