Safe Patient Handling Toolkit

Healthcare organizations have high rates of occupational injuries due to handling, moving and transferring patients. Safe patient handling equipment, resources and protocols can help reduce injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This toolkit provides resources to assist in reducing occupational injuries and improve patient care. If your organization is considering developing or revising a comprehensive safe patient handling program, the resources provided will assist in incorporating the best practices, policy templates and tools to help ensure success.

Safe Patient Handling Programs

Work-related dangers faced by healthcare providers are real and occur frequently. Having a safe patient handling program in place can enhance patient care and safety and reduce the risk of employee injuries. These resources provide a focus on the key points in healthcare safe patient handling programs.

Safe Patient Handling Tools and Tactics

It is essential to have up-to-date policies, procedures and forms to support your safe patient handling program. This section containes tools and tactics that can be used to help you develop your own program.

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    Safe Patient Handling: Busting the Myths

    Facts about moving patients, the use of mechanical equipment and creating a change of culture.

    TAGS: Patient, mechanical, Equipment, Culture, change

  • Assessment tools

    Assessment tools

    Safe Patient Handling: A Self-Assessment

    This self-assessment tool examines the number and nature of patient handling injuries occurring in your organization.

    TAGS: examines, Number, Patient, injuries, Organization

  • Checklists

    Checklists

    Safe Patient Handling Program Checklist

    Use this checklist to compare your current policies and practices against best practices in safe patient handling.

    TAGS: Policies, Practices

Patient & Employee Safety Tools

It is essential to have up-to-date policies, procedures and forms to support your safe patient handling program. This section contains resources that focus on patient and employee safety.

  • Flyer/Sign/Poster

    Flyer/Sign/Poster

    Need a Lift? Just Ask Flyer

    Post this flyer in patient rooms to remind them to call if they need to be moved or lifted.

    TAGS: Patient, Room, moved

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    Lifting and Material Handling

    Injuries in the workplace are frequently caused by lifting heavy items. This document provides tips on the correct way to handle the lifting of heavy items.

    TAGS: Workplace, injuries, heavy, items

  • Algorithms

    Algorithms

    OSHA & Worker Safety: Handling with Care – Practicing Safe Patient Handling

    These tips present safe patient handling practices for healthcare workers. It supplies algorithms for safety in transfers common to healthcare workers daily.

    TAGS: presentation, Healthcare, Workers, Algorithm, transfer, Workplace