Development of a New Tool to Combine the Promotion of Patient Mobility With Safe Patient Handling Equipment: The Johns Hopkins Safe Patient Handling Mobility (JH-SPHM) Guide

Abstract

Background: Promoting safe patient mobility for providers and patients is a safety priority in the hospital setting. Safe patient handling equipment aids safe mobility but can also deter active movement by the patient if used inappropriately. Nurses need guidance to choose equipment that ensures their safety and that of the patients while promoting active mobility and preventing workplace-related injury. Methods: Using a modified Delphi approach with a diverse group of experts, we created the Johns Hopkins Safe Patient Handling Mobility (JH-SPHM) Guide. This diverse group of 10 experts consisted of nurses, nurse leaders, physical and occupational therapists, safe patient handling committee representatives, and a fall prevention committee leader. The application of the tool was then tested in the hospital environment by two physical therapists. Findings: Consensus was reached for safe patient handling (SPH) equipment recommendations at each level of the Johns Hopkins Mobility Goal Calculator (JH-Mobility Goal Calculator). Expert SPH equipment recommendations were then added to JH-Mobility Goal Calculator levels to create the JH-Safe Patient Handling Mobility Guide. JH-Safe Patient Handling Mobility Guide equipment suggestions were compared with equipment recommendations from physical therapists revealing strong agreement ( n = 125, 88%). Conclusion: The newly created JH-Safe Patient Handling Mobility Guide provides appropriate safe patient-handling equipment recommendations to help accomplish patients’ daily mobility goals. Applications to Practice: The Johns Hopkins Safe Patient Handling Mobility Guide simultaneously facilitates patient mobility and optimizes safety for nursing staff through recommendations for safe patient-handling equipment for use with hospitalized patients.