Protect Your Back
Did you know that UPS has a lifting restriction of 75 lbs? Yet physical therapists routinely lift well over that amount. Especially challenging are the patients that have had a stroke and have hemiplegia, because not only are we lifting the patient, but we are also trying to correct the pushing syndrome that so many of them have. How does your facility deal with this issue?
The SNF where I am currently employed does not have an aide to assist PTs. When a patient is treated, I must wait for another PT to assist me or attempt it myself. I have found the Lite Gait to be helpful. The challenge with the Lite Gait is getting the patient into the harness. It is usually a two-person job. Once the patient is in the harness, then it is safe to work a patient alone. However, some patients need two therapists: one to cue the trunk and one to assist with the hemiplegic lower extremity.
Another challenge is getting the GNAs to lift correctly or not at all. In the SNF where I am employed, there are hoyer lifts and sit-to-stand lifts. There is also a pivot disc. Yet I find the aides reluctant to use this equipment. There is only one lift on each unit and the staff does not want to take the time to get the equipment. Also the staff finds it faster to hoist the patient up and swing them over to the wheelchair. This is a disservice to the patient because the patient is being treated like a sack of potatoes and the patient is at risk for injury. This is also a disservice to the GNAs, because one day their backs will pay the price.
Banner Health in Colorado implemented a safe lift program in 2001 that included mechanical lifts and overhead lifts. Banner Health had a 90 percent reduction in employee lift/transfer injury claim cost. North Colorado Medical Center is also a no lift facility. North Colorado Medical Center went from 60 claims a year to seven claims a year.
I believe that PTs in SNFs need to be aware of the "cost" of lifting patients. There is a cost to the therapist in regards to back injury. There is a cost to the patient (i.e. skin tears, dislocations, bruising, lack of dignity and other injuries). There is also a cost to the facility, such as employee turnover and workmans comp claims. Please try to educate your fellow employees and employer regarding a switch to a no lift policy.