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Workers' compensation claims among private skilled nursing facilities, Ohio, 2001–2012
Author(s) -
Bush Ashley M.,
Reichard Audrey A.,
Wurzelbacher Steven J.,
Tseng ChihYu,
Lampl Michael P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.23193
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational injury , workers' compensation , occupational safety and health , population , compensation (psychology) , housekeeping , injury prevention , nursing , medical emergency , environmental health , poison control , psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , psychoanalysis , gene
Skilled nursing facilities have one of the highest rates of occupational injury and illness among all industries. This study quantifies the burden of occupational injury and illness in this industry using data from a single state‐based workers' compensation (WC) system. Methods Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation claims from 2001 to 2012 were analyzed among privately owned, state‐insured skilled nursing facilities and are presented as claim counts and rates per 100 full‐time equivalents (FTE). Worker, employer, incident, and injury characteristics were examined among all claims and by medical‐only (medical care expenses and/or less than eight days away from work) and lost‐time (eight days or more away from work) claim types. Results There were 56,442 claims in this population of Ohio skilled nursing facilities from 2001 to 2012. Overexertion and bodily reaction, slips, trips, and falls, and contact with objects and equipment accounted for the majority of all WC claims (89%). Overexertion and bodily reaction, and slips, trips, and falls comprised 85% of the 10,793 lost‐time claims. The highest injury event/exposure rates for all claims were for overexertion and bodily reaction (3.7 per 100 FTE for all claims), followed by slip, trips, and falls (2.1), and contact with objects and equipment (1.9). Conclusion Understanding the details surrounding injury events and exposures resulting in WC claims can help better align prevention efforts, such as incorporation of safe patient handling policies and lifting aids, improvement in housekeeping practices, and employee training within skilled nursing facilities to prevent worker injury and mitigate related expenses.