Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional Denise Hollis, RN, COHPM Mike Arntz, CHSP

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System SRMC, Hospital for Restorative Care, network of physician offices in both Carolinas, Home Health, EMS, etc. Our Mission: Delivering quality care for life. Our Vision: To be recognized as a provider of excellent healthcare services that improve the quality of life for the communities we serve. As the largest healthcare provider in Spartanburg County with 4900 employees serving 5 counties, we have a long-standing commitment to patient safety excellence.

Goal To support and improve the quality of life, health and safety of our employees through adopting a culture of safe work behaviors. Reduce employee injury, increase retention with a safer workplace, reduce medical costs.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional Plan: I. Training for managers and supervisors- proper handling of employee injuries. II. Enhanced Accident Investigation by department management and Safety. III. Continuation of ongoing worker safety projects such as the Sharp Object Injury Reduction Team (SOIRT).

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional IV. Worker safety education to encourage safe behaviors and create a culture of worker safety. Ex. SafetyFirst Fair. V. Progression towards a minimal lift environment VI. Implementation of an Employee Safety Incentive Program. VII. Ergonomic Services VIII. Enhance Employee Health assessments

Achieving the GOAL 1.Employee –safety education, participation in safe work behaviors, incentives for working safely, raises awareness resulting in the acceptance of a culture of safety. 2.Management interest, support, accountability, and education. Post accident investigation to prevent future injury. Reward employees for exhibiting employee safety behaviors.

3. Employee Health and Rehab services include assessment of employees to determine their ability to perform the essential functions of the job. Employee Health - Preplacement, return to work, and Fit For Duty assessments. Case Management Injury Cases. Rehab-Functional Job analysis, Pre work screens, Functional Capacity Exams, Ergonomic services. 4. Minimal lift patient handling, a system wide expectation. Achieving the GOAL

2001 through 2007 SRHS’s multifaceted approach results; Reduction in number and severity of employee injury/illness Reduction in Gross incurred workers’ compensation medical costs by 74%. Reduction in DART and TCIR by greater than 40%.

OSHA defined Total Case Incident Rate: injuries treated beyond basic first aid, and all sharps injuries

OSHA defined DART: Lost work days, days transferred to another job, and/or transitional duty (restrictions).

Reducing the Risks Employee Incentive Program Studies show incentives as most beneficial as awareness of employee safety. Keep them thinking Safety. Reward employee safety behaviors with SF cards. Studies show that safety awareness benefits both patient and employee safety.

Create a culture of Safety by Rewarding Employee Safety Behaviors Supervisor confirmed training/classes attended Performs Intervention to prevent healthcare worker injury (PPE, lift assist, sharps safety) Intervention in unsafe situation Equipment safety/ intervention and instruction Safe driving practices- (driving while on duty) Interventions to encourage building safety behaviors Employee Incentives

Safety Awareness Campaigns 1.Utilized a variety of overall and department specific safety education including SafetyFirst Newsletter, Story Boards, Employee Safety Fairs. 2.Development of an Employee SafetyFirst internal website. 3. Required Training for managers and supervisors including accountability for a safe work environment.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional The majority of healthcare injuries result from sharps injuries and patient handling injuries. (Pushing, pulling, moving, manipulating a patient.) Increased obesity in the general population, heavier patients. An aging workforce.

Pilot Minimal Lift Program Established Patient Handling Policy and Procedure Selected 5 key areas with the highest rate of patient lifting/pushing/pulling injuries. (46 injuries in the 5 areas in 6 months). Trained Mobility Coaches from each area, trained all employees in these areas. Purchased patient lift equipment, educated patients on the use. Results: Reduction of employee injuries from 46 to 0. After reviewing the return on investment for the pilot areas, leadership approved system-wide implementation of the SafetyFirst Minimal Lift Program.

System Wide Minimal Lift Implementation Nursing Department accepted ownership of the program and appointed a coordinator Participation of 29 Nursing Units for a total of 34 Areas Appointed 150 Transfer Mobility Coaches on each shift and on each unit

System Wide Minimal Lift Implementation Trained 750+ Employees initially, and annually Intranet Listing of Equipment Location/Use/ Policies/Procedures/Etc. Each patient is initially assessed for mobility needs, appropriate equipment is assigned, Patient Care Plan is a part of the chart. Equipment is made readily available. Employees are accountable for proper use.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional SRHS A healthier workplace, with a focus on employee injury prevention and caring compassionately for those that are injured.

Denise Hollis, RN, COHPM Employee Health Director (864) Mike Arntz, CHSP ROH, Senior Practice Mgr (864) Contacts: