Chapter 3. Safer Patient Handling, Positioning, Transfers and Ambulation
3.6 Types of Patient Transfers
Transfers involve moving a patient from one flat surface to another, such as from a bed to a stretcher (Perry et al., 2018). Types of hospital transfers include bed to stretcher, bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to chair, and wheelchair to toilet, and vice versa. Table 3.5 outlines types of transfers and patient factors that help to determine appropriateness of each.
Table 3.5 Types of Transfers |
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Type of Transfer |
Appropriateness |
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| One-person standing pivot | The patient:
Note: A gait belt may or may not be used. |
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| Two-person standing pivot |
Note: Two-person transfer with a gait belt, a stander, or a two-person transfer with a slide board and a gait belt may be used. |
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| One-person assist with transfer board |
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| Two-person assist with transfer board |
Note: If transferring out of a wheelchair, the chair must have removable arms. |
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| Sit-to-stand |
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| Mechanical / ceiling track |
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| Data sources: WorkSafeBC, 2006; WRHA, 2008 |