Management Support
An important aspect of any safe patient handling program is top hospital administration support. Employees appreciate knowing managers care about their well-being. They are more likely to follow safe patient handling policies if management stands behind them.
In hospitals who have successfully reduced patient handling injuries, it is common to find administrators who support and promote a culture of safety. Administrators must weigh the benefits of investing in safe patient handling programs against the costs. Hospital administrators must fully understand how these investments impact their bottom line.
Managers should support more than the workers who directly care for patients. Departments such as laundry, maintenance, and engineering are vital to supporting safe patient handling as well. This includes maintaining equipment and supplying clean slings to troubleshooting facility design issues.
Studies show the initial capital investment in programs and equipment can be recovered in two to five years, particularly when equipment purchases are coupled with training and policies to produce a lasting impact.
Although there can be considerable equipment, training, and infrastructure costs associated with implementing safe patient handling, hospitals with successful programs have found the long-term benefits far outweigh economic costs.
- reduced injuries
- decreases in lost time and workers' compensation claims
- increased productivity
- higher quality of work life and worker satisfaction
- increased staff retention
- better patient care and satisfaction
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-6. Studies indicate that initial investment in safe patient handling programs can be recovered in _____.
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