Nurses and nurse aides who have direct interaction with patients, performing manual lifting and transferring activities, are at a particularly high risk of injury and back pain. There are significant reductions in the incidence of injury when staff uses mechanical lift equipment vs. manual lifting techniques. In comparison with floor mechanical lift equipment, ceiling-mounted lifts are superior due to their ease of use, storage, and patient safety.
This longitudinal study compares the injury and cost outcomes associated with using mechanical floor lifts versus. ceiling lifts.
Ceiling lifts were installed in 26 of the 33 rooms in an ICU and in all 24 rooms of a neurology unit at PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart Medical Center. The number of injuries and associated claims costs were evaluated over a five-year period.
This study demonstrates the benefits of using ceiling lifts in patient rooms for patient-handling tasks through a significant reduction in the number and severity of injuries as well as associated claim costs. There is a constant need for a “no manual lift” policy and education/reinforcement among staff regarding the importance and benefits of using ceiling lifts.
The small sample size of the study inherently limits the generalizability of outcomes.