AFFORDABLE PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE HELPS CAREGIVERS COMPLY WITH ERGONOMIC RULES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT: TOM CASACKY
DECEMBER 12, 2000   (626) 798-4274

AFFORDABLE PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE HELPS CAREGIVERS COMPLY WITH ERGONOMIC RULES

Santa Clarita, California — Healthcare organizations that seek affordable - devices to reduce employee musculoskeletal injuries can incorporate PSHealths Safe Liftr into their ergonomic programs. The Safe Liftr is an affordable, portable device to help patients transfer between sitting and standing positions. The device, which can be used in any healthcare setting, helps both patients and caregivers avoid injuries that frequently occur because of the strain usually associated with assisted movement.
Recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations require employers to assess the risks of musculoskeletal injury associated with each position, implement ergonomics programs to remedy problems that lead to injuries, and provide treatment and paid time off for workers recovering from injuries. The regulation covers 6.1 million worksites and 102 million workers. As noted by Modern Healthcare, "According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing and personal-care facilities experienced 14.2 cases of work-related injury and illness per 100 employees in 1998 — making the industry more dangerous than coal mining, lumber or steel. At hospitals, the injury and illness rate was 9.2 per 100 employees in 1998; and home health services had a rate of 8.2 per 100."
The Safe Liftr was created to help reduce these statistics, and to help organizations comply with the new mandates. The Safe Liftr, which consists of a waist belt and lifting bar, weighs less than three pounds and can be easily carried by a caregiver. The device minimizes risks of sprains, strains and musculoskeletal injuries, and is particularly well-suited to nursing and personal care facilities. It was designed by a physical therapist and a risk manager, individuals who understand the practical needs of reducing injuries while providing quality patient care. A typical user response, from the director of nursing at Riverside Health Center, stated, "In my opinion, this lift aid not only helps in transfers but gives support to both aides and residents. It also provides a sense of independence and self-reliance to the elders. I believe this device would work well for home care and therapy care, too."
PSHealth, LLC, is the exclusive marketing and sales organization for a number of state-of-the-art medical devices. Additional information about the Safe Liftr can be found at www.pshealth.com.
Editor: Photos available.