Therapists are hoisted above the complexities of manual handling with Unicare
Workshop: Using Manual Handling Equipment to reduce transfer complexities
– Tips, Techniques & Clinical Practices
Technology Park Function Centre, Bentley
Friday, 28 April 2023
- How can we unicare for everyone involved in the manual handling storm?
- How do we make necessary risks unnecessary?
- What factors must we consider before prescribing manual handling equipment?
- How do we help our clients navigate the transition from ability to disability to become more accepting of assistive technology?
Manual handling is one of the most physically and mentally taxing aspects of caring for someone with a disability.
Understanding how to use manual handling equipment more intelligently can help bridge the gap, resulting in safer and more effective patient transfers.
The Unicare Health team was delighted to welcome a passionate group of occupational therapists and physiotherapists to this workshop.
We appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate a variety of manual handling equipment and discuss how the clinical benefits of equipment should be considered in the prescription process.
The session was led by Annette Terranova, a respected occupational therapist and clinical educator at Unicare Health.
Annette has over 35 years of industry experience and a wealth of knowledge that she keeps up to date by attending National and International Conferences, such as this year’s Safe Patient Handling Conference in Arizona.
Annette’s comprehensive experience in prescribing products to facilitate safe and effective manual handling, along with her passion for the topic, made for a stimulating and involved Friday morning.
Annette began by emphasising the importance of adopting an all-encompassing view of a situation before prescribing equipment.
She covered a list of intrinsic and extrinsic factors of a person and the environment that must be considered to ensure a safe and efficient transfer.
She introduced attendees to Aideen Gallagher’s “The Manual Handling Revolution” for its concise and helpful 10 Principles that serve as the foundation for focused and innovative manual handling techniques.
Annette emphasised the importance of visually inspecting a sling before each use and taught attendees what to look for during inspections.
She discussed therapeutic standards for sling labelling and why a sling without a label is dangerous and should not be used.
Everyone who attended enjoyed being able to get up close and personal with the range of Unicare’s manual handling equipment following a delicious morning tea.
Annette discussed the clinical benefits of a range of lifting hoists, appropriate scenarios for their use, and their suitability for specific needs.
Attendees were given the opportunity to have a go with the Ansa Sonata and Alto lifting hoists to fully comprehend Annette’s presented concepts.
The visual demonstrations got conversation buzzing.
Therapists were taught intelligent techniques to execute more effective patient lifts between a variety of equipment such as regency chairs, nursing care beds, wheelchairs and more.
They were also taught tips and techniques for reducing manual handling effort and performing safer transfers.
Standing hoists like the Ansa Salsa, bariatric lifting hoists like the Ansa Forte, and standing aids like the Quickmove and Romedic ReTurn were also discussed and demonstrated at this workshop.
Thank you
Unicare Health wishes to thank everyone who attended our Manual Handling Equipment Workshop.
This workshop provided an excellent opportunity for occupational therapists and physiotherapists to gather and learn the latest on Unicare Health’s manual handling equipment range in a valuable and engaging manner.
We unicare about offering a space for therapists to ask the questions that make manual handling seem intimidating, as well as to refresh their knowledge to make more effective equipment prescriptions.
Unicare Health is grateful to every new and returning therapist who joins us in our mission to improve healthcare through the effective use and application of manual handling equipment.
