Benefits of Implementing a Safe Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling Program in Resident Handling Program in

Nursing HomesNursing Homes

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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

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Overview (cont’d)

• 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)

Overview (cont’d)

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The goal of this presentation is to highlight five nursing homes that have successfully

implemented safe resident handling programs, including the results they achieved

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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)

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Success Story #1 - The Impact

Success Story #1 - The Impact

14424

2061

256

$481

9916.9

256 209 $203

Reported Inj Inj IncidentRate

Modified DutyDays

Lost WorkDays

Injury Costs($Thousands)

Pre-Intervention Post-Intervention

31% 30% 88% 18% 58%

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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)

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Success Story #2 - The Impact

Success Story #2 - The Impact

141

15.77

$159

68

7.93

$62

Lifting Related Injuries Injury Incident Rate Injury Costs ($Thousands)

Pre-Intervention Post-Intervention

51.8%

49.7%

61.2%

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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

Success Story #3 - The Impact

1025

$174

$629

81$5

$143

Annual Lost Work Days Injury Assessments - 4Month Period($Thousands)

Incurred Annual Worker'sComp. Costs($Thousands)

Pre-Intervention Post-Intervention

92.1%

97.4%

77.2%

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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

Success Story #4 - The Impact

96% 94%

30%

57%

89%

75%

47%

27%

97%

86%

44%

57%

Decrease: OSHARecordable

Resident HandlingInjuries

Decrease: LostWorkday Injuries

Related to ResidentHandling

Decrease: TotalWorker's Comp.

Claims

Decrease: TotalWorkers' Comp.Claims in Dollars

Incurred

Heritage Enterprise Dynamic Health Care Christian Homes

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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: OSHA’s 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 Shepherd’s workers’ compensation rate declined, and workers’ compensation insurance premiums were reduced by nearly $2,000,000 dollars

Summary

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

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Summary (cont’d)

The real QUESTION is…

“Whether it is too expensive NOT to implement a Safe

Resident Handling program?”

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

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OSHA’s Nursing Home and Personal Care Facilities Page: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/nursinghome/index.html

OSHA Ergonomics Success Stories:http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/success_stories.html

Guidelines for Nursing Homes:http://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/index.html