Lifting and handling patients at Jackson Health System is about to get safer for employees and patients, thanks to a new contract recently signed with safe-lift contractor ArjoHuntleigh.
It’s a big step forward for the labor management partnership JHS and Local 1991 created to implement safe patient handling throughout the system. This project’s goals are to improve patient and employee satisfaction, decrease injuries, and improve the hospital’s bottom line.
The four-year contract calls for reducing patient handling injuries to employees by 60% a year. A multi-disciplinary committee at Jackson includes a nurse educator, several staff nurses, a physical therapist, a clinical expert from Arjo Huntleigh and several members of hospital management.
The project will now begin to map out the process by which equipment will be purchased, installed, maintained and used by front-line employees on all three campuses. It will take time, but we look forward to making Jackson a safer workplace and leading the charge for healthcare workers and patients!