Workers' compensation claims among private skilled nursing facilities, Ohio, 2001–2012

Abstract

Introduction 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.

Workers' compensation costs for healthcare caregivers: Home healthcare, long‐term care, and hospital nurses and nursing aides

“…Over the study period, the total costs for falls in HHNs and nursing aides studied was 1.3 times that of the HNs and nursing aides and 2.4 times that of LTNs and nursing aides ($4.8 million vs. $3.8 million vs. $2.1 million, respectively). Other researchers have found slips, trips, and falls to be a large contributor to compensation claims in Ohio 26 . There may be many reasons for the high level of fall claims and costs in home health including egressing/ingressing homes, poor lighting, more tripping hazards, and the presence of animals 10–12 .…”