Transitioning theoretical concepts into practical clinical solutions is essential to creating positive outcomes. For ideas to become reality in clinical practice, strategies must align with patient care priorities should there be any chance of gaining staff’s commitment. My background as a Registered Nurse guides my consultative feedback for it is rooted in past patient-lift scenarios experienced throughout my career. Be assured that all my recommendations are formulated in the best interest of both patients and staff safety alike.

To successfully overcome the inevitable challenges that comes along with starting an injury prevention program such as Safe Patient Handling, it is necessary as well as beneficial to rely on the expertise of an experienced professional. I often hear stories of organizations attempting to address injuries related to lifting and moving patients. Unfortunately, many of those attempts fall flat for there is usually a limited understanding of the program’s level of involvement. Establishing a designee as a facility point-of-contact specifically for Safe Patient Handling provides for a solid start when moving forward to establish an injury prevention operation. Allow me the opportunity to guide your Safe Patient Handling facility representative so that your organization may capitalize on all efforts invested.

As we work to progress the inclusion of newer innovations and patient-lift technology into clinical practice, one of the ways of doing this is through effective communication. Traditionally as it relates to nursing practice, change often begins when there is clinically-based researched evidence to support the practice change. Explaining to healthcare professionals how it impacts or improves current work routines is needed to justify moving away from traditional practice methodologies. An effective way to push this injury prevention initiative forward is to allow a subject matter expert to address clinical staff to include any stakeholder concerned with employee injuries related to lifting and moving patients.