Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes

1
Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident
Handling Program in Nursing Homes
2
Overview

• 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
3
Overview (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)
4
Overview (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
5
Success 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)
6
Success Story 1 - The Impact
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Success 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)
8
Success Story 2 - The Impact
9
Success 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)
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Success Story 3 The Impact
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Success 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)
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Success Story 4 The Impact
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Success 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
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Success 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

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Summary

• Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling
  Program
• reduced work-related injuries
• reduced workers compensation costs
• improved employee morale
• increased resident comfort

16
Summary (contd)

• The real QUESTION is
• Whether it is too expensive NOT to implement a
  Safe Resident Handling program?

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What 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

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Resources
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