help limit patient handling injuries opportunity to attend the conference and excited about having a voice in plans for the future. “We got a lot of good information to take back, about forming the committee and about new equipment,” she said. “I am really hopeful that we will have fewer staff injuries.” — Therese Assalian Ali Rajpattie, a certified nursing assistant at St. Albans State Veterans Home in Queens, uses a remote control to power a lifting device during the Safe Patient Handling Conference. CSEA member honored for advancing safe patient handling practices Southern Region activist Rose Kukys, a registered nurse and clinical instructor at Orange County’s Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation, was honored by the New York State Zero Lift Task Force during the conference with the Safe Patient Handling Award of Excellence for her efforts in advancing the county nursing home’s safe patient handling program. “(Safe patient handling) is a cause I believe in, and it’s good when the staff goes home and they’re not in pain anymore,” said Kukys, who was surprised to receive the award. “What the workers lift in eight hours is the equivalent to a car when they don’t have the assisted lifting equipment. Our safe patient handling efforts are Kukys truly a team effort. Our staff had a lot of input into the equipment we purchased.” Constance Crossfield and Patrice Palmer, CSEA members employed at St. Albans State Veterans Home in Queens, prepare to try lifting devices during the Safe Patient Handling Conference. Important dates Jan. 1, 2016: All employers affected by the law, including public hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities that care for patients or individuals in need of assistance, must have in place a facility-based safe patient handling committee that must include direct care workers, health care workers, management and when applicable, at least one resident. Jan. 1, 2017: Each facility-based committee must complete its own safe patient handling plan. To learn more about safe patient handling, visit the New York State Zero Lift Task Force website at www.zeroliftforny.org. CSEA plays an active role in the task force. December 2015 The Work Force 11
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