How do lifts differ from transfers?

How do lifts differ from transfers?

• A. A lift hoists the patient when they cannot be moved safely by hand; a transfer moves a patient between surfaces with support.
• B. A transfer moves a patient between surfaces with support; a lift hoists the patient when they cannot be moved safely by hand.
• C. A transfer is always manual; a lift never involves any helpers.
• D. A lift is used only for moving equipment, not patients.

Answer: (B)

Movement methods distinguish lifts from transfers by how the patient is moved. A transfer involves moving a patient between surfaces with some support from staff or assistive devices, such as slide sheets, transfer boards, or a gait belt. A lift uses mechanical equipment to hoist the patient when moving by hand isn’t safe, providing the needed mechanical advantage and reducing risk to both patient and caregiver. In practice, transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair with help and assistive devices is a transfer. Moving a patient with a mechanical lift, like a hoyer or ceiling lift, from bed to chair is a lift. The other statements misstate these roles: lifts are not limited to moving equipment, transfers can be manual or assisted (not always requiring a lift), and transfers are not defined as always being manual.

Movement methods distinguish lifts from transfers by how the patient is moved. A transfer involves moving a patient between surfaces with some support from staff or assistive devices, such as slide sheets, transfer boards, or a gait belt. A lift uses mechanical equipment to hoist the patient when moving by hand isn’t safe, providing the needed mechanical advantage and reducing risk to both patient and caregiver.

In practice, transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair with help and assistive devices is a transfer. Moving a patient with a mechanical lift, like a hoyer or ceiling lift, from bed to chair is a lift. The other statements misstate these roles: lifts are not limited to moving equipment, transfers can be manual or assisted (not always requiring a lift), and transfers are not defined as always being manual.