Designed & created by
Gavin Wright
Terms & Conditions 30 Smilie Road, Peterlee, Co.Durham, England. SR8 4AN e-mail
I have been involved in safe patient handling and movement (SPHaM) in Israel for many years - and am gratified to see the awareness gradually increasing.
Joan Greiger
I have been involved in safe patient handling and movement in Israel for many years - and am gratified to see the awareness gradually increasing.
For nearly ten years, I have been teaching nursing ergonomics seminars to nursing students at several schools. I've also taught emergency-med students and dental hygienists. I regularly teach a full ergonomics course to physical therapy students.
The most far-reaching project I have completed with the help of
a government grant was a teaching program in four major hospitals over the course of two years. Since then, I have helped another medical centre establish a physical therapist-generated SPHaM program (one of the conclusions of the larger project was my observation of a frequent disconnect between nursing and rehab staff regarding patient transfer decisions).
At present, I have been asked to participate in several projects getting underway:
- Israel's largest healthcare organization (there are four sick funds insuring all of the population) is hosting a series of day-long conferences for its nurses, aimed at promoting the proper use of patient lifts. I will be presenting regarding nursing ergonomics and the use of patient lifts. The event will include "lifting stations" run by suppliers of lifts.
- The Israel Institute of Standards is establishing a committee to set standards for safe lifting equipment, upon which I have been asked to sit (the committee that is, not the lift!)
- In an exciting new initiative, a hospital-run nursing school will be establishing a centre for patient lifting education, which we are planning together from ground level.
All in all, awareness is definitely rising, and I've seen more and more nursing and healthcare staff joining in. I'm sure we might have information and insight to share regarding teaching, promoting and maintaining safe patient handling.
I look forward to the newsletter, and to continued contact.
As told by
Dr. Joan S. Geiger, DPT
Chief Ergonomics Advisor
Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene
I am sure the rest of my readers will join me in wishing you all the best in your efforts. If anyone else has any news similar, please get in touch.
