Benefits of Implementing a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes 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 (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) 4 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 31% 30% 88% 18%58%

7 Success Story #2* State - Missouri and Illinois Company - BJC Health System, St. Louis, Missouri Employees 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 51.8% 49.7% 61.2%

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)

10 Success Story #3 – The Impact 92.1% 97.4% 77.2%

11 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)

12 Success Story #4 – The Impact

13 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

14 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 15

16 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 17

Resources 18 OSHA’s Nursing Home and Personal Care Facilities Page: ml OSHA Ergonomics Success Stories: tories.html Guidelines for Nursing Homes: ghome/index.html