Obesity epidemic's hidden cost: Hospital staff injuries
Major Finding: Creating a dedicated team to assist with obese patients led to a 39% reduction in staff injuries related to patient handling, as well as a 43% decrease in new pressure ulcers, at one large tertiary medical center.
Data Source: A nonrandomized, retrospective study.
Disclosures: The presenter reported having no conflicts of interest.
AT THE ASA ANNUAL MEETING
The next step in this project will be to document whether the presence of the lift teams also has resulted in fewer patient injuries, he added.
Discussant Dr. Philip R. Schauer commented that if the favorable Vidant experience with dedicated lift teams can be confirmed elsewhere, this is the type of program that should be widely instituted all across the country.
"It’s quite extraordinary to improve patient care and employee health while at the same time reducing overall cost," noted Dr. Schauer, professor of surgery and director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.
Discussant Dr. William B. Inabnet III said many malpractice insurance carriers are now offering hospitals incentives for reduced premiums for implementation of best-practices clinical pathways for management of obese patients.
"I think your work will support that type of mission. It’s a win-win for all parties involved," said Dr. Inabnet, professor of surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.
Dr. Pories reported having no conflicts of interest.
