VUMC Patient Handling Injuries

• In 2016 there were 93 health care providers injured from moving, mobilizing or lifting patients.
• The majority of these were a result of manually repositioning patients in bed using a draw sheet and not using friction-reducing devices such as slippery sheets.
• More than 70% of all patient handling injuries result from health care providers lifting adults.

VUMC Lessons Learned

Using readily available patient handling equipment/technology is more beneficial than looking for a colleague and asking for help.

• Less time involved.
• Less risk of harm to the health care provider.
• Safe, quality patient care.
• Less force to lift, transfer, push and pull.

Note: Injuries reported are staff member self-reported injuries to OHC.