Workers’ Compensation in the Health Care Industry

Aon Global Risk Consulting recently released a report that examines a range of factors that affect Workers’ Compensation in the health care industry. The report, entitled the Health Care Workers’ Compensation Barometer, analyzed data from 1,600 health care facilities across the country. The results revealed that, although the severity of claims has increased at a rate of two percent each year, the frequency of claims is expected to go down by an annual rate of one percent.

According to Martha Bronson, associate director and actuary for Aon Risk Solutions, when it comes to Workers’ Compensation loss rates, the health care industry remains fairly stable. However, she points out certain risks that could change that in the future. The following, according to Bronson, should be considered as we look at the health care industry going forward.

Aging Workforce

The report shows that claims costs rise as health care workers get older. Back and shoulder injuries account for the majority of claims. Working nurses are one of the most frequently injured groups, and more than 50 percent are over the age of 50. Education and mentoring programs could be instrumental in controlling these claims. The report found that close to 60 percent of respondents had programs for younger workers, whereas more than 60 percent lack in programs targeted to the unique needs of older workers, including transitioning them to alternate work settings.

Safe Patient Handling

This is a big issue when it comes to reducing the risk of injury to health care workers. The report suggests that employers can prevent Workers’ Compensation claims by focusing on patient handling initiatives and safety protocols. Systems that use Safe Patient Handling Standards have reduced the incidence of health care worker injuries by close to 95 percent.

Workplace Violence

Over 90 percent of survey respondents said that they experienced violence in the workplace in the past three years. However, more than half indicated that they were prepared for the incident, and over 80 percent of those surveyed said that their workplace has a formal violence prevention policy in place. According to Dominic Colaizzo, chairman and U.S. Health Care practice leader for Aon Risk Solutions, health care systems are closely following standards and using best practices that are having a positive impact on the number of Workers’ Compensation claims. When health care systems invest in their general safety environment, everyone benefits.

Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Protect the Rights of Injured Health Care Workers

 If you are a health care worker who has been injured on the job, contact the Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Galfand Berger. We will fight for your rights to ensure that you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Our dedicated team will guide you through every step of the claims process, addressing any questions or concerns you might have along the way. For a free consultation, call us today at 1-800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Reading, and Allentown, where we help injured workers throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.