Safe Patient Handling and Its Role in Physical and Occupational Therapy with Susan Diffenderfer

90% of all Physical and Occupational Therapists will suffer an occupational injury in their career.One in every six will change jobs or careers as a result of a work-related musculoskeletal injury. There are tools available such as lift, slides, and slings, but they are not always used.

On today’s episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Susan Diffenderfer, Physical Therapist and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC and I explore Safe Patient Handling tools, ergonomics, and how a change in a point of view can help prevent Physical and Occupational Therapist injuries.

Links and Resources:

• Cause, Prevalence, and Response to Occupational Musculoskeletal Injuries Reported by Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants | Physical Therapy | Oxford Academic (oup.com) - Holden
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists - PubMed (nih.gov) – Bork, B.E.
• Work-Related Activities Associated with Injury in Occupational and Physical Therapists - PMC (nih.gov) – Darragh, Amy
• Effect of a safe patient handling program on rehabilitation outcomes - PubMed (nih.gov) – Campo, Marc
• SPH Techniques Video 5: Strategies for rehab nursing and rehab therapists - YouTube – NYSLabor safe patient handling techniques video series  www.dol.ny.gov
• Safe Patient Handling and Movement | APTA – American Physical Therapy Association
• policy-e14-20211115.pdf (aota.org) – American Occupational Therapy Association Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Policy
• Safe Patient Handling Toolkit | ARN (rehabnurse.org) – Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: prevalence, severity, risks, and responses - PubMed (nih.gov) – Cromie, JE
• Healthcare - Safe Patient Handling | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
• Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) | NIOSH | CDC
• ASPHP | Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals
• Implementation of a Safe Patient Handling Program in a Multihospital Health System From Inception to Sustainability: Successes Over 8 Years and Ongoing Challenges (sagepub.com) – Olinski, Christine
• Safe-patient-handling equipment in therapy practice: implications for rehabilitation - PubMed (nih.gov) – Darragh, Amy
• OSHA3708.pdf – Safe Patient Handling Fact Brochure
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up - PubMed (nih.gov) – Campo, Marc

The MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast hosted by Peter Koch will interview industry leaders on the trends, tools, and techniques that are tried, tested, or emerging in the world of workplace safety. What you learn could save your life or the life of a friend or coworker, or at least save everyone from a few unnecessary cuts, burns and bruises. Thank you for joining us in our mission to make work, and the world, a safer place.

You can find the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or right here on MEMIC.com/podcast.

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