Title: Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes
1 Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident
Handling Program in Nursing Homes
2Overview
- Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most
frequent injuries experienced by nursing home
workers - In 2010, these injuries accounted for 29 of all
workplace injuries and illnesses requiring time
away from work
Source Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 Data
3Overview (contd)
- Studies have shown that nursing homes that
implemented safe resident lifting and
repositioning programs have achieved many
benefits such as - reduced work-related injuries
- reduced workers compensation costs
- improved employee morale
- increased resident comfort
Source Association of Occupational Healthcare
Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP)
4Overview (contd)
The goal of this presentation is to highlight
five nursing homes that have successfully
implemented safe resident handling programs,
including the results they achieved
5Success Story 1
- State Florida
- Company Veterans Health Administration
- Employees 15,000, staff in 23 high risk units
800 - The Problem Workers in high risk units suffered
injuries resulting in disability and high
workers compensation costs - The Solution A targeted back prevention program
was developed and implemented resulting in a
program to redesign high risk activities
Source Results from VISN-Wide Deployment of
Back Injury Prevention Program for Nurses
(Nelson, Fragala, Matz, 2003)
6Success Story 1 - The Impact
7Success Story 2
- State - Missouri and Illinois
- Company - BJC Health System, St. Louis, Missouri
- Employees - 460 direct patient staff at 6 sites
- The Problem - Staff responsible for assisting
dependent residents were at a high risk for
occupational injuries from high risk activities - The Solution A zero-lift policy that uses
state-of-the art equipment to assist with patient
transfers, training in use of equipment, and a
medical management program
Source Intervention Program for Transferring
Residents in Nursing Homes, (Collins, Wolf,
Hsiao, 2002)
8Success Story 2 - The Impact
9Success Story 3
- State - Connecticut
- Company Masonic Home and Hospital, Wallingford,
Connecticut - Employees 1200
- The Problem Insurance records indicated that
1,025 workdays were lost as a result of injuries
involving patient handling tasks - The Solution Facility identified high risk
units, purchased lifting aid devices, and
introduced an ergonomic management program
Source An Ergonomic Back Injury Prevention
Program at Masonic Home and Hospital, (Fragala,
1995)
10Success Story 3 The Impact
11Success Story 4
- State Multiple
- Company Diamond Insurance Group, insuring three
skilled nursing facility chains which were
Heritage Enterprise, Dynamic Healthcare, and
Christian Homes - Employees Multiple locations 1,000 plus
- The Problem Lost work days due to injury and
illness were 2.5 times the average for all
private industry in U.S. - The Solution Implemented limited lift policy
consisting of four distinct phases resulting in a
reduction of recordable injuries, lost workdays,
and workers compensations costs
Source Limit Liability with Lift Programs
(Moreno, 2003)
12Success Story 4 The Impact
13Success Story 5
- State Wheeling, West Virginia
- Company Good Shepherd Nursing Home
- Employees 240 full time and part time employees
- The Problem Lifting of residents caused many
staff back injuries - The Solution A safety committee analyzed
injuries/ incidents and bought mechanical lifting
devices resulting in a decrease in injury and
illness rates
Source OSHAs Small Business Success Stories
Page
14Success 5 - The Impact
- Good Shepherd dramatically reduced its injury and
illness rate from 31 to 2.1 with assistance from
OSHA On-site Consultation Program - In addition, Good Shepherds workers
compensation rate declined, and workers
compensation insurance premiums were reduced by
nearly 2,000,000 dollars
15Summary
- Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling
Program - reduced work-related injuries
- reduced workers compensation costs
- improved employee morale
- increased resident comfort
16Summary (contd)
- The real QUESTION is
- Whether it is too expensive NOT to implement a
Safe Resident Handling program?
17What Should You Do Now?
- Develop a management process to reduce MSDs that
includes - Identifying jobs and job tasks which stress body
parts beyond limits - Identifying and developing solutions to change
these tasks demands - Use a well thought out process to implement
changes into your workplace - Monitor and evaluate results
18Resources
OSHAs Nursing Home and Personal Care Facilities
Page
http//www.osha.gov/SLTC/nursinghome/index.html O
SHA Ergonomics Success Stories http//www.osha.go
v/SLTC/ergonomics/success_stories.html Guidelines
for Nursing Homes http//www.osha.gov/ergonomics
/guidelines/nursinghome/index.html