First Hospital in the Nation to Receive Prestigious Distinction
Rome Health has been formally validated by the Academy of Safe Patient Handling Excellence (ASPHE) for meeting and exceeding nationally recognized best practices in Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM). Following a comprehensive review process and on-site evaluation, ASPHE determined that Rome Health’s program ranks in the top one percent of SPHM programs nationwide.
“Congratulations to the entire Safe Patient Handling team,” said Rome Health Chief Quality Officer Scott Burns. “This was not an easy feat. The ASPHE validation process is intentionally rigorous, requiring extensive documentation, proof of sustained outcomes, and demonstration that policies are fully operationalized in day-to-day practice.”
“To not only meet but exceed national benchmarks — and to become the first hospital in the country to receive this accolade — speaks volumes about the discipline, consistency, and culture of safety our team has built. I am incredibly proud of the interdisciplinary collaboration that made this possible and of the tangible impact this program has had in reducing employee injuries and protecting our patients,” said Director Risk and Compliance Kristin M. West, MA, CHC, CSQA, WCCF.
Therapy Supervisor Corrina Flint, OTR/L, and Physical Therapist Alexandra Cooke co-chair Rome Health’s Safe Patient Handling Committee.
“Our success is the direct result of a true team-based approach,” Flint said. “We have dedicated educators and trainers embedded in every department who reinforce safe patient handling practices every day. All team members receive competency-based training during orientation and are recertified annually. That level of organizational consistency is essential to achieving and sustaining this kind of performance. We are also fortunate to have strong administrative support — when equipment is needed to ensure staff safety and patient dignity, leadership prioritizes those investments.”
Rome Health has maintained a formal Safe Patient Handling program since 2011, underscoring a long-standing commitment to protecting both patients and team members. The recent validation affirms that this commitment has translated into best-in-class performance and measurable safety outcomes.
ASPHE’s rigorous validation process required extensive documentation prior to a site visit to demonstrate that policies and procedures are actively embedded in daily clinical operations. Validators reported being especially impressed by the depth and sophistication of the program for a community hospital, noting measurable reductions in employee injuries and strong operational integration across departments.
In its final report, ASPHE concluded that the Safe Patient Handling Program at Rome Health demonstrates exceptional leadership and execution, establishing a national benchmark for Safe Patient Handling Programs. For a community hospital to achieve this distinction reflects not only rigorous standards, but a deeply embedded culture of safety — one that prioritizes patient dignity, workforce well-being, and clinical excellence.
The core pillars of excellence included:
Governance and Facility Programming
• Organizational Structure: Under the direction of designated SPH Coordinators, the program demonstrates a high level of accountability and transparency.
• Data-Driven Oversight: The team provides detailed reporting on injury trends, patient handling events, and utilization metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Regulatory Excellence: The committee’s composition and framework fully comply with the New York State Safe Patient Handling Act, while ASPHE validators determined that the program surpasses national benchmarking standards for program oversight and strategic planning.
• Executive Support: Exceptional financial backing and time allocation from the Executive Sponsor ensure successful program management.
Operational Implementation
• Equipment Management: Acquisition and placement of SPH equipment are well-managed and meet or exceed national standards.
• Policy Framework: Current SPH policies meet national best practice standards, providing clear operational guidance while supporting staff safety and patient dignity.
• Education & Training: Validators were impressed by the agility of the competency-based training curriculum and its integration into staff orientation.
Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
• Accident Reporting: A structured reporting system enables prompt after-action reviews, allowing findings to be translated into immediate corrective interventions.
• EMR Integration: The program utilizes a continuous Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for real-time visibility into patient mobility status and care planning.
• Systematic Review: The SPH Committee conducts regular reviews of performance and injury data to ensure rapid response to emerging issues.