Risk & Business Magazine JGS Insurance Summer 2017 | Page 30

PROTECT YOURSELF

Protecting Yourself Against Workplace Injuries

BY : GWENYTH P . LUU VP OF PROPERTY & CASUALTY JGS INSURANCE

Nursing and other patient care occupations are among the most difficult career paths . Not only are nurses called upon to provide a high standard of patient care insofar as treatments and medications are concerned , but they often face demanding physical requirements too . Nurses , nursing assistants and orderlies are commonly called upon to lift , support and maneuver patients regularly – even more so as the population ages and many patients live well into their eighties and nineties . And with over two-thirds of the adult population in the U . S . classified as overweight , these physical requirements are more extreme than ever before .

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that the nursing shortage will reach 1.2 million positions between 2014 and 2022 – despite the growing popularity of nursing as a profession . And according to a report by the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services , over 500,000 nurses are expected to retire or leave the workforce in the next five years . This confluence of factors will make nursing caseloads and physical demands even greater , further increasing the risk of work-related injuries . When injuries do occur , they are often severe and long-lasting , frequently requiring risky back surgeries and long periods of recuperation . Unless these professional have access to mechanical devices to assist them , it may not be feasible for them to return to work performing the same functions .
Back in 2003 , the nursing profession began to take action against this work hazard by instituting a “ Handle With Care ” campaign aimed at reducing injuries for nurses required to lift and maneuver their patients . Since then , 11 states have addressed the issue head-on , with legislation aimed at establishing safe patient handling protocols , often involving mechanical hoists and other assistive devices . The legislation typically requires written policies for handling these patients and training for personnel assigned to these tasks . Individual states also have instituted requirements for reporting injuries or for monitoring and oversight of this function . Many other states , citing the tremendous cost for adopting these mechanical lift methods , have strongly resisted developing legislation .
Because of these risks , it is critical for employers of nurses , aides and orderlies to have adequate worker ’ s compensation insurance . JGS have dedicated partnership with and expert leader in healthcare . The carrier has a team of consultants and trainers who come with extensive experience as direct-care nurses . With more than 20 years of specialized work with the healthcare industry , these specialists focus on the areas where injuries are most likely to happen and offer a customized plan for your organization based upon “ best practices .” As a client of JGS and partnership with JGS ’ dedicated carrier , organizations will gain access the following services :
• Safe Patient Handling and Movement ( SPH & M ) – accredited full-day workshop
• Department-specific safety assessments focus on past injury reviews , operational controls , and employee / job observations to identify improvement opportunities .
• Ongoing assessment of industry trends and advances by the carrier ’ s team helps keep your organization with the latest regulations and newest products .
• Industry-specific tools , resources , including patientassessment tools , caregiver perception surveys , checklists as well as access to a web-based resource keep organizations from having to re-invent the wheel .
Contact Gwenyth for a complimentary consultation . +
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