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Barriers to Implementing the Program It seems that with all the evidence and recommendations
to adopt a safe resident moving and handling program all providers would be embracing the program as a standard in providing quality care. But there are several barriers that prevent providers from implementation, including: the presence of assistive devices make the environment look like a nursing home, limited storage for equipment, expense, lack of skilled staff and state regulations prohibiting equipment use.
State Regulations Because Assisted Living regulations are state specific and
often vague about this aspect of care and service, it can be challenging for providers to interpret the restrictions for mechanical assistive devices. Providers who operate in multiple states have the additional burden of implementing this program company-wide as states may differ in what they will allow regarding mechanical assistive devices.
Assisted living providers should review their state regulation and licensure requirements to understand any requirements or restrictions that may impact the use of mechanical assistive equipment. n the ip side, there are several states, approximately 11, that currently have regulations requiring a comprehensive safe patient handling program, meaning that healthcare providers must implement steps to assist residents with moving and transferring without manually lifting them in order to prevent injuries. These laws mainly specify hospitals and long term care, but in some cases, they broadly reference other healthcare facilities.
Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasizes the implementation of safe patient handling and can issue violations under the general duty clause if a residential care facility isn’t following a program that includes “no lifting”.
Initial steps for implementing a safe resident moving and handling program begins with operations leadership decisions and actions listed below:
Operations Leadership Decisions and Actions • Adopt a philosophy and policy for safe resident moving
and handling that promotes “no resident lifting”
• Differentiate “no lifting from providing assistance • Develop criteria/guidelines for resident assessment and ongoing evaluation for the appropriate level of assistance for all activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Determine if moving and transferring assistive devices would be purchased by the company or each resident individually (discuss pros and cons for both)
• Standardize the make and model for each type of mechanical device
• Provide a work group that includes community-based staff to pilot a safe resident moving and handling program (Operations leaders, Executive Directors, Care Leaders, Nurses, Caregivers, Therapists)
• Facilitate vendor demos for staff to evaluate and use various devices
• Establish evaluation criteria for devices: brand, sling sanitation, battery operated, mechanical without electric movement, storage of devices
• Adapt guidelines for assessment and use of assistive devices • Develop a training program to implement the guidelines and train on devices
• eaffirm proper body mechanics and assistance without using a device
• Develop a competency validation tool and process • Monitor ongoing compliance with resident moving and handling guidelines and use of assistive devices
• Analyze data regarding resident falls and injury from moving and transferring and staff injury
These steps begin the process of developing a safe resident moving and handling program for your community and across your company. By adopting this initiative as a part of your operations you will reap the rewards and further establish your community as a quality provider with a focus on safety and well-being for staff and residents.
Contact JoAnne Carlin at
JoAnne.Carlin@
willistowerswatson.com US Department of Labor, news Release, November 10, 2016 (USDL-16-2130)
Waters, Thomas R., PhD, “When is it safe to manually lift a patient?” AJN August 2007, Vol. 107, No. 8. “Getting to 2025: A Senior Living Roadmap”, Argentum Executive Member Report, April 2016
“Residents Living in Residential Care Facilities: United States, 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Data Brief No. 91, April 2012
Copyright 2017 by Willis Towers Watson. This document may not be used, copied, shared, or distributed without specific permission of Willis Towers Watson. 56 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE / ISSUE 3 2017
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