April 30, 2013

New equipment that will improve patient safety and protect nurses' backs will soon be installed at Good Samaritan, thanks to efforts by TriHealth's Risk Management Services.

• Six ceiling-mounted patient lifts will be installed in two units in the Internal Care Unit (ICU) where there are now only a total of three lifts. These are being funded by a CHI safety grant of $42,234, which was awarded recently due to the efforts of Mike Gabennesch, corporate safety officer.
• Another six ceiling-mounted lifts will be installed as part of the renovation in 7B. Two other lifts have already been approved through the renovation project, which means every room on 7B will have a lift.

Additionally, other TriHealth sites will receive or have received SARA Stedy standing aids, easing patient handling and movement tasks with the goal of reducing patient falls.

Mary Irvin, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, said such equipment is vital to the safety of patients while they are being moved and to nurses who are caring for them. "Nurses are very appreciative for these additions and have expressed a commitment to use them.