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Patient Handling

June 9, 2014
Patient Handling
  • The weight of any resident exceeds the lifting capacity of the average caregiver.
  • Health care professionals have one of the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders of any industry.

AliMed's Patient Handling Equipment Protects Long-Term Care Staff and Residents

In long-term care, proper patient positioning is something that caregivers need to be mindful of for the sake of preventing pressure sores, accidental falls and other complications. This task can be particularly challenging in nursing homes if residents are physically frail or not mentally lucid. Improper patient handling can lead to injuries for both the resident and the nursing home staff.

Why is patient handling so challenging

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper body mechanics are insufficient in protecting people during patient handling. This can be attributed to the increasing obesity epidemic, combativeness among certain residents or shorter hospitalizations, creating a trend of more frail residents. Additionally, nursing home rooms may be crowded with medical equipment that makes use of the space cumbersome.

Experts from the CDC assert that, even under the safest conditions, the weight of any resident exceeds the lifting capacity of the average caregiver, 90 percent of whom are women.

Ultimately, nurses, nursing aides, orderlies and other health care professionals have one of the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders of any industry, with 249 cases for every 10,000 workers in 2010, as estimated by the U.S. Department of Labor. These injuries tend to affect the back, shoulders and upper extremities. On the resident side, poor handling can lead to an accidental fall, which comes with its own set of complications. Among them are fractures, functional declines, disability, decreased quality of life, and, in some cases, premature death.

Patient handling equipment offers suitable solutions

Nursing homes that want to provide a safe working environment where the staff can protect themselves from injury as they care for residents may consider acquiring new patient handling equipment, including mechanical lifting equipment. According to the CDC, such medical solutions have benefits for both staff and residents. When it comes to the former, professionals have a lower risk of injury, greater job satisfaction, better morale and the potential for a longer career. For the latter, there is also a lower risk of injury - including falls, friction burns, joint dislocations, bruises and skin tears - but also a greater sense of comfort.

Fortunately, AliMed provides a wide array of medical products that promote better patient handling in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. These include disposable slings, patient shifters, boosters and more. The use of any of these products can help keep residents comfortable, and their families happy while maintaining optimal staffing levels.

Sources:

  1. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-117/pdfs/2006-117.pdf
  2. http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/nursing.html
  3. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/safepatienthandling.html

AliMed No-Lift Turner

AliMed No Lift Turner

The AliMed No-Lift Turner allows one staff member to safely turn residents without lifting.

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No-Lift Booster

No Lift Booster

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Disclaimer

AliMed, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of medical supply products, and is not a medical authority. The contents contained in this article, including text, graphics, imagery, and other materials, are for informational and educational purposes only. AliMed does not provide or intend to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and the information contained here should not be treated as such. If you have questions about a specific medical condition or specific personal use of a medical device, always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

This blog was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Although every effort has been made to present information that is accurate and true to the best of our knowledge, this content may contain omissions or errors. AliMed does not regularly update information or resources for this content and does not guarantee, make any warranties, and accepts no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information presented.