Sarah Wright, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Hilary Till, OTR/L
Student & Early Career Development | Audience Level: Introductory
Musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling remain a leading cause of lost work time among occupational therapy practitioners. This session introduces an evidence-informed Therapist Readiness Flowchart—a rapid, pre-transfer checklist designed to help practitioners assess their own physical and cognitive readiness before engaging in high-risk mobility tasks. Drawing on national Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) standards, occupational health research, and validated pain measurement, the checklist provides a structured decision-making pathway to enhance safety, reduce injury risk, and support sustainable practice. Participants will learn how to apply the flowchart, integrate it into daily routines, and adapt it for various settings. By embedding therapist self-readiness checks into practice, occupational therapy practitioners can better protect their own health while delivering safe, effective client care.