Operationalizing Mobility: The Up Sooner Safer Journey
Safe Patient Handling (SPH) and Progressive Mobility programs are more than safety initiatives. When implemented strategically, they improve caregiver safety, patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and financial performance. Sustained success requires leadership support, meaningful metrics, and organizational accountability.
This session highlights Kern Medical's "Up Sooner Safer" program, which integrated SPH and Progressive Mobility across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care settings. Participants will learn how the organization secured leadership buy-in, overcame implementation barriers, fostered interdisciplinary ownership, and built a culture where mobility became standard practice.
Using real-world data, the presentation will examine key outcomes, including employee injury rates, lost workdays, workers' compensation costs, and return on investment. Attendees will also explore strategies for long-term sustainability, including governance, ongoing education, program evaluation, and outcome measurement.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the organizational value and business case for implementing a Safe Patient Handling and Progressive Mobility program.
- Describe common barriers and constraints that can impede program implementation and long-term success.
- Recognize key performance metrics used to measure program effectiveness, safety outcomes, and return on investment.
- Discuss strategies for creating sustainable outcomes through leadership engagement, education, continuous monitoring, and program reassessment.
プレゼンター
Andrew Rich MS, OTR/L, CSPHP
Clinical Solutions Manager - Arjo
Andy Rich received his Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy at Rush University. Upon graduation in 1997, he worked in the more traditional roles as an occupational therapist. In 2004, he entered the world of safe patient handling. He served as a member of on the board of directors for the Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals. Andy uses his passion and creativity to help design safe patient handling products and programs that help both patients and caregivers remain safe while receiving or providing care. Andy speaks at numerous regional and national conferences on topics ranging from making a business case for a safe patient handling programs to how to create and sustain success in safe patient handling in the long term. For 20 years, he has worked as a consultant, clinical manager and solution manager for Arjo’s MOVE and PHD Program. Here he has led teams using behavioral based safety, right-just culture, system theory, improvisational comedy and simple strategies to infuse fun and passion into change initiatives creating results both his mother and clients are uber-proud of.
Travis Eckard, PT, DPT
Director of Therapy Services - Kern Medical
Travis C. Eckard, PT, DPT is the Manager of Therapy Services at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California, where he has served in a variety of clinical and leadership roles since 1997.A licensed physical therapist with nearly three decades of experience, Dr. Eckard oversees physical, occupational, speech therapy, and inpatient orthotic services, while leading initiatives in safe patient handling, progressive mobility, and quality improvement. He is the coordinator of Kern Medical’s Up Sooner Safer Progressive Mobility Program and an adjunct professor in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bakersfield College.Dr. Eckard is a frequent presenter at national healthcare conferences and has published on topics including mobility, patient safety, and functional recovery. He holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from A.T. Still University and is an APTA Certified Clinical Instructor.