Safe Transfers

Safe Transfers

By Cristina Garrison

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Case Scenario

A 58-year-old male is transferred to the rehabilitation center after falling from the stairs. He suffered a compound fracture of the right tibia and underwent an open reduction and internal fixation to repair the fracture. The orthopedic surgeon asked the patient not to bear weight on his right leg and use a wheelchair instead of walking during the first two weeks. What is the first step in safely transferring the patient from a wheelchair back to his bed after he finishes the morning therapy?

Safe Transfers| PTAP 110

Multiple Choice

A 58-year-old male is transferred to the rehabilitation center after falling from the stairs. He suffered a compound fracture of the right tibia and underwent an open reduction and internal fixation to repair the fracture. The orthopedic surgeon asked the patient not to bear weight on his right leg and use a wheelchair instead of walking during the first two weeks. What is the first step in safely transferring the patient from a wheelchair back to his bed after he finishes the morning therapy?

• Raise the footplates

• Lock the brakes

• Rotate the leg rests outward

• Position the wheelchair

Recap

• The safest sequence of actions when transferring from a wheelchair is positioning the chair, locking the brakes, raising the footplates, and rotating the leg rests outward.

• Only after the correct sequence is performed can the patients scoot to the front of the wheelchair.

• Always communicate with the person being transferred so that assistance is being given at the appropriate time, allowing for coordination of efforts between the assistant and the patient.

• Assistance can be given to block the person's knees to provide additional support.

Safe Transfers | PTAP 100