Justification for a minimal lift program in critical care.
This chapter reviews literature pertaining to patient-handling tasks spanning the areas of epidemiology, biomechanics, perceived stresses, education and training programs, and introduction of mechanical patient lifting devices. All findings agree that patient handling is inherently dangerous and has been attributed to the majority of injuries incurred by nursing personnel; however, most studies have been performed in hospitals or long term care settings, but have not been specific to the area of critical care. The critical care environment poses unique challenges for nursing personnel and therefore, to ergonomists.
Garg
Arun
A
Center for Ergonomics Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 784, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. arun@uwm.edu
Milholland
Suzanna
S
Deckow-Schaefer
Gwen
G
Kapellusch
Jay M
JM
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015984:Causality; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration