SERVICES

Smooth Moves Safe Patient Handling Program

The Smooth Moves Patient Handling Program at Vanderbilt Medical Center is a comprehensive program designed to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in nurses and other caregivers from patient handling and movement. The program also monitors the effects of those injuries on the bedside caregivers and the institution.
The Smooth Moves program includes:

• Policies to support eliminating or minimizing manual lifting
• Carefully chosen, user–friendly equipment
• An injury reporting system
• On-going training
• Commitment by staff and top level management

Smooth Moves’ program goals are to promote safe patient handling, support a culture of wellness, and reduce caregiver injuries.

After implementation of Smooth Moves, injuries from patient handling have became less common, and caregivers who were injured returned to full duty more quickly.

Patient Handling Policy CL 30-04.02 guides the program.

Additional information:

Patient Handling Equipment

Smooth Moves Champion Class

Smooth Moves Equipment Repair

Smooth Moves Linen Supplies

Smooth Moves Equipment Infection Control Recommendations

Keywords: ergonomics, equipment, Slippery Sheets, Safe Patient Handling, transfer, reposition, lift, back injury

Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2011 in Ergonomics, Occupational Health Clinic, Services and tagged Ergonomics, Smooth Moves