Advances in Safe Patient Handling That Protect Healthcare Workers and Patients

Safe patient handling (SPH) is a critical concern in healthcare, directly impacting patient outcomes and healthcare workers’ well-being. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers suffer more musculoskeletal injuries than those in construction, manufacturing, or mining. For patients with mobility impairments, anxiety or fear of being dropped can reduce caregiver trust.

“Safe patient handling goes beyond just improving clinical outcomes,” said Lisa Strader, Senior Medical Manager at Safety National. “Proper lifting techniques can help restore and maintain a patient’s dignity when they feel isolated and helpless.”

Here, we explore the innovative devices designed to improve safe patient handling techniques.

Powered Lifts and Transfer Devices

Ceiling Lifts – Caregivers can experience immense strain when supporting heavier patients. These permanently installed systems can reduce the load, ensuring stable, controlled movements. Using motorized tracks, these lifts transfer patients between beds, wheelchairs, and restrooms with minimal manual effort.

Mobile Lifts – This type of lift is a portable floor-based system designed for lifting and transferring non-ambulatory patients. It is versatile, used in various settings, and can be cost-effective for smaller healthcare facilities.

Sit-to-Stand Aids – Patients with limited mobility who may have some weight-bearing capacity can benefit from rehabilitation and independence. This device can encourage a patient’s autonomy, assisting them when transitioning from seated to standing.

Smart Beds and Automated Positioning Systems

Pressure-Relief Beds – Immobility can lead to pressure ulcers, poor blood circulation, and pain. For patients with limited mobility, these beds can help reduce those risks by automatically adjusting pressure distribution. Some models even allow for customized pressure adjustments based on a patient’s needs.

Built-in Transfer Aids – Designed to assist with safe and efficient patient transfers, these smart beds integrate slide mechanisms that gently reposition patients, reducing the need for manual turning. Like pressure-relief beds, they can reduce pressure ulcers and caregiver strain. Some models allow for a semi-independent transfer, which enables patients with limited mobility to reposition themselves with minimal assistance.

Wearable Exoskeletons – Some hospitals are launching pilot programs using exoskeletons to aid in patient transfers and repetitive motions. Designed to reduce worker fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries, while increasing efficiency in patient care, these lightweight, powered suits provide spinal and joint support to reduce physical strain while lifting.

Safe Patient Handling Training

While this technology can help minimize risks to patients and healthcare staff, it is ineffective without proper training. This training may include ergonomic lifting principles, team coordination, and patient communication. Complex patient transfers typically require a team-based approach, and some facilities are moving toward the adoption of no-lift or minimal-lift policies that emphasize the use of mechanical aids instead of manual lifting. Regardless of how a healthcare facility plans its training, facility staff should feel confident using the equipment, and refresher courses should be offered regularly.