Speaker and Consultant Bureau

VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, Tampa

Mary W. Matz, MSPH

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:   Ms. Matz is the Patient care Ergonomic Consultant for the Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA).  In this capacity, she provides patient care ergonomics consultation services and conducts training and ergonomic evaluations nationally, throughout VHA medical centers.  She is a nationally recognized expert in patient care ergonomics and has co-authored several peer-reviewed papers on the subject.  Ms. Matz is also an Occupational Health Science Researcher with the VISN 8 Patient Safety Research Center in Tampa, Florida. She is an authorized OSHA instructor.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:  Ms. Matz received her BA in Microbiology and MSPH in Industrial Hygiene from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. 

RESEARCH INTERESTS:   Research emphasis is focused on Patient Care Ergonomics in Health Care Environments including program evaluation of large multi-site study, design and development of patient handling productivity metrics, and patient handling injury causation. Additionally, research with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on slips, trips, and falls in health care environments aims to reduce injuries associated with hazards for slips, trips, and falls.  Workplace Violence in healthcare settings is also an area of interest.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Nelson, A, Matz, M, Chen, F., Siddharthan, K., Lloyd, J., Fragala, G., (In press, 2005). Development and Evaluation of a Multifaceted Ergonomics Program To Prevent Injuries Associated with Patient Handling Tasks. International Journal of Nursing Studies.
2. Nelson, A., Owen, C., Lloyd, J., Fragala, G., Matz, M., Amato, M., Boers, J., Moss-Cureton, S., Ramsey, G. & Lentz, K.  Algorithms for Safe Patient Handling and Movement.  American Journal of Nursing. March 2003.
3. Nelson, AL, Fragala, G, Haiduven, D, Lloyd, J, Matz, M, Menzel, N, Owen, B, Powell-Cop, G, Quigley, P, Tiesman, H (2002).  Patient Care Ergonomics Resource Guide: Safe Patient Handling & Movement.  VHA/DOD Publication.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE FOR SPEAKING/CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS:

• Patient Care Ergonomics
• Bariatric Safe Patient Handling and Movement
• Slips, Trips, and Falls in Healthcare
• Occupational Safety and Health in Healthcare Environments
• Fostering a Culture of Safety in Healthcare Environments
• Use of After Action Review and other Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms to reduce risk of injury in Healthcare Environments

If interested in retaining the services of Ms. Matz, please contact her at 813-558-3928