What do you consider a lift?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I consider a lift as a mechanical wheel chair lift , mechanical or manual hoyer lift, etc. Both agencies I work for require a lift for patients 50lb or more. One patient less than 40 lbs but the bedroom is on the third floor the parents agreed to carry the patient up and down stairs and to bf available before/after school since they can't get a stair lift or elevator and there is no appropriate space on the first floor.

I've seen nurses write "manual lift required" for a 18-25lb toddler with limited mobility (just starting to army crawl) that needs to be carried around. To me carrying a small child is not a "manual lift". I wouldn't put "manual lift " for a late walking 15month child either

These small children still fit in traditional car seats! If 3 or older they have a transport safe wheel chair or stroller (such as a Cpnvaid Cruiser) if not they often have a high end stroller that offers multiple supports, straps & adjustments.

[mluvsgnc]

I consider a lift to be the same things you stated, Beachy. However, it never occurred to me to document how I transfer my 3 yo, 35 lb SMA type 1 patient (no movement/tone at all except eyes). I always write, "pt. tolerated transfer from bed to stander" or whatever, never stating that it is a manual lift.

My agency is the same- no lifting anything over 50 lbs. without mechanical assistance.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

For me, A transfer where I pick someone up is charted as a total assist with one provider. If it takes two people then it's a total assist with two. Mechanical life's are overhead,standing, or power lift with one provider. It's important for reimbursement to chart both what you used and how many people it took.so if it takes two people and a lift to get someone out of bed the insurance will be able to cut hours if you document just the lift or just the one person.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Those that are >50lbs are mechanical/hoyer lifts or 2-person carry/transfer. Most have a mechanical wheelchair lift if limited ambulation.

The nurses documenting manual lift are referring to young children 20-40lbs that are carried due to mobility limitations. We lift to move the 30-40lb kiddos but generally don't carry around children older than 4 or 5 especially if decent cognition.

The care plan does not indicate a mechanical or motorized lift or a 2person assist for these children. It will say 2person assist to transfer or use hoyer/over bed lift, stair lift etc if kiddo is 50lbs+. Some families get the lifts approved at 40-45lbs especially if highly spastic or very low tone.

These nurses often get the diet & GT type wrong. NPO isn't a diet type for a kid on peptamen of puréed with PO feeds for pleasure. Diet is peptamen, route GT. Or diet: puréed, route: GT. Not Diet; NPO route: GT.(it gets flagged when nursing and family can give PO purée then it's not NPO)

[mluvsgnc]

That's how I document feedings, too: "120 mls peptamen with prebio at rate of 100 mls/hr via GT" or "100 mls H2O bolus via gravity to GT." All my clt.'s are NPO- it's stated in the plan of care- but I don't document that specifically, as I am charting the rate and route already.