Ms. Reale enthusiastically took over the position of Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Coordinator after the role had been empty for approximately two years. Ms. Reale immediately provided leadership of SPHM to patient care areas. She reviewed the national directive and local practice and developed a policy for SPHM that was accepted and published as required by National Directive 1611. Ms. Reale then began evaluating the program for needs and comprehensive assessment of requirements of the SPHM Directive. She conducted ergonomic evaluations of all patient care areas and identified weaknesses. Ms. Reale evaluated over $1.6 million dollars worth of SPHM equipment, identified equipment needs, and submitted requests and documentation through the facility SEPG system using the knowledge she gained. This resulted in the acquisition of new equipment that was more appropriate to each unit and the retirement of out-of-date items. She reiterated the importance of safe patient handling and how it applies to staff safety. Her leadership highlighted the SPHM program and its importance to the facility. As a result, VA Hudson Valley has had no SPHM injuries for FY 2023.

Ms. Reale received a report of a frayed strap on a ceiling lift in Montrose CLC. Ms. Reale immediately inspected all ceiling lifts within the facility and identified 14 lifts with strap damage across both campuses. She immediately reported these through work orders for Bio-med and patient safety through JPRS system. Further, she developed an excel spreadsheet and conducted monthly inspections of each lift - documenting lift counts, the condition of lift and the condition of strap. If the strap was damaged. Ms. Reale removed it from the lift to ensure it was not used until repaired. Ms. Reale took a strong stance on Veteran and staff safety throughout this issue. Ms. Reale collected sufficient evidence to support that the ceiling lift concerns were not due to staff use or room designs, as previously reported.  Ms. Reale's diligence in reporting and monitoring resulted in a national recognition of this unusual problem and its potential impact on VA facilities using the lift across the country. 

Initially, reporting resulted in multiple visits with bio-med and the Vendor to inspect the lifts, and a two-day visit from the National Center for Patient Safety as well as the national lead for SPHM to both campuses to visualize the lifts, their use, room designs as well as staff performance. This was a robust meeting with all stakeholders. Ms. Reale ensured each units Unit Peer Leader expert was present and available. Ms. Reale arranged for the SIM lab representative to bring over a full-sized mannequin so that life like transfers could take place and the lift's limitations visualized. The final closeout report from the NCPS identified the comprehensive and outstanding work Ms. Reale did in monitoring, recording and reporting all lift issues along with the Patient Safety Manager escalating the issue to the national level. The NCPS also recognized the outstanding work of Unit Peer Leaders and their expertise in their respective areas. The success of this meeting resulted in VA Hudson Valley being nominated as the test site for the Vendor’s new hanger bar design.  Identified outcomes include the shift of lift issue responsibility back to the Vendor for lift design rather than the initial reasoning as staff misuse and room design. 

Through her experience and longevity at VAHVHCS, Ms. Reale has developed and maintained strong relationships with her peers and interdisciplinary teams.