因年老或因疾病或受伤而丧失能力, patients in health care settings often need help performing normal daily tasks like sitting up or walking. Helping patients with these tasks requires significant physical demands, putting employees in danger of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

msds——比如肌肉拉伤, 背部受伤, rotator cuff injuries and tendinitis—are the most common workplace injuries suffered by nurses and other health care workers. Risk factors include repeated and forceful movements associated with patient care like lifting, 转移和重新定位.

完全, MSDs account for almost half of the injuries and illnesses reported for nurses and nursing support staff, and rates of MSDs for nursing assistants are almost four times higher than the average for all workers.

好消息是msd, 尤其是背部受伤, can be prevented by implementing a safe patient handling program and using mechanical lift equipment. The use of lifting equipment is essential for a successful safe patient handling program and has been shown to reduce exposure to manual lifting injuries by up to 95 percent.

一个安全的病人处理程序的好处

Safe patient handling programs reduce the risk of injury for both health care workers and patients while improving the quality of patient care. Other benefits of safe patient handling programs include the following:

• 更满意的工作环境和专业地位
• 改善护理人员的招募和保留
• 增加病人的满意度和舒适度
• 减少病人跌倒和压疮
• 减少与受伤相关的费用

成功的安全病人处理计划的要素

The key elements of a safe lifting program include the following:

各级管理层的承诺: 获得管理支持是项目成功的关键. Management can provide visible support by consistently communicating the importance of safe patient handling, assigning roles for various aspects of a safe patient handling program to appropriate managers, 主管及其他员工, and providing appropriate resources for implementing and sustaining the program over time.

A safe patient handling committee that involves front-line workers: 设计和实施一个安全的病人处理程序, as well as to evaluate and sustain the program into the future, the front-line (non-managerial) employees who provide direct care to patients should be well-represented on the safe patient handling committee.

风险评估: 处理高危单位、区域和病人处理任务. Hazard evaluation should consider factors such as types of nursing units, 病人护理区的物理环境, 以及现有设备及其利用情况. It is important to consider characteristics of the patient population such as level of patient mobility and cognition.

技术和设计预防: Implement methods to control hazards such as lifting, 转移和重新定位 patients. Manual lifting should be minimized in all cases and eliminated when feasible. 例如, a “zero lift“ program or policy minimizes direct patient lifting by using specialized lifting equipment and transfer tools. Establish safe patient handling policies that are based on patients’ physical and medical conditions and the availability of lifting equipment and lift teams. Select appropriate lifting equipment in accordance with the hazard assessment, and install and maintain lifting devices according to manufacturer recommendations. The best proactive approach is through proper design of the work environment, including incorporating health hazard controls into the design of facilities during construction and remodeling.

教育和培训: Provide sufficient education and training so that each worker understands the elements of the safe patient handling program and how to participate. The education and training of health care workers should be geared toward the assessment of hazards, selection and use of appropriate patient lifting equipment and devices, and review of evidence-based practices for safe patient handling. 训练应该包括何时以及如何报告受伤情况.

定期评估: Regular program evaluation within the environment of care is critical to the success of the program. Establish evaluation procedures necessary to assess the effectiveness of the safe patient handling program and to ensure its continuous improvement and long-term success. 可靠的数据源, including the OSHA Recordkeeping Log 300 and forms 301 and 300A, can be used to track and analyze injuries and trends related to the ongoing implementation of the program.

This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. 设计©2014 Zywave, Inc. 保留所有权利.