Tips for Ceiling Lifts

1. C Tips for Ceiling Lifts A guide for safe, effective use of mechanical lifts A guide for safe, effective use of mechanical lifts Please refer to Sunnybrook Employees Resources, Occupational Health – Ceiling portable life guide Cannot stand to transfer

2. Patient in Bed C Cannot stand to transfer • Check Medical activity order. • If AAT patient should be considered for hoyer to chair 1x/day • once a patient is hoyered to a chair it should be part of daily mobility plans for level C patients unless contra-indicated • remember to assess patient daily using the standard to optimize mobility (i.e. can the patient achieve level B?) • “Hoyer to Chair” should be documented in the chart, in the Kardex and on the white boards in patient rooms

3. An Interprofessional ApproachUsing a Ceiling Lift Safely and Effectively • Working in teams: Using a hoyer lift to move a patient from bed to chair, chair to bed is not a therapeutic treatment. It is a practical/safe way to transfer a patient out of and into bed as part of a daily care plan (mobility level C) • General Recommendations: • Prepare for the task (organize environment) • Keep in mind good body mechanics • Two people should be used to operate the lift and guide the patient • “Hoyer to Chair” should be documented in the chart, in the Kardex and on the white boards to optimize interprofessional communication

4. Sling Applications Patient in bed: • Adjust bed height to ensure good body mechanics and lower bed rail on your side • Use a backwards weight shift to roll patient towards you • Tuck half of the sling underneath, then roll patient towards the other side • Unroll the sling behind them until it is flat on the bed and position leg pieces Patient in a chair: • Lean patient forward (if safe), then centre the sling behind the patient with the commode opening at coccyx level • Tuck sling around side of thighs and use the leg pieces to shimmy the sling down “Remember to communicate with the patient and get them to assist as much as possible”

5. Transferring a Patient from Bed to Chair • Ensure the path is clear and that your body moves as the patient’s body is moving to ensure good body mechanics • Use the controls for vertical movement – do not lift the patient in the harness • Move the patient in a slow and controlled manner by pushing or pulling with the least force required • Do not lift the patient’s legs • Recline the chair, or tip it back slightly while resting the back of it on your thigh • Guide the patient’s buttocks to settle at the very back of the chair • Slowly lower the chair back down • For rolling or boosting a patient in bed, please refer to the Guidelines for Using Ceiling Lifts and Portable Lifts Safely and Effectively

6. Tips to Facilitate Hoyer Use Communication between patients as well as co-workers is important to: • Reduce patient anxiety • Increase patient participation that is appropriate • Ensure coordinated efforts and comprehension of the task between co-workers Be aware of the risks associated with certain medical or surgical conditions and adapt sling, positioning, and/or transfer methods appropriately Take the time to position the sling properly underneath the patient and to get adequate help