International Round Table Discussion: A Vendor Perspective on the Impact of COVID-19 on the SPHM Industry

It has not gone unnoticed that while healthcare professionals have been working diligently to protect the safety of their patients and themselves through the COVID-19 pandemic, several initiatives, including the move to safer patient handling and mobility, have taken a backstage role in a culture of competing and urgent agendas. While training and education on SPHM have been put on hold in many facilities due to the logistical challenges of social distancing and an “all hands to the deck” approach to managing the pandemic, one of the hardest hit groups has been the SPHM vendors. These vendors play a crucial role in ensuring this valuable staff and patient safety program is maintained. This roundtable discussion involves 3 vendors who have been involved in SPHM for many years. They discuss how they and the industry have been impacted by COVID-19, and where they see the “new normal” for future support and technology development.

Febrarro A, McAuley J, Vanderheiden P

Keywords: safe patient handling and mobility, COVID-19, vendors