The Danger of Punishment and Reward in the Safe Patient Handling Debate: Impact on Sustainability

Discussing safe patient handling (SPH) often raises questions pertaining to the worker’s failure to comply with elements of the program. To that extent, the balance between a promised reward and the threat of penalty is often debated. This paper presents the historial roots of the carrot and stick approach to business and other applications. Further, recognizing the danger of the debate in SPH is discussed. Seemingly unrelated topics such as general healthcare safety in the United States, the challenge of change, barriers to sustaining momentum, and occupational incivility are presented because collectively they threaten SPH success. These topics are often managed with reward or punishment. This paper argues that if processes designed for success are in place, workers seldom need to be given incentives or punishments to engage in safe practices such as SPH. Practical ideas for sustaining positive change are presented. Systemic and social barriers to a safe healthcare environment are explored.

Gallagher SM

Keywords: strategy for change, safe patient handling, program sustainability