PO2022-001

Development of the Johns Hopkins – Safe Patient Handling Mobility Guide to Inform Use of Safe Patient Handling Equipment to Meet a Daily Mobility Goal for Hospitalized Patients
By Sowmya Kumble, PT, NCS, Michael Friedman, PT, MBA and Daniel L Young, PT, DPT, PhD

Traditionally, Safe Patient Handling Programs focus only on prevention of staff injuries. We propose a model of care that prevents staff injuries and at the same time promotes safe patient mobility. It is well documented in the literature that hospitalized patients spend the majority of time in bed. Patients at lower functional levels are at much higher risk for immobility related harms such as deconditioning and pressure injuries. Too often hospital staff use total assist lifts for patients who need a lot of mobility help even when the patients are capable of participating if appropriate safe patient handling equipment were used. On the other hand, patients at moderate or higher functioning may not be encouraged to participate in out of bed and ambulation activities due to staffs’ fear of patient falls. Nursing staff have indicated difficulty matching appropriate safe patient handling equipment based on patient’s capacity to facilitate patient mobility activities. All these factors exacerbate the existing epidemic of hospital immobility culture. This presentation will highlight the opportunity to utilize a nursing assessment of patient’s mobility capacity (the AM-PAC “6-Clicks” Basic Mobility Short Form) to guide safe patient handling equipment selection. We will introduce the Johns Hopkins-Safe Patient Handling Mobility Tool (JH-SPHM) to guide the clinician in choosing appropriate safe patient handling equipment to protect staff and at the same time promote safe patient mobility for hospitalized patients.

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PO2022-002

Proning Patients with COVID-19: An Injury Prevention Initiative
By Tracy Thermidor, PT, DPT

Background:
The safe patient handling & mobility (SPHM) department launched at NYU Brooklyn in June of 2018 to serve, educate, and provide guidance to NYULH staff on SPH technique and equipment. Since the departments launch a number of initiatives have been implemented to positively influence staff and patient safety.

In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the development of SPHM targeted education. An influx in new and temporary clinical staff along with the implementation of prone positioning initiatives presented some challenges. However, these challenges were swiftly addressed via various solutions related to adequate personnel, prone positioning education/training and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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PO2022-003

Safe Patient Mobilization – Reducing Sling Loss
By Manda Buttitta, BA, Deborah Eldredge, PhD, CPE and Lynda Enos, MS, RN, COHN-S, CPE, SPM

Background:
Ease of accessibility to SPHM equipment is an evidence-based factor related to equipment use by staff i.e., if a sufficient quantity and/or the right style/size of patient slings are not available to caregivers, then there is a greater likelihood that caregivers will not use SPHM equipment to complete a patient handling task. They may also choose to use an incorrect type or size of sling for their patients which increases the risk of an adverse event occurring when moving a patient with a powered lift.

This poster describes the interdisciplinary process that Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) hospital system used to address sling loss and improve management of reusable/washable slings within their comprehensive and multi-faceted safe patient mobilization (SPM) program.

The OHSU Sling Loss workgroup convened in Fall 2019 to address a 78% loss in repositioning slings.

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PO2022-004

Essential Functions of a Transporter in an Academic Hospital
By Laura Chadbourne BHCM, CEAS III, CSPHA and Michelle Taylor CEAS II, CSPHA

Tracy Thermidor, PT, DPT Clinical Specialist – Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Department, NYU Langone Health

Background:
Is there a need for a post offer job screen with safe patient handling equipment in the HSO (Health System Organization)? A new tower was built with ceiling lifts. In the existing tower portable patient lifts, powered sit/stand lifts along with non-powered sit/stand lifts were purchased. Air assist lateral transfer devices were added throughout hospital. Transporting patients is also an important part of patient handling and we needed to find out if the correct equipment was being used.

Current processes:
• Transporters trained annually on how to use patient handling devices.
• Nurses determine SPH (Safe Patient Handling) device used to transfer patient with transporter assist.

Transporter administration noticed an increase in patient handling injuries and increasing turnover following new hire.
Ergonomic Specialist was asked to evaluate processes from on boarding to education of job requirements.

Following Ergonomic evaluation, findings were presented to Environmental Health and Safety, Occupational Health Nurse, and transporter management. The current post offer screen was determined to be outdated. Gaps in patient handling equipment were identified, lack of powered transport devices, enhancements needed for education and training.

Due to ergonomic findings:
• a new post offer screen was developed
• some powered equipment was purchased
• improvements were made for education

Presented to CNO (Chief Nurse Officer) a need for hands-on nursing education with patient handling device. Escalated need for powered transport devices to senior leadership.

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PO2022-005

Culture Change for Occupational Therapists on Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM): Advocacy for SPMH Policies for a National Organization.
Guldana Alizakhova OTDS; Doctoral Coordinators: Pamela A. Kasyan-Howe, OTD, OTR/L,; Kristin J. Domville, OTD, OTR/L,; Lisa Schubert, OTD, OTR/L,
Mentors: Tiffany Thao-Houane, OTR, SPHM Educator; Dr. Sheila Longpré, PhD, OTR/L

Occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) engage in patient handling to facilitate their patients’ rehabilitation goals. However, in 2019, the reported incidence rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders for occupational therapy practitioners was 100.9 per 10,000 workers, about four times the rate of all industries (BLS, 2019). Occupational therapy practitioners are trained in safe patient handling and mobility and assume the role of SPHM educators, coordinators, and consultants. Despite being early adopters to the culture of SPHM, OTs do not have a professional statement that can be used for public policies or for public support of SPHM. In February 2021, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Representative Assembly (RA) voted to create a position paper on occupational therapy’s role in safe patient handling and mobility to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this poster is to describe the process of developing a position paper to advocate for SPHM policies within a national organization.

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