Will your clinic be in compliance with the safe patient handling law by July 1, 2010?

Clinical settings have been added to the Minnesota Safe Patient Handling law. Even though previously dentists may not have considered manual assisting of patients to be a safety hazard, studies have clearly shown the risk for injury to staff and patients. By being the first state to address patient handling in clinics, Minnesota is acknowledging that patient movement can occur in all clinical settings and is demonstrating its desire to ensure staff safety at those previously overlooked facilities. SPH and the SPH law requirements may seem a bit foreign and confusing at first, but hopefully, by reading this article dentists and their staffs have gained the understanding and knowledge they will need to make sure each individual clinic meets the compliance deadline.