Inova Loudoun Hospital First in Virginia to Implement Comprehensive Patient Lift Program

Allows for Safer Patient Transport; Prevents Injuries to Workers

Leesburg, VA – (March 26, 2008) – Inova Loudoun Hospital is the first hospital in the Commonwealth of Virginia to commit to a comprehensive patient lift program, involving the installation of lifts above 75 percent of its beds. The Workforce Initiatives for Safe Handling (WISH) Minimal Lift Program includes ergonomic, motorized ceiling lift machines, as well as other assist devices that nurses and staff can use to ease the sliding, transfer and repositioning of patients.

The WISH Minimal Lift Program incorporates hydraulic machines by Diligent Services that lift patients from beds and chairs, from a variety of positions. It also includes lifting tools to easily shift and move patients, and a HoverMatt that uses air technology similar to an air-hockey machine.

Inova invested about $850,000 to implement this new program. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing personnel are among the highest at risk for musculoskeletal disorders. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists nurses sixth in a list of at-risk occupations for strains and sprains.

“Safety has always been a top priority, not only for our patients but for our staff as well,” said Lisa Dugan, RN, MSN, chief nursing officer, Inova Loudoun Hospital. “This new program benefits everybody — it reduces strain and back injuries among hospital staff while lowering the risk of injuries to patients.”

In addition to employee injury prevention, the benefits of a safe patient handling program can include:

• an improvement in the quality of care delivered to patients
• retention of skilled employees whose injuries could persuade them to leave or force them out of the health care field
• a reduction of worker’s compensation costs

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.