I was pleased to read the article encouraging staff to use lifts to move patients ("Using a Hydraulic Lift for Patient Transfer," Smooth Patient Transfers, Part III, March 2008).* I'd like to add one more caution. When the sling isn't positioned carefully, the backs of older patients' knees can become bruised, purple, and excoriated after only two lifts. This happened to my mother when she was hospitalized. We need to take special care when we handle our frail older patients.

DONNA BECHTHOLD, RN, CPHQ, BA

Tillamook, Ore.

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