Task force pushes for 'zero lift' law in NY
A sign of change for hand hygiene Task force pushes for 'zero lift' law in NY
'Spend money to save money'
In tough economic times, it's hard to promote laws or regulations that will cost employers money. But what if the money spent ends up saving employers even more? That is the argument that is propelling safe patient handling legislation in New York.
A "zero lift" law is backed by an unusual alliance between unions, government, patient advocates and health care employers.
"When facilities start implementing [safe patient handing], they become major champions. Not only do they champion it within their own facility, but they're on our task force," says Roger Cook, MA, co-chair of the New York State Zero Lift Task Force in Buffalo and former director of the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health.
"This is for the fiscal health of the hospital. It's also for the physical health of the worker," says co-chair Janet Foley, director of occupational safety and health for CSEA, a labor union that represents state and local workers.
The New York law would create a task force within the New York state Department of Health, which would then draft standards for safe patient handling programs in health care facilities. The law would require health care facilities to purchase patient handling equipment, draft polices, provide training and develop patient assessments by 2015. Safe patient handling committees would include frontline, non-managerial employees.
"One of the most significant [aspects] is to make sure the workers are participating in the purchase of the equipment," says Cook. "Let the workers work with the equipment and see what they prefer. If they don't buy into it, it's just not going to get used."
The legislation passed the New York assembly in 2011 and at presstime was under consideration in the state senate. Meanwhile, the Zero Lift Task Force is promoting safe patient handling, providing training, and sharing success stories.
Return on investment
Some health care employers assert that they can't afford to buy patient handling equipment. Kaleida Health in Buffalo, which has two long-term care centers, five hospitals and 10,000 employees, says they can't afford not to.
For example, work-related musculoskeletal disorder injuries declined by about 70% when Kaleida implemented a safe patient handling program. In addition to new lifts and transfer devices, Kaleida spent roughly $2 million on new beds across the entire system. Employees were paid to attend a three-hour safe patient/resident handling training session with both lecture and lab.
The health system saw a return on investment within two years, says Paula Pless, EES, director of safe patient handling.
With an $83,000 grant from the New York state Department of Health, Kaleida bought ceiling lifts and ambulating lifts that could be used for the heaviest patients 800 to 1000 pounds. Becoming mobile more quickly has improved the patients' recovery and reduced their length of stay, Pless says.
Kaleida tells its story to spread awareness about the benefits of safe patient handling. While advocating for safe patient handling legislation, Kaleida acknowledges that some employers will not always act on their own and that safe patient handling legislation is needed.
"Some facilities and organizations will be proactive and understand the return on investment and evidence-based information that's out there," says Pless. "They'll understand completely the tie between quality and safety. They're smart and they run their facilities like a business."
Others don't realize the cost-savings will outweigh the upfront costs, she says. With legislation, she says, "Let them see [that] they can do the right thing and save money."
In fact, even the debate on safe patient handling legislation influences hospitals and other health care employers, says Foley.
"More and more facilities are moving towards this on their own," she says. "I think they feel the heat of the bill coming. Someday we'll get this passed. But I think people are recognizing that this is something that's inevitable."
Training center on SPH
Changing the paradigm isn't easy. Employees who were trained to use body mechanics often still believe that they can handle patients safely without equipment, says Pless.
Kaleida is constantly educating employees; they're required to have annual training. Pless and her program coordinator, Robert Guest, conduct walk-through audits in the various care environments, solving safe patient handling problems, observing employees and providing support.
Meanwhile, the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health teamed up with the University of Buffalo to create a safe patient handling training center. It contains a variety of equipment, including sit-to-stand lifts, repositioning devices, ceiling lifts, and different types of slings.
Nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists receive hands-on training in safe patient handling, and employers can send employees for training, says Cook. "We hope to make this a regional center," he says.
A Susan Harwood grant from the U.S. Department of Occupational Safety and Health also funded seven modules for training in safe patient handling materials that will eventually be posted on the OSHA website (www.osha.gov), says Cook.
Employers need help creating a safe patient handling program even if they have safe patient handling equipment, he says. "Even when they have the equipment they don't have good policies, procedures and training to implement the program," he says. "Oftentimes it remains idle and people still handle patients manually."
If the New York legislation passes, hospitals and other health care employers will have a set of guidelines to follow. The bill allows nurses to refuse to lift patients if the hospital hasn't complied with the safe patient handling policy. And it won't be under wraps. The bill directs the state departments of health and labor to "publish and make public which health care facilities are in compliance with the statewide safe patient handling policy.
In tough economic times, it's hard to promote laws or regulations that will cost employers money. But what if the money spent ends up saving employers even more? That is the argument that is propelling safe patient handling legislation in New York.Subscribe Now for Access
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