Safe Patient Handling Essay

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Working as a nurse, patient care associate, or any other health care professional is not an easy job. Nursing profession has the highest rate of back and other injuries related to lifting, moving and transporting patients. Hospitals and other nursing facilities were experiencing increased numbers of injuries, which meant many lost work days, worker’s compensation costs and patient safety at risk.
The Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety advocated for the “Safe Patient Handling Act” (A.1370/S.2470), introduced by Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Senator George Maziarz. Safe patient handling act “is a policy and practice that replaces manual lifting and moving tasks for healthcare professionals with machines and training, resulting in comfortable and safe mobility for the patient without risk of injury to the care-provider”. (Health.ny.gov)
New York State’s Safe Patient Handling Law was introduced as part of the 2014-15 budget. Safe patient handling was proven to reduce risk of injury, as well as improve quality of care.
In 2002, there were examples in New York of newly created programs that put emphasis on safe patient handling which resulted in significant decrease in number of patient lifting related injuries. Examples of facilities and organizations who implemented the safety patient handling programs were: New York State Veterans Home at …show more content…

The New York State SPH Act, will require each healthcare facility to have patient handling committee, which will include risk management, nursing, purchasing or occupational safety a

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