Patient Moving and Handling Course

Lesson 1 • Infection Control Fundamentals

Introduces hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and isolation precautions relevant to transport. Prevents cross-contamination during patient movement.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Safety Frameworks

Covers applicable safety regulations, accreditation expectations, and documentation requirements. Connects compliance to daily transport decisions.

Lesson 3 • Patient Rights and Dignity

Addresses privacy, informed consent for movement, and respectful communication. Ensures every transport interaction upholds patient-centred care.

Lesson 1 • Ergonomic Principles in Healthcare

Applies ergonomic guidelines to workstation setup, equipment positioning, and team coordination. Reduces cumulative strain across a full work shift.

Lesson 2 • Risk Factors for Handler Injury

Identifies patient, environment, and task variables that elevate injury risk. Enables proactive hazard recognition before each transport.

Lesson 3 • Biomechanics of Safe Movement

Explains centre of gravity, base of support, and force distribution during lifting. Translates biomechanical principles into practical posture rules.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Transport Patient Evaluation

Covers vital sign review, consciousness level, and mobility screening before movement. Links clinical status to transport method selection.

Lesson 2 • Identifying High-Risk Transport Patients

Profiles patients with fall risk, fragile skin, cardiac instability, or airway concerns. Guides escalation and additional resource planning.

Lesson 3 • Communicating Assessment Findings

Structures handoff communication using standardised formats to relay patient status to receiving staff. Ensures continuity of care across transport.

Lesson 1 • Handling Bariatric and Dependent Patients

Adapts manual techniques for patients with high weight or full dependency using team-lift protocols. Emphasises communication and synchronised movement.

Lesson 2 • Bed-to-Wheelchair and Reverse Transfers

Covers lateral and pivot transfers between bed and wheelchair for partial- and non-weight-bearing patients. Addresses wheelchair positioning and brake management.

Lesson 3 • Repositioning Patients in Bed

Teaches lateral turns, head-of-bed elevation, and log-roll techniques for dependent patients. Reduces pressure injury risk and prepares patients for transfer.

Lesson 1 • Slide Sheets and Friction-Reducing Devices

Demonstrates insertion, use, and removal of slide sheets for lateral repositioning and transfers. Reduces friction forces on both patient skin and handler joints.

Lesson 2 • Equipment Maintenance and Fault Reporting

Covers routine inspection schedules, battery management, and defect reporting procedures. Ensures equipment reliability and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 3 • Types of Mechanical Lift Equipment

Surveys full-body sling lifts, sit-to-stand lifts, ceiling track systems, and lateral transfer aids. Matches equipment type to patient dependency level.

Lesson 4 • Operating Mechanical Lifts Safely

Provides step-by-step lift operation, including pre-use inspection, patient preparation, and post-lift checks. Builds operator confidence through structured practice.

Lesson 1 • Stretcher Maneuvering in Tight Spaces

Develops two-person stretcher steering, pivot turns, and room entry techniques. Prepares students for real-world spatial constraints in clinical settings.

Lesson 2 • Elevator and Corridor Navigation

Addresses elevator entry and exit sequencing, corridor passing etiquette, and door management. Reduces collision risk in high-traffic hospital areas.

Lesson 3 • Navigating Slopes, Ramps, and Thresholds

Teaches forward and reverse ramp techniques, threshold crossing, and tipping prevention. Protects patients from forward falls on inclines.

Lesson 4 • Wheelchair Operation Fundamentals

Covers wheelchair components, brake systems, footrest management, and patient positioning. Establishes baseline competency before environmental navigation.

Lesson 1 • IV Lines and Infusion Pumps

Covers line securing, pump alarm management, and flow rate maintenance during transport. Prevents accidental disconnection and medication interruption.

Lesson 2 • Drains, Catheters, and Tubes

Teaches positioning and securing of urinary catheters, surgical drains, and nasogastric tubes during movement. Prevents reflux, kinking, and accidental removal.

Lesson 3 • Cardiac Monitors and Portable Equipment

Explains lead placement security, portable monitor operation, and defibrillator readiness during transport. Enables rapid response to cardiac events en route.

Lesson 1 • Responding to In-Transit Falls

Covers controlled descent techniques, post-fall assessment, and immediate notification procedures. Minimises injury when a patient begins to fall.

Lesson 2 • Post-Incident Reporting and Review

Guides completion of incident reports, root cause identification, and corrective action documentation. Converts adverse events into system-level safety improvements.

Lesson 3 • Recognising Patient Deterioration

Identifies early warning signs of respiratory, cardiac, and neurological decline during transport. Triggers timely escalation before critical deterioration occurs.

Lesson 4 • Equipment Failure During Transport

Addresses mechanical lift failures, oxygen supply interruptions, and stretcher brake malfunctions mid-transport. Provides contingency actions for each failure type.