Safe Patient Handling for Therapists
Presented by Michael Fragala and Guy Fragala
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Meet your instructors
Michael Fragala
Michael Fragala has worked in the healthcare business operations arena for the majority of his career and has served as a Regional Clinical Director, primarily responsible for clinical operations and strategic planning, within national post-acute accounts. Presently Mr. Fragala is employed by Joerns Healthcare overseeing…
Guy Fragala
Dr. Fragala has more than 45 years of experience as an Occupational Safety and Health professional and is currently the Senior Advisor for Ergonomics at the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry in Tampa, Florida. He recently served as Champion for the Creating the Safer Environment Program for Joerns Healthcare and Director of…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Why is Safe Patient Handling Important?
Occupational risk factors of patient handling and mobility include exertion, repetition, posture and duration of exposure. These activities can pose significant risks to therapists as well as their patients. This chapter explores the magnitude of the occupational injury problem, including both direct and indirect costs related to manual patient handling.
2. Risk Factors and Their Impact
Understanding the role of therapy practitioners in identifying risk factors for occupational injury is essential to promoting a culture of safety. The physical exertion required to lift and move patients, the frequency of demands on the therapist and the awkward postures required to conduct patient handling tasks all pose significant risks to patients and healthcare workers alike. This chapter will explore the damaging effects that these types of activities as well as the role of ergonomics and body mechanics in safe patient handling.
3. Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Safe Patient Handling
Through a panel discussion of therapists and nurses, this chapter will explore how direct care staff feel at the end of their day, what types of activities they see as potential risks and what they have done to offset these risks. This chapter also includes a discussion of safe patient handling with bariatric patients, and strategies for effectively ensuring the safety of both patients and nursing staff.
4. Available Technology and Solutions
How do you use technology and assistive devices to reduce risk? This chapter explores different options available to you and how to best utilize what’s available at your facility. This chapter also includes a discussion on when to use assistive devices, including information on beds, lateral transfers, active transfers, passive transfers, falls and DME.
5. Your Role in Creating a Culture of Safety
Therapists play an important role in advocating for those who receive care at their facility. This chapter includes a discussion on the important role that therapy practitioners play in developing a culture of safety, as well as how statistics can be a powerful tool to gain buy in from decision makers and improve the safety and quality of patient care. In addition, this chapter includes a discussion on how to best utilize contracted vendors to support your facility’s change initiatives.
