Running a hospital, aged-care facility, specialist education facility, or specialist disability accommodation (SDA) facility requires balancing patient safety, staff wellbeing, and operational costs. One area often overlooked when cutting costs is patient handling, where caregiver injuries and inefficient workflows quietly drive up expenses.
The good news? Care facilities can achieve smarter cost management by implementing innovative patient handling solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and reliability.
Here are five ways to save cost without compromising care quality:
1. Prioritise Staff Safety to Reduce Compensation Costs
Injuries among caregivers are common, particularly shoulder injuries caused by repetitive overhead tasks. According to WorkSafe Victoria, 22% of injury claims among Personal Care and Nursing Assistants involve the shoulder, second only to back injuries (WorkSafe Victoria, 2025).
Similarly, Safe Work Australia reports that musculoskeletal disorders resulting from lifting, pushing, and pulling continue to be a significant cost driver in workplaces, particularly in hospitals and aged-care facilities (Safe Work Australia, 2024).
By investing in ergonomic and innovative patient handling solutions, such as floor hoists and ceiling hoist systems, facilities can prevent injuries, maintain workforce sustainability, and cut cost in insurance claims, premiums, and lost productivity.
2. Streamline Patient Handling Workflows
Time efficiency directly translates into cost savings. Reducing the setup time for patient transfers, even by seconds, can save substantial labour hours over the course of a year. One example of an efficient product is the portable ceiling hoist connection system, such as eConnectus, an innovative solution by CHS Healthcare, which can reduce setup time to approximately 10–15 seconds, according to internal engineering benchmarks.
Faster, smoother workflows not only save cost through reduced labour but also improve caregiver experience and enhance patient comfort and dignity across care facility settings.
3. Invest in Reliable, Innovative Patient Handling Solutions
Choosing the right equipment is essential for care facilities aiming to reduce expenses without compromising care quality. Equipment that improves safety, reliability, and ease of use delivers long-term value by preventing injuries and reducing operational disruption.
The eConnectus portable ceiling hoist connection system, as highlighted earlier, removes the need for overhead reaching and ensures consistent, fail-safe alignment between hoist and track. This innovation directly reduces the risk of shoulder injuries, which, according to iCare NSW experience-rating data, can cost facilities more than $120,000 per incident when medical treatment, replacement staff, and premium increases are factored in.
4. Plan Care Facilities Properly from the Start
Architects and builders play a crucial role in designing care facilities for long-term cost-effectiveness. Integrating patient handling workflows, ceiling hoist track systems, and connection points during the design phase reduces costly retrofits and operational inefficiencies. To support this, CHS Healthcare offers CPD-accredited training webinars and event roadshows. These sessions are open to anyone involved in designing or managing care environments and provide in-depth knowledge on creating inclusive, accessible facilities that meet Australian standards and compliance requirements.
Failure to consider these elements from the outset can result in significant additional costs, particularly if major renovations or retrofits are required later to accommodate patient handling solutions. Proper planning from the beginning ensures both safety and cost-effectiveness throughout the facility’s lifecycle.
5. Leverage Data and Preventive Maintenance
Proper maintenance and staff training extend the lifespan of patient handling solutions and prevent equipment breakdowns. Monitoring operational data helps identify high-cost risk areas, such as injuries or inefficient workflows.
Safe Work Australia notes that musculoskeletal disorders remain a leading cause of work-related injury in Australia, particularly in hospitals, aged-care facilities, specialist education facilities, and specialist disability accommodation (SDA) settings (Safe Work Australia, 2024).
By combining data-driven insights with the right equipment and workflows, care facilities can proactively manage risk and cut costs effectively.
Bottom Line
Care facilities can save cost without compromising quality by focusing on staff safety, efficient workflows, and smart investments in equipment. CHS Healthcare exemplifies how modern innovative patient handling solutions can reduce injury risk, streamline operations, and enhance patient dignity.
By investing in the most effective and innovative floor hoists and ceiling hoist systems, collaborating with architects and builders, and maintaining a proactive, data-driven approach, care facility providers can achieve significant cost savings while delivering safer, higher-quality care.