- All patient care providers shall be required to comply with the established policy in accordance with the Maryland Safe Patient Handling Act of 2007.
- The implementation of a Safe Patient Handling Policy integrates management support and associate involvement in injury/work site analysis, medical management of injuries, training and education, and on-going evaluation of assistive devices that may reduce or eliminate the hazards of lifting, repositioning and transferring of patients.
- Maryland's "Safe Patient Lifting" law, requires hospitals to establish a safe patient lifting committee with an equal number of managers and employees.
- RN’s manually lift 1.8 tons, or 3,600 pounds, per shift.
- 35-80% of nurses report back injuries during their career.
- It is estimated that twelve percent of nurses consider a career change within a year to prevent back injuries.
- According to the California Nurses Association, it costs $40,000 to $60,000 to train and orient a new nurse.
