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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE
Closeout ALLIANCE REPORT
January 8, 2009

  1. Alliance Background

    Date signed

    January 8, 2007

    Alliance Overview

    OSHA, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Center for Ergonomics worked together to achieve training and education, guidance and sharing of information for health and safety professionals regarding ergonomics hazards and issues, to provide expertise in communicating this information to employers and employees in industry, and provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information to employers and employees in industry, work with employers to identify and resolve ergonomic issues through the delivery of ergonomic services.

    Implementation Team Members

    Implementation Team Members included: Representatives from the Center for Ergonomics at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Occupational Therapy Department faculty and students from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, a representative from the UWM Continuing Education Program, representatives from Wisconsin OSHA Area Offices and Chicago Regional OSHA Office

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    February 2008: Meeting to plan next conference, speakers and topics

    February 2008: Meeting to verify conference topics and speakers

    March 2008: meeting to discuss final format of the May 2008 conference brochure to be sent throughout the upper Midwest region.

    March 2008: brochure sent out to 33,000 recipients (nursing, occupational therapists and assistants, physical therapists and assistants).

    April 2008: program planning with speakers, Kathleen Rockefeller, ScD, PT, MPH, Andrew Rich, MS, OTR/L, Amy Rowntree Darragh, PhD, OTR and Kitty Burbie-Reid, BSN and Dana Root, MS, PT, CPE

    April 2008: finalize program with speakers, Kathleen Rockefeller, ScD, PT, MPH, Andrew Rich, MS, OTR/L, Amy Rowntree Darragh, PhD, OTR and Kitty Burbie-Reid, BSN and Dana Root, MS, PT, CPE

    June 25: Closure meeting for progress of alliance and discuss renewal and topics, Phyllis King, PhD, George Yoksas, Area Director, Dana Root, Regional Ergonomic Coordinator.

     
  3. Activity and Products

    Evaluation Period

    This report covers January 8, 2008 through January 8, 2009.

    Alliance Activity

    February 2008: Ceiling Lift equipment for training in safe patient handling and movement curriculum to occupational and physical therapy students is installed at UWM.

    March 2008: Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR, faculty member from the Occupational Therapy Department, presented several sessions at the 9th Annual Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. These sessions included:
     
    1. Therapists Are Not Immune to Patient Handling Injuries, by Amy Darragh, Marc Campo
    2. Therapists Working While Injured, by Amy Darragh, Marc Campo
    3. New Curriculum for Safe Patient Handling in OT, poster session by Amy Darragh, Lenore Frost
    4. "Hands On" Use of Patient Handling Equipment for Therapists special interest group meeting by Amy Darragh, Stephanie Radawiec, Kathleen Rockefeller, Ken Harwood, Kevan Whipple, Patricia Mechan
    November 2008: Darcie Olson, doctoral candidate through the Center for Ergonomics (Arun Garg and Phyllis King) to assist in development of the safe patient handling and movement curriculum development for Madison Area Technical College. This will reach nursing, therapy, radiology, and laboratory departments.

    Alliance Products

    May 30, 2008: Second Conference on Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program, Waukesha, Wisconsin, 100 attendees

    Research conducted by Professors Darragh, King and UWM Physical Therapy Professor Wendy Huddleston resulted in a journal articles entitled:
     
    1. "Work-Related Injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders Experienced by Occupational and Physical Therapists," in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May/June 2008.
    2.  "Therapy Practice within a Minimal Lift Environment: Perceptions of Therapy Staff" by Professor Darragh and healthcare colleagues in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, July 2008.
       
  4. Results
     
    1. Discuss the impact of the Alliance activities and products during the reporting period.
      This state-wide alliance has provided direct training opportunities through two conferences, one of which was a national conference where Professor Amy Darragh presented her preliminary research on the incidence and prevalence of work related injuries in physical and occupational therapists in Wisconsin. The conference provided hands on practical understanding use of equipment and the process of the safe patient handling for therapists and rehabilitation nursing. This conference enabled a large audience to actively participate in use of equipment and training.

      Working with the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee as part of the University Consortium enables further sharing of the academic educational opportunities. Through the leadership of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Center for Ergonomics and the Occupational Therapy Department in this consortium, curriculum development and acquisition of safe patient handling equipment reaches students learning that education, training and practical application is the key to injury prevention. This also provides opportunity for students to experience new medical culture perspectives.
       
    2. Using the table below, list each activity and the number of individuals reached or trained during the reporting period.
       
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      Student curriculum in SPHM for occupational and physical therapy students, ergonomics students 75 students per semester, ongoing
      Lift assist equipment obtained in laboratory university class room setting 75 students per semester
      9th Annual Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida presentation by Professor Amy Darragh 2000 attendees at the conference, 150 per session
      Conference: Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program, Waukesha, Wisconsin 100 attendees
      Madison Area Technical College safe patient handling curriculum to various healthcare professions 100 students per semester
      "Work-Related Injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders Experienced by Occupational and Physical Therapists," by Amy Darragh and Phyllis King in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May/June 2008 Journal distribution: 1000+
      "Therapy Practice within a Minimal Lift Environment: Perceptions of Therapy Staff" by Professor Darragh and healthcare colleagues in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, July 2008. Journal distribution: 1000+
      TOTAL 4000

       
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    None – alliance is closed.


    Report Prepared by: Dana Root, Regional Ergonomic Coordinator

    For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to OSHA.