A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in nursing homes revealed that safe patient handling programs reduced injury rates by 46% and workman’s compensation claim rates by 61%. This not only improves the quality of care but also leads to significant cost savings. NIOSH found that the Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps saying that nursing assistants and orderlies get back and musculoskeletal injuries three times more often than construction workers. They also have more injuries than people in any other job. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Nurses Association (ANA), Occupational Safety and Healthcare Administration (OSHA) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has offered evidence-based information and outlines the benefits and standards of the Safe Resident Moving and Positioning Program (SRMPP) aimed at reducing caregiver and resident injuries. The outline provides practical strategies that highlight parts of an effective program.
46% injury rates reduced through safe patient handling programs
Many case studies of successful, safe resident transfer programs exist in healthcare journals. These studies consistently point to a wide variety of benefits, not only for employees but also for resident safety. To decide if the effort and money are worth it, senior living operators should think about the benefits of the Safe Resident Moving and Positioning Program.
Retain residents when their functional acuity rises; Reduce caregiver injury, lost days, and retain staff; Reduce resident injury during moving and positioning by staff; Reduction of claims costs for resident moving and positioning related claims; Lower costs for worker’s compensation.
Benefits of a safe resident moving and positioning program:
Seniors are often more likely to fall and get hurt because they can’t move around as much, have weaker muscles, and don’t have good balance. Moving and positioning program techniques help to reduce risk, so residents are moved safely and without injury to them.
Safe moving and positioning programs are important for making senior living communities safe, respectful, and helpful for seniors.
Effective positioning enhances a resident’s comfort through proper alignment and support. This effectively prevents and manages pain and alleviates pressure ulcers, which are common in residents with limited mobility.
Safe resident moving and positioning programs can promote resident independence.
Residents’ comfort levels can be improved through positioning and alignment.
Programs focusing on safe resident movement and positioning can improve care outcomes and overall care. Staff trained in SRMPP techniques can provide more effective support, leading to better outcomes and preservation of Activity of Daily Living.
Respectful, safe ways to handle residents keep them looking good during transfers. Positioning helps residents get involved in their care and keeps them feeling good about themselves and independent.
The CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) know that lifting patients or residents by hand can cause work-related injuries. Healthcare workers have one of the highest rates of work-related injury and illness, which can lead to missed days of work because they are handling residents.
Patient/Resident handling programs offer many benefits to senior living workers, enhancing their well-being and the quality of care for the residents they serve.
Training staff on safe handling practices reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Safe resident moving and positioning teach better ways to move and help residents. This can save time and effort, so you can spend more time caring for more residents or giving more care to them.
Using the proper techniques and equipment minimizes the risk of Resident falls and injuries during transfer, improving Resident outcomes.
When staff achieve competency in handling residents safely and effectively, they can experience higher job satisfaction and morale.
Safe resident handling programs have resulted in fewer and lower workers’ compensation claims, which has led to financial savings and improved workplace conditions.
Staff training in safe resident handling programs ensures state and federal regulations compliance.
Safe Resident moving and positioning programs emphasize teamwork and encourage communication among caregivers during Resident transfer and movements.
The first step toward reducing resident and staff handling injuries is to conduct a workplace hazard analysis. The hazard analysis should consider an all-inclusive list of risk factors and address:
Once the hazard vulnerability is completed the risk assessment should help to identify the high-risk areas associated with lifting and repositioning.
A CNA Alert Bulletin identified a high-risk handling task by clinical areas for aging services facilities. The high-risk areas that were identified were
To adequately address the risk associated with lifting and repositioning employees should be screened to obtain feedback and a knowledge check on ergonomics and work practices that may trigger an injury. The screening questionnaire should include specific questions about the work environment, staff, teamwork, and training. A CNA Alert Bulletin highlights an employee screening survey and techniques useful to detect risk areas.
The implementation plan should address critical elements to ensure that a safe resident moving and positioning program (SRMPP) is customized to the organization's capabilities and culture of care.
Safe patient handling legislation has been enacted in eleven states to protect healthcare workers from patient handling injuries. States that have enacted patient handling laws or promulgated rules and regulations to address workplace injuries:
All states except Ohio require healthcare facilities to set up safe patient handling programs. The implementation of these programs varies according to the characteristics of the healthcare setting. Many of the programs require the development of policies and procedures for handling patients, creating guidelines for training and the acquisition of necessary equipment and collecting and evaluating data to better understand and address the policy and equipment needs of specific patient care environments. Some states get tax credits for obtaining the necessary lift equipment they need. Ohio has an interest-free loan program for nursing homes to purchase and install equipment and fund staff education and training that discourages staff from manually lifting patients. Insurance brokers, carriers and risk management groups have found that SRMPP is needed. They offer advice to senior living operators on ways to reduce the risk of helping residents.
Because assisted living communities are state-regulated and some states limit the use of mechanical lifts/devices, operators must comply with state-specific regulations and licensure requirements or work within their scope of practice when designing and developing an SRMPP.
Since the risk is known, every senior living in a healthcare facility should have a safe handling and transfer program. This program will help residents feel safer, more respected, and more comfortable. It will also help reduce the chances of staff injuries and workman’s compensation claims.
In short, safe moving and positioning programs for residents are needed to keep healthcare staff safe and well-being. They also help improve resident care and outcomes. Safe patient-handling laws and the programs they support offer considerable benefits:
A Safe Resident Moving and Positioning Program should be created to help operators focus on safety and injury prevention for residents and staff. For further information on safe resident moving and positioning programs, contact WTW Senior Living to obtain more information, tools and resources to support your organization's initiative to reduce injury risk for both staff and residents.
Willis Towers Watson hopes you found the general information provided in this publication informative and helpful. The information contained herein is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with your own legal advisors. In the event you would like more information regarding your insurance coverage, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. In North America, Willis Towers Watson offers insurance products through licensed entities, including Willis Towers Watson Northeast, Inc. (in the United States) and Willis Canada Inc. (in Canada).
