WHY TOTAL INJURY PREVENTION SOLUTIONS (TIPS)?
A proven, integrated process to help you make informed ceiling lift decisions and maximize lift usage
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) in health care
In nursing, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is high. Research shows the majority of MSI’s involve the back and shoulders, and are caused by overexertion from manual patient handling tasks, which occur in most cases during transfer or repositioning of clients.
Not surprisingly, these injuries are not restricted to hospital or institutional care. As the number of people opting for home care increases, so too does the problem of MSIs for family members and caregivers in the home.
The financial consequences
The outcome of these injuries is placing additional stress on already stretched health care budgets. Dollars that could be directed to increasing staff levels, updating diagnostic equipment or building new facilities are weighed against spending on rising worker’s compensation and health care premiums, as well as higher disability, overtime and sick day costs.
Too often these costs are considered the price of doing business. Or worse, the task of implementing ceiling lifts appears so large as to be insurmountable. This attitude frequently leads to piecemeal solutions that don’t result in any significant reduction in injuries or costs. Studies indicate that proper body mechanics, for instance, will only have a minimal impact on reducing staff injuries. And though assistive devices such as slider sheets, floor lifts, or transfer boards do reduce the forces associated with manual patient handling, none eliminate the injury risks the way a ceiling lift can.
The role of ceiling lift systems
Like all equipment, ceiling lifts and other assistive devices can only demonstrate value when used appropriately. To do that, they must be closely matched with the needs of staff and patients. Studies show that decisions around the selection, installation and support of a system have a dramatic impact on the subsequent success of that system.
The major factors that impact the success of a ceiling lift system include:
- The design of the ceiling track
- The number and type of slings available
- The knowledge and training of caregivers on how to use the lift and slings
- The storage location of the lift and slings
- Laundering processes for slings
TIPS: focusing on better decision-making
Total Injury Prevention Solutions was developed to help our clients make informed choices about ceiling lift systems and related assistive devices. It is a step-by-step decision-making framework that is based on a decade of client experience and clinical and scholarly research. The TIPS process includes:
Discovery Phase
- Staff interviews and surveys
- Inventory of existing ceiling lift systems including slings
- Unit specific injury statistics
- Patient demographics
- Patient flow
- Evaluation of patient handling activities
- Dependency levels of patients
- Storage
- Laundering process
- Room structural analysis
Analysis & Recommendation Phase
- Report detailing findings from discovery phase
- Equipment rationalization
- Recommendations on a room-by-room basis
- Cost of systems
- Cost savings options
- Room drawings
- Training options
- Sling recommendations
- Suggestions for maintaining high utilization rates
Planning Phase
- Interaction with architects, contractors and project management offices to set specifications
- Building of an integrated installation plan
- Structural engineering approvals
Installation Phase
- Turnkey installation
- On-site trouble shooting
- Interaction with maintenance and facilities staff
Validation Phase
- Set up of demonstration room to validate equipment and collect feedback from staff
- Quality assurance review of equipment to ensure functional requirements and ISO standards
Training Phase
- Staff training hours (based on the number of systems purchased)
- Additional training available
Support and Service Phase
- Print and online documentation resources for more help
- On-call phone support
- Ongoing follow up, advice and recommendations to handle equipment troubleshooting, upgrades, patient issues and unique circumstances
TIPS is a proven approach to ensuring your ceiling lifts are a success over the long term. Read what some of our clients have to say about the results.
Questions? Talk to an Angel advisor now.
