Nurses, former patients and unions push for safe patient handling laws to reduce staff injuries and improve mobility care
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Summary
Witnesses described workplace injuries and argued H2396/S1535 — which would require health facilities to adopt safe patient handling and mobility programs — would protect staff and patients, reduce worker compensation costs and enable earlier mobilization for patients.
Nurses and patient safety advocates testified in favor of House Bill 2396/Senate Bill 1535, which would require health care facilities to implement comprehensive safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs to reduce staff injuries and improve patient outcomes.
Beth Picnick described a 30‑year career altered by a spinal injury she said occurred moving a patient; she told the committee she has ongoing physical restrictions and significant personal costs related to treatment and rehabilitation. Dan Rek, a care worker at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, said equipment such as sit‑to‑stand devices and ceiling lifts are available in many hospitals but not consistently deployed, and that early mobilization improves patient length‑of‑stay and recovery.
Proponents said SPHM programs reduce staff injuries, decrease patient complications from immobility, and save facilities money over time. They urged the committee to report the bill favorably and recommended establishing implementation committees and action plans to deploy equipment and training across facilities.
No formal committee action was recorded at the hearing. Proponents asked the committee to consider adoption of a state standard and funding/support for smaller facilities to acquire equipment.
Ending: Advocates described long-term consequences of staff injuries and urged the state to require standardized SPHM programs; committee staff will evaluate statutory language and potential implementation supports.
