High-risk manual handling of patients continues as the standard practice among many direct patient care providers, contributing to caregiver injuries, and negatively impacting patient outcomes. Falls, functional decline, and pressure ulcers share two predisposing factors; older age, and low mobility. Better outcomes are achieved with progressive early mobility to get patients out of bed.

By implementing a comprehensive safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) program healthcare organizations stand to increase safety for patients, improve quality of patient care. Patient safety and employee safety are linked and should not be separated.