Safe Patient Handling Myths and Facts

Myth: Using patient handling equipment takes too much time!

Fact: It takes longer to find a colleague to ask them to assist with a manual move than to utilize readily available patient handling equipment/technology.

Myth: I am only at risk for patient handling injuries when I have a bariatric patient I must manually lift.

Fact: Greater than 70% of all patient handling injuries result from caregivers manually lifting the adult standard (non-Bariatric patient).

Myth: Simply repositioning a patient in bed will not result in a patient handling injury.

Fact: The vast majority of injuries at VUMC result from manually repositioning a patient in bed using a draw sheet. Friction-reducing devices (i.e. slippery sheets) are readily available and prevent these common injuries.

Myth: As a caregiver I can manually lift a small adult patient.

Fact: Healthcare workers should not lift patients weighing more than 35 pounds without assistance.