In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a transfer surface, such as a transfer chair, may include a movable portion, such as a seat support. The movable portion may move, for example, so that the transfer surface includes an open area in a middle section of the transfer surface. In one embodiment, the movable portion may move by rotating between a horizontal position and a vertical position or by sliding or folding towards the front, back or side of the transfer surface. A lifting device, such as a floor lift or caregiver, may move into the open area to, for example, access a patient on the far side of the transfer surface. For example, a lifting device may be moved into the open area in a middle section of the transfer surface from the left side of the transfer surface, may pick up a patient from a location to the right of the transfer surface, may move out of the open area to the left side of the transfer surface, the movable portion may be moved back to the middle section of the transfer surface, and the patient may be deposited onto the transfer surface. In this manner, the patient may be transferred from a location, such as a bed, to a transfer surface without being suspended over an open floor. In a similar manner, a patient may be transferred from a transfer surface to a location without being suspended over an open floor.Selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention, une surface de transfert, telle quun fauteuil de transfert, peut comporter une partie mobile, tel quun support dassise. La partie mobile peut se déplacer, par exemple, de manière que la surface de transfert comprenne une zone ouverte dans une partie médiane de ladite surface. Dans un mode de réalisation, la partie mobile peut se déplacer par rotation entre une position horizontale et une position verticale ou par coulissement ou repliement vers lavant, larrière ou le côté de la surface de transfert. Un dispositif de levage, tel que, par exemple, un dispositif élévateu
