Hospitals “Mobilize” to Decrease Worker Lift Injuries

Studies show that American hospital patients are growing more obese, resulting in more back injuries for hospital staff. Crothall is working with its clients to make safety a priority. At Allegheny General Hospital, the Patient Transportation team, joined by the nursing, physical therapy, workers compensation, and risk management departments, developed "Mobilization on Demand" teams, or "MOD" Squads, to ensure safe patient handling techniques and expertise with patient immobilization equipment. When lifting assistance is needed, healthcare personnel call the patient transport call center with the patient's name, location, type of lift, and any equipment needed for the lift. With this information, the center prioritizes and dispatches the lift team. Within a year, work-related injury claims decreased by 57.6% and related costs decreased by 69.4%. Nursing and patient satisfaction associated with this program have been positive and widespread.