Transferring Patients to and from the Exam Table
Sonographers may need considerable support and assistance to move patients onto or from examination tables.
Potential Hazards
- Pushing or pulling to position beds, gurneys and wheelchairs prior to transferring patients can require exertion of significant force, especially when dealing with bariatric (obese) patients, carpeted floors or poorly maintained wheels and casters.
- Assuming awkward postures such as bending, twisting or reaching when moving patients from wheelchairs, beds or gurneys to the exam table. Awkward postures, especially when combined with the exertion of force, increases the risk of injury to the back, shoulders, and lower and upper extremities.
- Using significant force when lifting bariatric patients from wheelchairs, beds or gurneys, increases the risk of injury to the back and shoulders.
Possible Solutions
Mechanical powered transfer devices can be used to move patients safely.
- Use mechanical powered transfer devices such as lifts or hoists to move patients, especially bariatric or non-ambulatory, from wheelchairs, beds, or gurneys.
- When appropriate, use multi-use devices, such as chairs, that can open up into beds. These allow patients to move from a sitting position to a prone position, without transfer.
- Additional employees should assist in moving and transferring equipment or patients if:
- a mechanical powered device is not available
- awkward postures must be used
- push force exceeds about 50 pounds
- amount of weight that the sonographer must support is in excess of 40-50 pounds
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. Additional employees should help in moving and transferring equipment or patients if _____.
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