Nursing Home Abuse News

NYSNA Safe Patient Handling Bill Signed Into Law

REPORT: October/November 2005

On Oct. 19 Gov. George Pataki signed into law a measure that would create “safe patient handling” demonstration programs in healthcare facilities across the state. The legislation, which was written and supported by NYSNA, passed the State Legislature in June.

Facilities participating in the demonstration programs would agree to limit manual lifting to emergency situations, provide mechanical lifting devices, and create the policies and procedures to support their use. Participating facilities will receive grants from the State Department of Health to purchase lifting equipment and establish their programs.

The two-year demonstration program will generate data about the benefits of safe lifting policies. The results will build upon existing data to help NYSNA and policymakers develop strategies for ensuring safe patient handling throughout the state.

“This is a significant victory for healthcare workers, facilities, and patients,” said Janet Haebler, director of NYSNA’s Nursing Advocacy and Information (NAI) Program. “We expect that participating facilities will see a reduction in costs related to absenteeism, staff replacement, and workers’ compensation claims. Patients will feel safer when they are being transported.”

Haebler credited the achievement of this goal to the determined efforts of the NAI staff, NYSNA lobbyist Tracy Tress, and RNs across the state.

NYSNA has championed safe patient handling because registered nurses are among those at highest risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Patient handling tasks, which are often manual and repetitive, are the primary cause of MSDs. More than half of RNs report chronic pain, with 12% leaving the nursing profession because of back pain. Nearly 40% of RNs suffer occupation-related back pain severe enough to require a leave of absence.

A growing number of healthcare facilities across the U.S. have incorporated patient handling technology. They have reported that injuries among nursing staffs have dramatically declined, as have the number of lost work days, staff turnover rates, and worker compensation costs.

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	Did You Know?
	There are places to report nursing home abuse. Make your report to the nursing home’s administrator, director of nursing, or social worker. The state or local ombudsman.The local police or state law enforcement. A protection and advocacy or adult protective services agency. The state survey agency that licenses and certifies nursing homes (often in the Health Department). A citizen advocacy group, or other church or community group that visits regularly.