Lift recommendations for patients following flap repair

I have a general question - On the floor I work we have several patients that have had flap repairs to coccyx/buttocks (patients with paraplegia) that are on a specific schedule of assiting to chair 3-4 times a day. I am getting push back from mgmt on the use of the lifts to transfer these pts. (I have actually been told not to use a lift.) What have you done to move these patients w/o hurting your self or the patient? If the traditional sling cannot be used due to the location of wounds, do you have any recommendations for alternative types of slings - material, cut, construction etc.?

thanks,
JoanKay
How do these people transfer at home? This is where you take your que. The other thing is are they quads, paras, complete, in-complete etc... how independent are they. As you see it's very difficult to assign a specific type of transfer to all of the patients in the unit who have had flap surgery.The best way is to have them transfer the way they transfer at home. Using a hoyer to lift them when they don't use it at home doesn't make sense. The quads maybe use a hoyer at home but a para shouldn't be using it to transfer at home. The goal is independence with everything. Also, it's physically impossible to transfer someone in a sling without putting pressure on the coccyx. A perfect opportunity to shear the sierra out of a person's behind.Until the patients are strong enough to help you with the transfer or be able to transfer by themselves they need to be a 2 man assist if not more depending. Most paras transfer without assist at home.Check out what type of cushion they are using while in the chair. How often are they re-positioning themselves while in the chair. What is the B&B situation and do they have the proper materials for it (keeping dry, barrier cream, etc...). There are others but you get the drift.Nobody wants to have flap surgery and once they have had it the goal is to not have to do it again.

I like the idea of asking the patient - because that puts them at the front of the care decisions. Most of the patients that I work with need 100% assistance to transfer from bed to wheelchair.My concern is the expectation that I am - even with the assistance of 1-2 people - expected to fully lift pts ranging in weight from 150 to 350. I am hoping to learn about safe ways to use a lift or another means of transfer that does not involve me having to lift a patient. I do not have a back problem - and I want to keep it that way.

Then you are working with quads? Paras shouldn't need that much assistance even after major surgery.Also why aren't they having PT/OT?

I would ask the surgeon and physical therapist recommendations. It's probably not a good idea to lift these patients with a hoyer lift as you'll probably cause a dehis by putting so much pressure on the suture lines. I've had many patients on strict bedrest for up to 2 months and not able to lift the HOB >30�.

Quote from tyvinThen you are working with quads? Paras shouldn't need that much assistance even after major surgery.Also why aren't they having PT/OT?

I generally work on the weekends - PT/OT are as precious as rubies and will only come for trauma cases. I was hoping to have a great new idea for transferring patients that would not involve me hurting myself. I guess I'll go back to finding someone else to lift for me.

Ask the surgeon, they can be very particular. Some even give orders on transfers, when it's OK, what to use.

We use a standing lift.

Quote from ktwlpnWe use a standing lift.

Quote from ktwlpnWe use a standing lift.