Safe patient handling
SFM educating healthcare facilities on new rules

The SFM loss prevention team is helping healthcare organizations understand and meet the requirements of Minnesota’s new safe patient handling laws.

Effective July 1, licensed healthcare facilities are required to have safe patient handling policies established, to be achieved by 2011. Under a law passed by the 2008 Legislature, a facility’s policy must minimize manual lifting through the use of safe patient handling equipment.

“We’ve found there are still some healthcare organizations out there that don’t know about the legislation,” said Joe Morin, SFM loss prevention team leader. “Sending them key information, including our ‘Getting started guide,’ will help them do just that--get started.”

This month, SFM mailed healthcare organizations an explanation of the new law’s requirements. SFM also plans to send them an email with links to resources in SFM’s “Resource catalog,” and will notify their agents in advance.

SFM loss prevention representatives also plan to conduct in-person visits.

“This effort is two-fold. First, we’re raising awareness of the value of taking a deeper look at handling patients in safer ways. And second, we want to equip policyholders with information that will help them make good decisions about complying with the legislation,” Morin said.

For more information, contact an SFM loss prevention representative at (800) 937-1181
or (952) 838-4200.