From the Perspective of The Joint Commission: How Does SPHM Fit into the Patient Safety Agenda?

The goal of safety in health care is to reduce the risk of harm. This applies to patients, families, visitors, clinicians, and staff. Despite this shared goal, patient safety and worker safety have evolved separately but along parallel tracks. This has contributed to the duplication of safety programs—one focusing on the safety of patients, the other focusing on the safety of healthcare organization staff. Even though these programs are addressing many of the same safety issues, they are usually administered separately, and solutions are not shared. Since the goal of safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) is the prevention of harm to patients and staff, it represents an opportunity for synergy between these disparate programs.

Castro G