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 (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)

4. Overview (cont’d) 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. 88% 18% 58% 31% 30% Success Story #1 - The Impact

7. 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. 61.2% 51.8% 49.7% 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)

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

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

15. 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 (cont’d) The real QUESTION is… “Whether it is too expensive NOT to implement a Safe Resident Handling program?”

17. 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

18. Resources 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