Safe Lift conference 4-20-07 ... Anita Biese RN, MS, CNS St

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Safe Patient Handling in Home
Health

• Anita Biese RN, MS, CNS
• St Vincent Hospital Home Health Care
• Green Bay, Wisconsin

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Introduction

• St Vincent Hospital Home Health Care Agency
• Cover 9 counties in NE Wisconsin
• Average Daily Census - 300- 325 patients
• Patient Visits - 38,000/yr
• Patient Age 29.4 gt 75 years
• Staff 55 FTEs
• Home Health Aides 14
• Personal Care Workers - 2

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St Vincent Hospital

• Started as No Lift Policy
• Revised to Low Lift Policy
• Train the Trainer approach

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Hospital Process

• Instructions to all staff on correct lifting
  techniques.
• Return demonstrations by each staff member
• Written Test

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Home Health Process

• Must follow the Hospital Process
• A PT and an OT are our Trainers
• Group training of 4 people over a 2 week period

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Hospital Training

• Covering
• Principles of Body Mechanics
• Choice of Transfer Technique
• Hydraulic Lift Transfers
• Slide Board Transfers
• Pivot Transfers

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Home Care Considerations

• Staffing
• Types of Patients
• Availability of Equipment
• Relationships of patients to caregivers

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Actions

• Identified current patients who are difficult
  transfers
• Problem solve
• Assist with change as needed

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Case Study

• 51 yo female with advanced Multiple Sclerosis.
• Insured under husband.
• Aides have been pivot transferring with
  increasing difficulty.
• Very resistant to change.

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What to Do

• Convince Patient and Husband of need for change.
• Discuss available equipment
• Assist with finding finances for obtaining
  equipment
• Help with ordering correct equipment to meet
  patient needs both present and future
• Teach husband and staff use of equipment

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How did we do?

• Patient continues at home with our assist.

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Thank You