Moving Our Patients Safely
At UWHC, we want to make your stay as safe and comfortable as possible.
It is important to your care and well-being for you to move in your bed and around your room with care. We also want our staff to be safe and free from injuries.
Our guidelines
- We encourage you to move and be as independent as you can be.
- We do not want our staff to move you or help you move yourself without the proper equipment and techniques.
- We may help you with the use of specially designed equipment, such as an electric powered lift, if you cannot safely move by yourself.
- We may need to use equipment to move patients who are medicated or cannot follow directions and who require the help of a caregiver to move.
Most patients are more comfortable when we use equipment to help them move rather than when staff moves them manually. Equipment may be used at different times throughout the day, such as during transfers from a bed to another surface (cart, chair, and commode) or when turning from side to side or boosting up in bed. Your caregivers may use the equipment during treatments such as dressing changes or when wrapping an arm or leg.
We devised our techniques for moving patients with your safety and comfort in mind. We also considered the health and safety of our caregiver staff.
Please ask your caregiver any questions about moving safely.
Equipment Examples
Ceiling lift used for transferring, turning, boosting, and treatments.
Hovermatt Air Assist® - inflatable device used for lateral transfers.
EZ Stand® - Sit to stand device
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 12/03/2012
Copyright © 12/03/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6973
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