MAO Manual

SKILL X – Sliding Board Transfers

Remove one armrest. Set the brakes. Remove

the leg rests. Scoot the person forward in the

chair and position their feet flat on the floor.

Carefully slide the slide board under the persons

buttocks by having them lean slightly away from

the board. The other end of the slide board is on

the surface they will be transferred to. About a

quarter of the board should be under the person.

Grasp the patient at the hips or shoulders and at a

count of 1-2-3, lift them slightly while they push, and

help them slide a few inches. DO NOT let them place

their fingers under the slide board.

Continue with the count, lift, push and slide

sequence until the person has fully transferred to the

other surface. Seat the person on the surface and

make sure they are stable and secure. Then remove

the slide board.

Some patients can be transferred with a sliding board. The use of a sliding board is especially helpful if a patient has some upper

body strength and can participate in the moving process. The board is placed between the two surfaces (a chair and a wheelchair

for example) and the patient slides with assistance from one surface to another. In some cases the patient has enough strength to

lift his own rear end up slightly and slide him/herself down the board towards the other surface in small increments. On other

cases, the MAO must assist the patient by helping lift the patient’s weight slightly off the board as the patient makes his/her way

down the board. It is critical to understand that the MAO must always be in a good position to intervene should the patient lose his

or her balance and be about to fall. The MAO must not let a patient with some strength lull him / her into a false sense of security.