New Jersey Passes Safe Patient Handling Practices Act
Posted by
Dan FrithJanuary 09, 2008 6:31 AMI cannot tell you how many times we have been involved in medical malpractice cases against hospitals and nursing homes where a patient has been seriously injured as a result of being dropped. Typically, the patient is being transferred from bed to wheel chair or wheel chair to shower chair and, as a result of improper technique and training, is dropped to the floor suffering fractured hips, legs, and arms. Well, it looks like the state of New Jersey is doing something about it as a result of a newly enacted law!
The "Safe Patient Handling Practices Act" requires licensed health care facilities to establish comprehensive patient handling safety procedures to minimize risks when moving patients or restricting their movements. The new law requires all health care facilities to implement a program that will include:
* An assessment of the assistive devices necessary to carry out the safe patient handling policy;
* Recommendations for a three-year capital plan to purchase patient handling equipment and aids;
* A plan for ensuring availability of and prompt access to mechanical patient handling equipment and aids on all units for all shifts;
* Training for health care workers;
* Protocols and procedures for assessing and updating appropriate patient handling requirements; and
* Informational materials to educate patients and their families.
The law requires a training program for health care workers, as well as educational materials for patients and their families to help familiarize them with safe patient handling policies and practices at the facility. A facility's policy also will be posted in a location easily visible for staff, patients, and visitors. The posted policy will be mandated to include a statement concerning the right of a patient to refuse the use of assisted patient handling.
Kudos to New Jersey!
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Nursing Home Abuse and Elder Neglect.