Air-Assisted Technology: A Quality Endeavor to Reduce Employee Injury and Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries.

Abstract

Continuous quality improvement using Lean methodology engages and values the expertise of the staff close to the patient and the everyday work of caring for them. The patients are not safe if the staff is not safe. Finding the appropriate methodology, where the problem is deeply investigated, respect is visible in the process, and evidence-based decision-making takes place to find safe patient handling solutions for moving lifting and transferring patients was a key objective in this Lean process improvement effort. This article describes the journey taken, the collaboration of 2-unit based councils, and the successful implementation of an air-assisted moving, lifting, and transferring system at a large level 1 quaternary tertiary intercity hospital.