Decision Making for Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Technology in an Early Mobility Program: A Case Report

Early mobility (EM) and safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs can improve patient outcomes and patient and caregiver safety, respectively. Further understanding how therapists choose safe patient handling interventions for early mobility is needed. This descriptive case study outlines the decision-making factors used by therapists for integrating SPHM with early mobilization treatments for a female patient who had suffered a stroke and was treated at a facility with a mature SPHM program and a growing early mobility program. The patient was mobilized to a higher level of function than the therapy team felt they could achieve without use of the SPHM technology, which increased safety and enabled increased patient activity and progressive upright mobility with fewer staff involved.

LaVigne A, Arnold M

Keywords: safe patient handling and mobility, early mobility, rehabilitation, acute care, progressive mobility