Facing the challenge of patient transfers: using ceiling lifts in healthcare facilities.

OBJECTIVE The objective was to review the literature on the use of ceiling lifts to perform patient transfers in healthcare settings. BACKGROUND Manual patient transfers present a high risk of injury. Ceiling lifts are increasingly used in healthcare facilities. Despite this, little is known about the effects of this new technology. METHODS Research and review articles were searched on five databases using specific key words and phrases. Literature citations in the articles and gray literature (e.g., technical reports, conference proceedings, magazine articles, Web sites) were also evaluated when relevant for this review. Experts in this area were contacted regarding information on the topic, potential literature, and for their suggestions. RESULTS Few studies evaluated the use of ceiling lifts in healthcare. The studies available and the experiences of the experts contacted support the use of ceiling lifts. The musculoskeletal safety of healthcare workers and patients can be improved by the use of ceiling lifts. Having lifts available, organizing the workflow, and reducing the steps required during transfers and handling tasks can significantly lessen the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. CONCLUSIONS Evidence supports the installation of ceiling lifts in patient rooms and recommends their use in bathrooms. However, additional studies are needed because the use of ceiling lifts in healthcare is relatively new.