Authors (including presenting author) :
Wong ST (1), Tsang TW (2), Ho ML (2), Chan WC (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Haven of Hope Hospital, (2) Administrative Department, Haven of Hope Hospital
Introduction :
Being struck by wheeled devices such as hospital beds, stretchers and wheelchairs is one of the most common IOD causes in hospitals.
Objectives :
To provide wheeling technique training to portering staff to avoid related IOD.
To share common IOD cases related to wheeled devices.
To gather feedbacks from portering staff on wheeling safety and difficulties.
Methodology :
3 sessions of training on manipulation of wheeled devices including hospital beds, stretchers, wheelchairs, patient meal carts and large trollies were held to 30 portering staff in early November 2022. Related IOD cases and preventive measures were shared in the sessions. Valuable feedback from participants about difficulties in handling wheeled devices were obtained.
Result & Outcome :
No strike incidents related to wheeled devices were reported since November 2022.
Difficulties facing by portering staff were reported as follows:
- Workflow related
1. Monkey pulls are sometimes not locked after patients were sent to X ray department. The monkey pull would swing outwards when the bed is being moved, causing danger to patients and staff.
2. The bed height cannot be adjusted when the beds have been moved to the ward corridor without power socket.
-Attachment and accessories of hospital bed hindering proper holding of the back handle when wheeling the beds.
-Tactile path causes extra difficulties on wheeling.
Specific training on wheeling techniques may help to prevent IOD incidents related to SSTF in portering staff.
Valuable feedbacks from the participants have been bought up to hospital OSH meeting. Follow- up actions have been done in collaboration with different departments including Nursing, X Ray, Supporting, Engineering depts. Diversion works of tactile path to the edge of corridors will be carried out and to be completed by 2023. Training is never one-way teaching, 2-way communication is key for success.
