Patient Care: Safe Handling Training Course

Did you know that back injuries alone in the healthcare industry result in over $20 billion dollars lost every single year? These losses come primarily from missed days of work as well as workers’ compensation. Injuries occur when healthcare workers are repeatedly moving and transferring patients throughout the workday. In addition to back injuries, other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), strains, and sprains can occur. Healthcare workers are seven times more likely to develop an MSD than those working in any other industry! Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not have a specific standard for how to safely handle patients, it is covered by law under the General Duty Clause (29 USC 654 S5). All employees are entitled to a safe and hazard-free work environment. Most healthcare facilities have safe patient handling (SPH) programs in place to help keep their workers safe and minimize the occurrence of these types of injuries as much as possible.

Do you work in the healthcare industry? Are you often tasked with transferring patients from a chair to a bed, repositioning them in bed, or helping them to and from the bathroom? Have you ever been injured during one of these transfers? 

Understanding the potential hazards and risk factors associated with patient handling is key to keeping both you and your patients safe. This course will discuss potential patient handling hazards and debunk common myths about mechanical lift equipment and SPH programs. It will explain the process used to start an SPH program if you currently do not have one as well as review some common patient transfer techniques and movement algorithms. If you need to learn more about patient care: safe handling, this training is for you!

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.