Planning 2022 Goals? Consider A Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Program

2022 presents a perfect opportunity to reduce liability risks associated with patient and employee injuries.

Some of the most common and severe workplace injuries in healthcare are musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) caused by patient lifting, transferring, and repositioning.

The LHA Workers’ Compensation Fund notes similar findings among claims filed each year.

Such injuries can be devastating to a patient care workforce. That’s why LHA Trust Funds is inviting members of the LHA Malpractice and Workers’ Compensation Funds to participate in our Safe Patient Handling Mobility (SPHM) Quality Initiative, designed to help implement best practices within healthcare organizations.

The results include a reduced number of sustained MSD injuries, improved employee satisfaction, and better patient safety and outcomes.

Why Should I Participate?

By participating and implementing the solutions recommended by our program, your organization will:

Demonstrate leadership’s commitment to employee and patient safety.
Improve employee satisfaction.
Reduce lost and restricted days related to musculoskeletal injures associated with patient care.
Reduce overall workplace injuries ultimately lowering your workers’ compensation costs.
Improve your culture of safety through the development of a program to support staff in their work environment.
Improve retention and recruitment of healthcare staff.
Improve patient satisfaction by increasing comfort.
Reduce the rate of adverse events such as falls and hospital-acquired conditions such as pressure injuries and pneumonia.

How Does The Program Work For First-Time Participants?

The SPHM program includes:

An assessment of SPHM in your organization. This includes a review of:

Policies and procedures
New hire and ongoing training
Staff competency training
Claims related to SPHM
Lost and restricted days related to SPHM
SPHM culture
High-acuity mobility needs
Equipment and gaps in the program

A customized report based on the assessment findings. The report communicates gaps in your program, proposes recommendations, and offers support for identified improvement opportunities. The report also includes prioritized information that helps you gain big improvements quickly.

A Safety Champion program for key organization members. These members will be trained as Super Users of the program. As Safety Champions, they will:

Attend at least one 2-day Safety Champion training course in 2022.
Serve as the organizational experts on lifting, transferring, and repositioning strategies within your organization.
Champion and lead the SPHM charge within your organization for both employees and patients

Exclusive Online Training

All SPHM program participants are invited to attend an exclusive eight-week, interactive webinar program on learning to build an SPHM program in your organization led by SPHM expert Susan Gallagher.

The author of the ANA Standards for SPHM, Gallagher’s course assists organizations in building a program that complies with the ANA Standards for SPHM and is considered best practice. This course also includes communication with experts in the field of behavioral change, patient experience, initiating a program, sustaining a program, and mobility. Attendees will also receive a copy of Gallagher’s book.

Who Is Eligible To Participate?

Members of the LHA Workers’ Compensation Fund who have premiums in excess of $10,000 are eligible to participate. They will receive up to 5% of renewing premium that will be used to fund participation in this initiative.

For LHA Malpractice Trust Fund members who wish to participate, a fee will be charged for these services. LHA Malpractice Trust will subsidize the remaining cost. Our partner Atlas Lift Tech is offering specialized pricing for this program exclusively for members of the LHA Trust Funds. The fee per hospital is determined by bed size.

Please call 225.368.3823 to discuss the cost to your organization.

How To Register

Get started by downloading a Commitment to Participate form below. Submit the completed form to Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk Stacie Jenkins at staciejenkins@lhatrustfunds.com.

Download Form Here

Questions?

Contact Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk Stacie Jenkins at 225.386.3823 or staciejenkins@lhatrustfunds.com for more information.