Safe Patient Handling (SPH)
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Patients: Handle with C.A.R.E.
Nurses and related healthcare workers have some of the highest incident rates for back and other injuries arising from ergonomic risk (now termed work related musculoskeletal disorders or WMSD) of any industry. These WMSD are associated with the physical demands of patient handling. The risk for these disorders is due to the increasing weight of patients, the increasing average age of healthcare workers, and the increased degree of disability while patients and residents are receiving care.
1Source staff has been helping healthcare employers since 1987 to implement safe patient handling (SPH) programs. This has included developing and conducting SPH seminars since 1991 where the control, anticipation, recognition, and evaluation of ergonomic and other risks are evaluated. The slogan above that includes the word C.A.R.E. is derived from the following actions that are required to have an effective program:
- Control – apply appropriate design considerations, equipment, and other resources
- Anticipate – changes in patient condition or activities
- Recognize – required work practices and obstacles to safe handling
- Evaluate – patient and staff condition and ability to assist.
Colin J. Brigham, CIH, CSP, CPE, CPEA is the practice leader for safe patient handling at 1Source and is a founding member and board member of the Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals (ASPHP). The ASPHP is a non-profit association dedicated to enhancing the safety of caregivers and improving the outcome of the patients they serve by promoting evidence-based standards and practice. This association offers both accreditation and membership options. For more details regarding the association go to www.asphp.org.
Services that 1Source provides healthcare employers in their safe patient handling (SPH) efforts include:
- SPH program gap analysis
- SPH program development
- SPH program facilitation
- SPH program training
- SPH program incident investigation.
For more details, contact Colin J. Brigham, CIH, CSP, CPE, CPEA via e-mail or 888-873-9983, ext. 24.