Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D-Forestburgh) today announced that the Catskill Regional Medical Center has been chosen to participate in a new $1 million statewide program aimed at establishing a “best practice” standard other hospitals can then follow.

The center is slated to receive $166,000 that will be used for worker training and equipment used in lifting and handling of patients.

“The financially distressed Catskill Regional Medical Center is integral to the delivery of quality health care services in this community,” Gunther said. “I am hopeful that these funds will reduce disability and workers’ compensation costs at the facility. In addition, by preventing worker injury, there will be less retraining costs and improved overall patient care.”

The statewide initiative to foster “best practice” standards was enacted in the state budget last year, with the backing of the New York State Nurses Association.

Gunther, a former nurse, also noted that nursing is among occupations whose personnel suffer from the highest risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Patient-handling tasks, which are often performed manually and repetitively, are the primary cause of these MSDs. Task examples include patient lifting, transferring and repositioning.