New California Law Protects Nurses From Injuries Caused by Patient Handling

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law legislation that is designed to protect nurses from suffering workplace injuries caused by moving patients, according to a Santa Cruz Sentinel report.

Advertisement

The Safe Patient Handling law requires hospitals to implement a patient handling policy that requires installation of lifting devices. The law also requires staff training so nurses are proficient in using those devices, rather than manually lifting patients.

According to the report, approximately 12 percent of California nurses leave the nursing field each year due to back injuries. A study by Kaiser Permanente also revealed nurses’ injuries can be costly, amounting to $53 million for worker’s compensation claims and other costs in 1999.

Related Articles on Hospital Management:

5 Solutions to Tough Questions for Hospital Executives
5 Reasons Interim Leaders Make Sense for Healthcare Institutions
7 Ways Hospitals Can Trim Their Labor and Operational Costs

At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Advertisement

Next Up in Leadership & Management

Advertisement

Comments are closed.