Why Ceiling Lifts?
SHMC has had several types of mechanical floor lifts available on the nursing unit or stored in a corridor off the unit. However, the problem with using these lifts was that often as many as three different devices were needed to perform various lifts, and they all needed to be easily accessible (within 50 feet) to the team. This meant more devices and more storage space. Furthermore, the time and number of steps involved in locating the equipment and moving the patient using floor lifts are considerable. In such a situation, it was next to impossible to force 100% compliance using lifts for patient-handling tasks. In comparison, mechanical ceiling lifts require fewer steps to accomplish the task, minimal physical effort to maneuver, and less space to operate and store, and they are available at hand when needed.8 Also, ceiling lifts are capable of lifting heavier loads. These are some of the known benefits of a “Safe Patient Handling Program” (including use of ceiling lifts):9 • Reduc
