The Safe Lifting and Moving (SLAM) Committee has announced its 2015 SLAM Honor Roll in recognition of those UM Shore Regional Health units and services, shown above, that reported no injuries during calendar year 2015.
“The SLAM Committee is really pleased with how far we have come in reducing injuries to staff and patients during lifting and moving,” says Teresa Blem, who has co-chaired the committee with Mandy Bounds and is now joined by Pam Pardun as co-chair. “Increasing staff awareness of how to move and lift patients safely and the importance of using the technology we have available has contributed to a 63 percent decrease in injuries in just two years — and we are grateful that staff in all areas responded so enthusiastically to the SLAM challenges and competitions.”
The SLAM Committee is now working on a capital needs assessment to identify equipment purchases that will help maintain low rates of injury related to lifting and moving, and on incorporating SLAM techniques into clinical practice.
Blem also unveiled the SLAM mascot, shown at right. The mascot was created by Nikki Frank, a physical therapy student who was doing clinicals at UM Shore Regional Health last fall. The mascot’s name, “Hydraulica,” was also chosen from contest entries submitted by UM Shore Regional Health team members, and the winner was Carrie Kirby, who works in the Pharmacy Department at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.
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