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September 22, 2025
for clinicians
Different patient transfer methods prioritize different facets of patient transfer, which can prove it difficult to find the perfect solution. Here’s what to look for in safe patient handling solutions to ensure you’re protecting staff and patient safety.
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The patient handling product market has plenty of options, ranging from air mattresses, patient-moving machines, and mechanical lifts to transfer belts, slide sheets, and ergonomic chairs. While each are designed to reduce strain on caregivers and improve safety for patients, not all safe patient handling solutions are truly created equally. Different methods prioritize different facets of patient transfer, which can prove it difficult to find the perfect solution. Here’s what to look for in safe patient handling solutions to ensure you’re protecting staff and patient safety.
When choosing safe patient handling solutions, selecting an intuitive product helps minimize errors and misuse, reducing the risk of injury for both patients and staff. Alongside ease of use, proper staff training and ongoing education makes an impactful difference and encourages ongoing use.
Patient handling solutions vary widely in terms of the ergonomic support that they offer. Higher levels of ergonomic support decrease the likelihood of staff injury during a transfer. Look for the ability to accommodate different patient sizes or mobility levels, adjustable positioning to reduce strain on nurses, and ease of use. The best case scenario is always a safe patient handling solution that requires no lift or force, such as the SimPull, which effectively minimizes risk of injury.
In a healthcare setting, versatility is highly valuable. A single product that serves multiple purposes not only conserves space but also delivers significant cost savings. Search for a product that can be used across different rooms and care settings, has a compact design, and can be used for multiple types of transfers.
For healthcare facilities, protecting patient dignity and safety is essential, and your safe patient handling solutions should reflect that same priority. Think padded supports, straps, or belts for secure handling, smooth and controlled movements to minimize patient stress, and safety features like brakes, locks, or anti-slip surfaces.
It's important to ensure that your safe patient handling solution is not only effective but compliant. Depending on your industry, OSHA, CDC, or industry-specific guidelines can play a role in the equipment you select. Certified equipment ensures quality, reduces liability, and promotes your healthcare facility’s credibility.
Patient transfer solutions can often generate waste, whether it be one-time use mattresses, disposable slings, or other single-use equipment, contributing to environmental impact and ongoing supply costs. The healthcare industry’s large footprint is reason enough to encourage prioritizing lower- or zero-waste safe patient handling solutions. Using environmentally friendly patient handling products can have a significant impact, especially given that transfers occur daily, even hundreds of times depending on facility size.
The right safe patient handling solutions for your healthcare facility will depend heavily on budgeting, facility size, and application, among other factors. The most important thing is selecting a solution that will serve both patients and staff members, and promote their health and safety.
Curious about The Patient Company’s patient transfer solution? Learn more about the SimPull, a patient transfer device requiring zero lift or force, only two staff members per transfer, and only 4 minutes per transfer.
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