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

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Occup Rehabil
• Personal Author:
  Kurowski, Alicia ; Pransky, Glenn ; 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.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Adult Female Health Personnel Homes For The Aged Humans Injury Recurrence Male Middle Aged Moving And Lifting Patients Nursing Homes Occupational Injuries Program Evaluation Return-to-work Return To Work Safe Resident Handling Secondary Prevention Workers' Compensation

  More +
• Source:
  J Occup Rehabil. 29(2):286-294
• Pubmed ID:
  29785467
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6422723
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U19 OH008857/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U19OH008857/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:5b0f57686e450d677297af85341b5a2d3bb6410ccb3de30577c3641a5a1349a2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/76672/cdc_76672_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 156.96 KB ]