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Publication Type: Safer Practice Notice
Single or Multiple Incident: Multiple
Date: 8/10/2015 12:00:00 AM
Country: Canada
Organization: Alberta Health Services
This safety notice discusses the patient injuries while being repositioned or transferred with assistance. Contributing factors include impairments in cognition, motor control and sensation. The notice provides several recommendations to prevent related incidents.

Additional Details

Device:
transfer devices

Rules / Policies / Procedures
  1. Staff, in all care settings, assesses each client prior to, and after, each transfer / repositioning to identify risks or changes in client status. Changes in client status, or the presentation of a new risk, will be reported to the most appropriate health care provider for further evaluation and action, as indicated.
  2. Staff should avoid pulling on clients’ upper extremities during assisted transfers or repositioning activities, and ensure that upper extremities are safely and correctly positioned when using transfer devices.
Training
  1. All inpatients and long term care residents will undergo a functional assessment to determine the appropriate technique and equipment required for that client’s transfers and repositioning.
  2. Staff, from all areas of care, be familiar with the diagnoses, functional impairments, and functional status of the clients they work with.

Prevention of upper extremity injuries to clients during assisted transfers and repositioning