Reduction in Injury Rates in Nursing Personnel Through Introduction of Mechanical Lifts in the Workplace
2003
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 44
Pages 451–457
Author(s): Evanoff, B., Wolf, L., Aton, E., Canos, J., Collins, J.
Many studies have reported a high rate of back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers. Back pain has been identified as a major factor in causing nurses to leave the profession. Patient care requires many lifting and transfer tasks that pose a demonstrated risk of injury to workers. Mechanical assistive devices such as patient hoists offer an engineering solution to reducing potentially harmful physical exposure to nurses.
Added May 2014
Life Safety Code Comparison
2013
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Journal Article
Author(s): Crowley, M. A., Harper, J. E.
Added May 2014
Effectiveness of overhead lifting devices in reducing the risk of injury to care staff in extended care facilities
2005
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 48
Pages 187-199
Author(s): Engst, C., Chhokar, R. , Miller, A., Tate, R. B., Yassi, A.
Healthcare facilities often install mechanical lifts to help staff avoid injuries from patient handling. However, some mechanical lifts require more time and space and are not always as comfortable, safe, and secure as manual patient handling. Few studies have used a prospective controlled design to evaluate the effectiveness of ceiling lifts in reducing risk of musculoskeletal injury to care staff; increasing staff satisfaction; and assessing preferred methods of lifting, transferring, and repositioning residents.
Added April 2014
The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing Errors and Increasing Efficiency in Acute Care Settings: A Review and Analysis of the Literature
2009
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 41
Pages 755-786
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
In acute care settings, the physical environment plays an important role in staff efficiency and patient safety. Some research suggests that poor environments can result in staff stress, anxiety, and distractions due to noise; artificial lighting; improper or inadequate ventilation; and disorienting layouts of nursing units. There is less research on how environmental factors affect nursing staff health, effectiveness, errors, and job satisfaction.
Added April 2014
Environmental evaluation for workplace violence in healthcare and social services
2008
Journal of Safety Research
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 39
Pages 237-50
Author(s): McPhaul, K.M. , Murrett, K., Flannery, K. , Rosen, J., Lipscomb, J., London, M.
The purpose of this project was to contribute specific, evidence–based guidance to the healthcare and social services employer communities regarding the use of environmental design to prevent violence.
Added April 2014
Using a Task Analysis to Describe Nursing Work in Acute Care Patient Environments
2009
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 39
Pages 537-547
Author(s): Battisto, D., Pak, R., Vander Wood, M. A., Pilcher, J. J.
A growing body of research demonstrates linkages between workplace design and processes in healthcare facilities with staff and patient safety, operational efficiency, staff satisfaction, and medical errors. There has been less emphasis on the role of the built environment in helping or hindering care delivery. Research is needed on the contextualized activities performed by nurses and how nurses spend their time to measure the effects of interventions aimed at redesigning care to improve safety or efficiency or to understand the implications of policy changes for nursing practice.
Added April 2014
Falls and Patient Mobility in Critical Care: Keeping Patients and Staff Safe
Issue 3
Volume 20
Pages 267-276
Author(s): Flanders, S. A., Harrington, L., Fowler, R. J.
A main priority in hospitals in the U.S. is ensuring both patient and staff safety throughout a patient’s stay. Falls are a major concern in hospitals, particularly in critical care units (ICUs), where nurses care for increasingly older populations that are prone to falls and injuries from falls. Another issue that arises in intensive care units is the decision of when it is safe to mobilize patients, a relevant consideration in relation to incidence of falls and durations of hospital stay.
Added March 2014
Medical Gas Cylinder and Bulk Tank Storage
2012
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): McLaughlin, S., Dagenais, D.
There are particular requirements for storing medical gas cylinders as well as requirements for bulk tank storage in healthcare settings; these regulatory requirements exist specifically for cylinders that are not in use. In use refers to cylinders being used by a patient, or attached to equipment and ready for immediate use, or located in patient rooms about to be used. Requirements vary depending on the total amount of cubic feet of gas needing to be stored, with the most stringent regulations for more than 3,000 cubic feet of gas, less stringent requirements for 300-3,000 cubic feet of gas, and the least stringent requirements for less than 300 cubic feet of gas. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of accident and injury.
Added March 2014
Converting Medical/Surgical Units for Safe Use by Psychiatric Patients: The Physical and Fiscal Risks
2011
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): Hunt, J. M., Sine, D. M.
When repurposing medical/surgical units as behavioral health units, there are a significant number of elements within the physical environment that must be modified to support the specialized needs of the patients and reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others. While intention for self-harm cannot be reliably assessed, suicide is a major concern on psychiatric units, and therefore there is a need to design the unit as if all patients may be at risk for self-harm.
Added March 2014
Effects of two hospital bed design features on physical demands and usability during brake engagement and patient transportation: A repeated measures experimental study
2009
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 46
Pages 317-325
Author(s): Kim, S., Barker, L. M., Jia, B., Agnew, M. J., Nussbaum, M. A.
Healthcare work is physically demanding and often results in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Most research in this area has focused on patient-handling techniques during activities that require direct patient contact, such as patient transfer. But healthcare providers perform other patient-handling tasks as well, such as engaging bed brakes and transporting patients in beds. These activities could also contribute to WMSDs.
Added January 2014
Impact of Medication Storage Cabinets on Efficient Delivery of Medication and Employee Frustration
2010
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 25
Pages 352-357
Author(s): Hull, T., Czirr, L. , Wilson, M.
Safe medication administration is essential to ensuring positive patient outcomes and is a priority in healthcare institutions. Recent innovations in technology and automation are designed to eliminate errors as well as move activities closer to the patient’s bedside to improve nursing workflow. It has been postulated that moving medications and supplies closer to the point of care reduces nurses’ traveling time and makes it easier to administer medication.
Added January 2014
Achieving EBD Goals Through Flooring Selection & Design
Author(s): Nanda, Upali, Malone, Eileen, Joseph, Anjali
Added April 2013
Lumbar spine forces during manoeuvring of ceiling-based and floor-based patient transfer devices
2009
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 52
Pages 384-397
Author(s): Marras, W.S., Knapik, G.G., Ferguson, S.
Patient handling is an important concern in healthcare facilities linked to patient falls, as well as staff injury. It continues to represent a high risk for low back pain among caregivers. Research shows that manual transfer of patients can impose unacceptable loads on the spine (even when the task is shared by two caregivers). Due to this, patient lift devices have gained popularity and are frequently used. However the merits and demerits between the different systems continues to be explored.
Added October 2012
Reducing incidence of low-back injuries reduces cost
2001
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 62
Pages 508-511
Author(s): Brophy, M.O., Achimore, L.
To reduce musculoskeletal injuries in employees and to lower the financial costs associated with them, a 525-bed county nursing home in upstate New York initiated a five-step ergonomics program and purchased mechanical lifting devices. The five steps in the program were (1) creation of a resident transfer evaluation team, (2) establishment of an accident review committee, (3) mandatory ergonomics...
Added October 2012
Daylight exposure and the other predictors of burnout among nurses in a University Hospital
2005
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 549-555
Author(s): Alimoglua, M. K., Donmez, L.
The purpose of the study was to investigate if daylight exposure in work setting could be placed among the predictors of job burnout. The sample was composed of 141 nurses who work in Akdeniz University Hospital in Antalya, Turkey. All participants were asked to complete a personal data collection form, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Work Related Strain Inventory and the Work Satisfaction...
Added October 2012
Designing for Patient Safety: Developing Methods to Integrate Patient Safety Concerns in the Design Process
Author(s): Joseph, A., Taylor, E. M. , Quan, X., Jelen, M.
Added October 2012
Impact of light on outcomes in healthcare settings
Author(s): Joseph,A.
Added October 2012
Role of the Physical and Social Environment in Promoting Health, Safety, and Effectiveness in the Healthcare Workplace
2006
The Center for Health Design
Report
Author(s): Joseph, A.
Added October 2012
Health Promotion by Design in Long-Term Care Settings
Author(s): Joseph, A.
Added October 2012
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Elements of ergonomics programs
2008
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Web Page
Author(s): CDC
Added October 2012
