Impact of a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes on Return-to-Work and Re-Injury Outcomes Following Work Injury

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kurowski A ; Pransky G ; Punnett, Laura
• Description:
  Purpose This study examined the impact of a Safe Resident Handling Program (SRHP) on length of disability and re-injury, following work-related injuries of nursing home workers. Resident handling-related injuries and back injuries were of particular interest. Methods A large national nursing home corporation introduced a SRHP followed by three years of training for 136 centers. Lost-time workers' compensation claims (3 years pre-SRHP and 6 years post-SRHP) were evaluated. For each claim, length of first episode of disability and recurrence of disabling injury were evaluated over time. Differences were assessed using Chi square analyses and a generalized linear model, and "avoided" costs were projected. Results The SRHP had no impact on length of disability, but did appear to significantly reduce the rate of recurrence among resident handling-related injuries. As indemnity and medical costs were three times higher for claimants with recurrent disabling injuries, the SRHP resulted in significant "avoided" costs due to "avoided" recurrence. Conclusions In addition to reducing overall injury rates, SRHPs appear to improve long-term return-to-work success by reducing the rate of recurrent disabling injuries resulting in work disability. In this study, the impact was sustained over years, even after a formal training and implementation program ended. Since back pain is inherently a recurrent condition, results suggest that SRHPs help workers remain at work and return-to-work. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Health Personnel Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Return-to-work Back Injuries Health Care Facilities Health Care Workers MSD Musculoskeletal System Disorders Nursing Nursing Homes Patient Handling Return To Work Safe Resident Handling Total Worker Health Training TWH

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• ISSN:
  1053-0487
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  286-294
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051621
• Citation:
  J Occup Rehabil 2019 Jun; 29(2):286-294
• Contact Point Address:
  Alicia Kurowski, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave., Lowell, MA 01854
• Email:
  Alicia_Kurowski@uml.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety ; Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Performing Organization:
  University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:54efe60afa84b10d9e864fc75da2e3093313e481761ceb68d54be297f99c550ce0727289e785525de6b15557c6b79e9612933c7d0ab19a0ad7a8953985127f3c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211483/cdc_211483_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 728.79 KB ]