Safe Patient/Resident Handling and Mobility Program Pulse Check
With the recent concentration of OSHA on healthcare facilities, along with state initiatives and the increasing risks in healthcare, have you asked your team lately if your program is up to speed? Programs are shown to reduce patient injury, reduce staff injury along with associated costs and absenteeism. In addition, they improve recruitment, retention and morale of staff!
The Healthcare industry is growing rapidly and so are the risks associated with it. We can help you focus on the areas where injuries happen all too often. In most cases, patient/resident handling injuries are the leader. We partner with our clients to concentrate on sustainable policies and procedures to help reduce injuries. We offer (free of charge) and strongly encourage that our healthcare clients partner with us to conduct our Safe Patient/Resident Handling and Mobility workshop. This didactic workshop includes discussion on patient handling challenges, ergonomic basics in the healthcare environment and high risk tasks, developing solutions including discussion of various patient handling equipment and provides assistance with establishing a safe patient handling committee. See our healthcare safety resources here.
In 2010, nursing homes and personal care facilities had one of the highest rates of injury and illness among industries for which lost workday injury and illness (LWDII) rates are calculated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing and personal care facilities experienced an average LWDII rate of 4.9 compared with 1.8 for private industry as a whole, despite the fact that feasible controls are available to address hazards within this industry.
Has your team:
- Developed a written policy?
- Conducted a patient handling hazard assessment?
- Provided initial training to all current employees and built into new hire orientation?
- Developed an annual training program?
- Developed a process to utilize for incident investigation and post-accident review?
- Developed a process to conduct an annual performance evaluation of your program to determine its effectiveness?
- Developed a process to review and incorporate architectural plans as they relate to SPH?
- Developed a process by which employees may refuse to perform or be involved in patient handling if they feel it exposes the patient of employee to an unacceptable risk of injury?
For more information on this topic, MEMIC policyholders can access our recorded webinar entitled “Safe Patient Resident Handling and Mobility Program” via MEMIC'S Safety Director.
