Ruth Lee tests patient handling training manikin in the US
Healthcare workers are at increased risk of occupational injuries
A desire to help and care for others is the reason why many people pursue careers in social and health care. It is important to treat patients with dignity. It is equally important to maintain your own health and well-being when performing your care tasks.
Healthcare workers are statistically at higher risk of work-related injuries than some other professions. In the UK, it is estimated that around 80,000 nurses injure their backs at work, resulting in costs of over £400 million in caring for and sometimes replacing these workers.
According to the United States Department of Labor (https://www.osha.gov/hospitals), in 2019, U.S. hospitals recorded 221,400 work-related injuries and illnesses, a rate of 5.5 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees. This is nearly double the rate for private industry as a whole.
Not only that, but sprains and strains represent 54% of hospital worker injuries that result in days away from work – indicating that daily tasks such as patient mobilization pose significant risk to healthcare workers and highlighting the importance of safe patient handling training.
Potential for the use of training manikins in healthcare facilities
While patient handling manikins are becoming common in the UK, Ruth Lee has recently been working with specialists in the US to test the potential of using manikins in US healthcare facilities. Lynda Enos, an ergonomist and patient handling consultant in Oregon, has been using a 50kg patient handling manikin for several months and has been looking at ways to integrate the manikin into training in a sim room.
Many hospitals appoint a Patient Handling Manager who oversees the training of staff and facilitates how this training is delivered. Lynda says, “Using the manikin allows me to do 1-on-1 training with new trainers and/or patient handling managers. Trainers can really get to use slings and lifts in so many ways without fear of harming a ‘live’ person.”
They will also see how slings ‘behave’ when attached in different ways to different models of sling bars, e.g. 2, 4 pt; XY, H etc. This helps to quickly gain competence in the safe use of the equipment and understand the potential harm to a patient if the equipment is not used correctly.”
Of course, certain patient handling tasks pose higher risks and deserve additional training. Lynda agrees that using the Patient Handling Manikin was useful for more complex training, such as learning to bend a patient using an overhead lift or other patient handling technology (no fear of harming a live person), transferring a bilateral above-the-knee amputee (thanks to the design of the manikin, which has removable limbs for amputee training scenarios), and fall recovery using a variety of lifting equipment.
Lynda Enos says:
“The dummy has also allowed me to try out new SPHM technology and slings without having to use additional staff assistance, which is challenging given current staffing requirements – I can take all the time I need to evaluate how a new device will work and how users can ‘abuse’ the device without fear of harming a live ‘test’ person. After this type of evaluation, I can then ask staff to try out a device. This therefore reduces the number of staff and the amount of time required for initial SPHM device trials.”
“Realism is very important to facilitate the learning process – especially when training staff from units and departments with a wide range of patient populations. I have found the manikins particularly useful for teaching patient mobilisation skills, such as passive lifting and moving tasks performed with floor and overhead lifts and a variety of sling types; Friction Reduction Devices; and Air Support Mats, etc. I would definitely recommend the use of Patient Handling Manikins to other SPHM professionals.”
Source: www.RuthLee.co.uk
