Safe patient handling/movement in medical/dental clinics

[RiskManager]

What, if anything, are you doing in terms of safe patient handling/movement in a medical or dental clinic? Freestanding facilities generally do not have any patient lifts or perhaps even staff trained in lifting and movement. How do you deal with the 65 year old female who feels a little unsteady as she walks back to the exam room or operatory and asks for assistance? What do you do with the patient using a walker who needs to use the bathroom during the visit and requests help in either steadying the walker or getting down or up from the toilet? It is easy to create a policy that states that anyone needing assistance must bring someone capable of providing that assistance, but that does not really solve the problem of safe patient movement when the patient presents needing help and has no assistance.

[Elfriede]

Roll up your sleeves.

Check your facility:

How is the situation ?

- Structural

- Organisation

- Personal

- Aids

Make two lists :

- Present

- Should be

Carry them to your boss.

"Disability access" is a quality feature !

If your patients doesn´t feel "in good hands",

your store will soon be empty.

Y´s

Frieda