body mechanics, bed mobility, and transfers

Transfer

Safe movement of a person from one surface or location to another or from one position to another

Before transfer know patient’s abilities

• review charts and interview patient

• Physiological condition (how reliable are basic body functions)

• Mobility (joint restrictions)

• Strength and endurance

• Balance

• Understanding

• Motivation

Dependent assistance

Patient requires total physical assistance of one or more persons to complete activity; patient assists <25%, mechanical lift (FIM score 1)

Maximum assistance

You are providing maximum effort to assist the patient to stand and ambulate; patient performs 25% of activity (FIM score 2)

Moderate assistance

You are supporting the patient with both upper extremities while actively imitate swing through and heal strike; patient performs 50% of activity (FIM score 3)

Minimum assistance

Patient requires guarding/ minimum assistance during the activity for safety; patient assists 75% (FIM score 4)

Supervision

Patient performs activity without assistance, but requires supervision for safety (FIM score 5)

Modified independent

Patient is independent; still using an assistive device and/or bed rail/trapeze for transfer (FIM score 6)

Independent

Patient is completely independent and safe (FIM score 7)

Quadriplegia (spastic or flaccid)

All four extremities and trunk involvement

Fracture of both lower extremities or paraplegia (spastic or flaccid)

Both lower extremities with or without trunk involvement

Hemiplegia (spastic or flaccid); fracture of upper and lower extremity on the same side

Upper and lower extremities involvement on the same side

Fracture; amputation

One lower extremity involved

Arthritic patient; multiple sclerosis

Joint involvement (any combination of extremities and trunk with pain, weakness, and/or limitation of motion)

Documentation of transfer

Include type of surface, level of assistance and type of transfer