Safe Patient Handling

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variety of programs, policies, and practices used in safe patient handling and determine if there is a best practice in the field of occupational therapy. However, if there is a claim made, the validity must also be confirmed. Although there are various ways to address and provide safe patient handling as noted in the research, and some methods are used more often than others, strategies to prevent or minimize injuries associated with patient handling are often based more on tradition and personal experience rather than evidenced based. Some of the most common patient handling approaches in the United States includes manual patient lifting, classes in body mechanics, training in safe lifting techniques, and back belts. Surprisingly there is strong evidence that each of these approaches is not effective in reducing caregiver injuries. A safe patient handling policy shows to be the best way of keeping the practitioner and patient safe in the facility.

What is safe patient handling? “Strategies to prevent or minimize work-related musculoskeletal injuries associated with patient handling are often based on tradition and personal experience rather than scientific evidence” (Nelson & S., Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement, 2006). “Patient handling and movement tasks are physically demanding, performed under unfavorable conditions, and are often unpredictable in nature” (Nelson & S., Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement, 2006). What is a musculoskeletal disorder? “Musculoskeletal disorders are caused by constant stress to the body, often from the work environment” (Slusser, Rice, & Miller, 2012). What steps should be ...

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...s maximized. As you have read there are many procedures and elements that coincide with having a successful safe patient handling policy implemented in the proper work setting. By following these steps, a safe patient handling policy should be easy to coordinate.

Works Cited

Nelson, A., & S., B. A. (2006). Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement. Orthopaedic Nursing , 25 (6), 366-379.

Nelson, A., Collins, J., Knibbe, H., Cookson, K., Castro, A. d., & Whipple, K. L. (2007, March). Safer Patient Handling. Nursing Management , 26-31.

Slusser, L. R., Rice, M. S., & Miller, B. K. (2012). Safe patient handling curriculum in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs: A descriptive study of school curriculum within the United States of America. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation , 42 (3), 385-392.