June 22, 2009
Nurses Push Legislature For Patient Lifting Law
By Matthew L. Brown
The Massachusetts Nurses Association's push for a safe patient handling law will get a public hearing before the state legislature's joint committee on public health.
The bill, which is sponsored by state Sen. Harriett Chandler, D-Worcester, and state Rep. Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, would require hospitals to develop a system to help nurses and other staff with patient handling.
The Canton-based nurses association said nurses in hospitals and nursing homes suffer muscular and skeletal injuries, particularly back injuries, as a result of lifting and moving patients.
Similar legislation has been passed in New York, Ohio, Texas and California. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the State House.
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