Staff Engagement in Safe Patient Handling

Purpose:
The organization noted a large number of employee injuries related to patient lifting and transfers. The Patient Handling Committee developed a goal to reduce employee injuries by employee patient handling injuries by 25% in the next fiscal year by implementing a safe patient handling program.

Significance:
Staff injuries result in lost work time, low morale, high costs for the organization, higher insurance premiums, and long-term injuries for employees. The American Nurses Association supported the use of a safe patient handling program in reducing nursing injuries.

Strategy and Implementation:
The Patient Handling Committe is an interdisciplinary team consisting of staff at all levels of the organization committed to developing safe, efficient processes to reduce/alleviate employee injuries. This committee researched best-practices in safe patient handling, completed literature reviews, and evaluated various lift/transfer equipment for specific needs throughout the organization. Vendors presented the various equipment to the staff, with staff making the choices for needed equipment. The committee developed an organizational policy and specific algorithm for staff to utilize when determining the lift/transfer needs of the patient. Requests were made to adminstration for unbudgeted monies for the equipment needed. After working with the Materials Manageement Department, the staff were able to purchase the equipment needed for the initiative. Dept lift champions assisted with the development of the education and roll-out of the initiative.

Evaluation:
Nursing patient handling injuries decreased by 40% in the first year after implementation of the Safe Patient Handling Program.

Implications for Practice:
The implementation of a Safe Patient Handling Program with staff ownership of the development, dissemination proves successful in reducing employee patient handling injuries. Peer to peer accountability and staff ownership has led to the success of the initiative.