8.5 Types of Client Transfers Overview

Transfers involve moving a client from one flat surface to another, such as from a bed to a stretcher (Perry et al., 2018). Types of hospital transfers include bed to stretcher, bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to chair, and wheelchair to toilet, and vice versa. Table 8.5.1 outline types of transfers and client factors that help to determine appropriateness of each.

Table 8.5.1 Types of Transfers[1]
Type of Transfer Appropriateness
One-person standing pivot The client:

  • can bear weight on one or both legs.
  • is cooperative and predictable.
  • can sit with minimal support on the side of the bed.

Note: A gait belt may or may not be used.
Two-person standing pivot
  • can assist with weight bearing but may be inconsistent.
  • is cooperative and predictable.

Note: Two-person transfer with a gait belt, a stander, or a two-person transfer with a slide board and a gait belt may be used.
One-person assist with transfer board
  • is cooperative, follows directions, and has good trunk control.
  • can use their arms but cannot bear weight on both legs.
Two-person assist with transfer board
  • is cooperative and can follow directions.
  • can use their arms but cannot bear weight on both legs.
  • does not have good trunk control.

Note: If transferring out of a wheelchair, the chair must have removable arms.
Sit-to-stand Lift
  • can actively participate, with some ability to stand.
  • is reliable.
  • is predictable.
  • is a heavy two-person transfer.
  • does not have severe limb contractures or injuries where movement is medically contraindicated (e.g., spinal injury).
Mechanical / ceiling track
  • cannot reliably stand.
  • is unpredictable.
  • is too heavy for a two-person transfer.

Review the Mobility Decision Assessment Tool.

  1. Data sources: WorkSafeBC, 2006; WRHA, 2008 ↵
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Personal Care Skills for Health Care Assistants Copyright © 2023 by Tracy Christianson and Kimberly Morris, Thompson Rivers University. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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