Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) in Schools

Use the TRAM to make transfers out of a wheelchair with fixed armrests.

Here at Maiden Choice School in Baltimore County, MD, we have initiated a program called Maximizing Independence in Life Skills: A Toileting Program for Students with Complex Disabilities. Over the last four years since we began it, this…

Employer work-place injury within schools may sound unlikely, but for those health professionals routinely assisting students with disabilities in school, it is not uncommon. In fact, the injury rate of health professionals engaging in…

At Desert Mountain SELPA in Apple Valley, California, we’ve discovered a creative solution for seated transfers with the TRAM. This method works really well, particularly for the more profoundly involved kids. Using the standard…

The Rifton TRAM provides a lot of flexibility within our school setting for standing, walking, and transfers.  Mostly it is used for safe transfers that would typically require a two-person lift.  However, in one of my schools it…

The Rifton TRAM is a versatile transfer and mobility device that can  safely support people of varying abilities and sizes. To do this effectively it’s important to position the body support low enough on the trunk, but for…

Who uses the TRAM? Note: The TRAM has been replaced by the E-Pacer (June 2025) The Rifton TRAM is a multi-purpose device used for sit-to-stand lifting, gait training, assisted transfers and toileting. The TRAM is used by children and…

Last week I attended the Combined Section Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. It was held in San Antonio (great choice, especially in February!) and included some excellent programming. I’d like to share highlights…

Whether assisting someone from a wheelchair to a mat table or the parallel bars, patient transfers are a routine part of all therapy interventions. But did you know that these transfers place a therapist at an extraordinary risk for…

As word of the Rifton TRAM continues to spread among therapists and caregivers we’ve recognized the need for a simple set of step-by-step tutorials to demonstrate the basic functions of this new transfer and mobility device. If…

TRAM Quick Reference Guide The Rifton TRAM, our latest product offering, is a transfer and mobility device that performs three powerful functions: seated transfer, sit-to-stand lift, and gait training. While it’s remarkably simple to…

I asked our lead designer, Gideon Clement, to answer the most frequent questions we’re hearing from new TRAM users in the field. Obviously these tips are intended as general guidance only; each client is unique and it’s up to…