The SPHM Standards 2nd Edition

The Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Interprofessional National Standards Across the Care Continuum, “the Standards,” were published in 2013 to fulfill a need for national guidelines to reduce the risks of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of healthcare workers because workers were being needlessly injured on the job at increasingly high rates. It was known among SPHM practitioners by this time that standardized safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs with policies and other recognized interventions in place could drastically reduce healthcare worker injuries and protect patient safety. Several attempts were made to implement the core principles of the Standards through national legislation without success. Significant strides have been made in SPHM research, education, training, and advocacy since the 1st edition of the Standards. Examples include SPHM and falls prevention committees collaborating, facilities being retrofitted with ceiling lifts, new construction designs incorporating SPHM technology into patient care areas, and various disciplines working together for safety across the continuum of care. But patient handling and mobility-related injury rates have not been reduced significantly. This means that our work is not done.

Francis R, Wawzyniecki P

Keywords: ANA, SPHM Standards