Anyone familiar with the healthcare industry knows that managed care, mergers, restructuring and cost-containment are the buzzwords of the last decade. Healthcare has evolved into a money-making venture, often resulting in cutthroat competition between healthcare providers for lucrative managed care contracts.

Who is watching out for patients? The only organization that has the authority in most states to oversee hospital quality is the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCHAO).

This booklet, written by the California Occupational Health & Safety Administration (CAL-OSHA), provides genereal guidance for employers and employeers on how to prevent back injury as a result of patient handling. (6/20/06)