Designed & created by
Gavin Wright
Terms & Conditions 30 Smilie Road, Peterlee, Co.Durham, England. SR8 4AN e-mail
An ACT to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation to a safe patient handling policy for health care facilities
The New York State Nurses Association, representing the interests of Registered Nurses and the patients they serve, supports the above-referenced bill which would create a Statewide Safe Patient Handling Policy for all health care facilities in New York State.
NY State assembly
This legislation creates an eleven member New York State Safe Patient Handling Task Force
within the Department of Health. It also identifies the composition of the task force, its powers
and duties. The bill requires that a report identifying Safe Patient Handling Program elements
and recommendations be submitted to the Commissioner of Health by July 1, 2012. The
Commissioner of Health in consultation with the task force shall then promulgate rules and
regulations for a statewide safe patient handling policy to be made available to all health care
Facilities covered by this act shall file a plan for compliance with
the Department of Health by July 1, 2013 that must be accepted by the Department by July 1,
2014.
Safe patient handling is a comprehensive approach to reducing the use of the manual
movement of patients when lifting, transferring and re-positioning. The rules and regulations of
A2047-B/S3839 will require that each healthcare facility’s Safe Patient Handling Program
include: a written policy statement, management commitment and employee involvement,
committees, risks assessments, incident investigation, procurement of engineering controls,
lifting and transfer aids or assistive devices, employee training and education on safe patient
handling, and program evaluation and modification. Each facility will also establish a Safe
Patient Handling Committee to assist with implementation and oversight of the Program.
The Nurses Association appreciates and supports the many benefits that can be derived from
safe patient handling programs. Patients benefit through improved quality of care and quality of
life by reducing risks of falls, being dropped, friction burns, skin tears, and bruises. Healthcare
workers benefit from the reduced risk of career ending and debilitating injuries; decreases pain
and muscle fatigue; and increases in morale, job satisfaction, and longevity in the profession.
Healthcare facilities realize a quick return on their investment through reduced workers’
compensation medical and indemnity costs, reduced lost workdays and improved recruitment
and retention of health care workers – including R.N.s of which the state is experiencing an ever
worsening short supply. Further, these benefits will lead to the fiscal improvement of New York’s
healthcare system.
New York State’s patients and healthcare workers deserve the positive outcomes that result
from the adoption of Safe Patient Handling policies and practices. To promote quality patient
care and a safer work environment for healthcare workers, the New York State Nurses
Association strongly urges enactment of this legislation.
facilities by January 1, 2013. Facilities covered by this act shall file a plan for compliance with the Department of Health by July 1, 2013 that must be accepted by the Department by July 1, 2014.
Each healthcare facility’s Safe Patient Handling Program is to include: a written policy statement, management commitment, employee involvement, risk assessments, incident investigation, procurement of engineering controls, lifting and transfer aids or assistive devices, employee training and education on safe patient handling, and program evaluation and modification. Each facility will also establish a Safe Patient Handling Committee to assist with implementation and oversight of the Program.
In the UK we have had safe patient handling programmes for many years and indeed, any establishment seen to be lacking in this regard are dealt with severely if things go wrong. However, we don’t have a nationally approved policy such as being proposed here. Many people in the UK would argue that it is a poor idea as each establishment need to tailor make the whole concept of safe patient handling to their own service users. Personally I like the idea. The bill still requires all establishments to submit a tailor made programme based upon the model being presented. They are till required to conduct risk assessments and training to meet their service users needs, but it provides a solid framework from where things can begin. It also puts a minimum control measure in place from the start.
It is not such an unusual concept in the UK either. The All Wales Passport scheme had a similar purpose albeit at a lower level. Perhaps it can also form part of the discussion for the Northern Group of the NBE during this months meeting at Nissan. Use the form to the left to let me know what you think.
