Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional

Denise Hollis, RN, COHPMMike Arntz, CHSP

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

SRMC, Hospital for Restorative Care, network of physician offices in both Carolinas, Home Health, EMS, etc.

Our Mission: Delivering quality care for life.Our Vision: To be recognized as a provider of excellent

healthcare services that improve the quality of life for the communities we serve.

As the largest healthcare provider in Spartanburg County with 4900 employees serving 5 counties, we have a long-standing commitment to patient safety excellence.

GoalTo support and improve the

quality of life, health and safety of our employees through adopting a culture

of safe work behaviors.

Reduce employee injury, increase retention with a safer workplace, reduce medical costs.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional

Plan: I. Training for managers and supervisors-

proper handling of employee injuries. II. Enhanced Accident Investigation by

department management and Safety.III. Continuation of ongoing worker safety

projects such as the Sharp Object Injury Reduction Team (SOIRT).

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional

IV. Worker safety education to encourage safe behaviors and create a culture of worker safety. Ex. SafetyFirst Fair.

V. Progression towards a minimal lift environment VI. Implementation of an Employee Safety Incentive

Program. VII. Ergonomic Services VIII. Enhance Employee Health assessments

Achieving the GOAL

1. Employee –safety education, participation in safe work behaviors, incentives for working safely, raises awareness resulting in the acceptance of a culture of safety.

2. Management interest, support, accountability, and education. Post accident investigation to prevent future injury. Reward employees for exhibiting employee safety behaviors.

3. Employee Health and Rehab services include assessment of employees to determine their ability to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Employee Health - Preplacement, return to work, and Fit For Duty assessments. Case Management Injury Cases.

• Rehab-Functional Job analysis, Pre work screens, Functional Capacity Exams, Ergonomic services.

4. Minimal lift patient handling, a system wide expectation.

Achieving the GOAL

2001 through 2007

SRHS’s multifaceted approach results;

Reduction in number and severity of employee injury/illness

• Reduction in Gross incurred workers’ compensation medical costs by 74% .

• Reduction in DART and TCIR by greater than 40%.

$3,148,848

$2,676,516

$1,986,357

$1,787,087

$1,439,331

$819,267

$435,500

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Gross Incurred by Claim Year

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare SystemSafety First Results

TOTAL Workers' Compensation CostsGross Incurred Cost by Year

PHTS Source Data Risk Master 12.31.07

*One incident Removed in 2004.

Minimal Lift Pilot in Sept. RTW enhanced, Nurse Case management, Safety First aw areness, Management education

Est. Transitional Duty Work Pool

Minimal Lift system-w ide roll out for most units by October 31. 4 Implementation Phases from March to October

Safety First Incentive Program, Safety First Fair Sept.Accident Investigation

Enhanced Employee Health functions in 03, 04Strengthened Return to Work. Enhanced Transitional Duty.

Pre w ork screens Ergonomic Services. EH RTW, Fit For Duty exams enhanced.

Fit for Duty Evaluations 02

Chart by Wendy Stephenson, Denise Hollis

$1,426,604

$1,050,893 $1,061,533

$484,391$427,785

$322,329

$86,953

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

$1,600,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Gross Incurred by Claim Year

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare SystemSafetyFirst Results

Workers' Compensation CostsPatient Handling by Gross Incurred Cost by Year

PHTS Source Data Risk Master 12.31.07

*One incident Removed in 2004.

Minimal Lift Pilot in Sept. RTW enhanced, Nurse Case management, Safety First aw areness, Management education

Est. Transitional Duty Work Pool

Minimal Lift system-w ide roll out for most units by October 31. 4 Implementation Phases from March to October

Safety First Incentive Program, Safety First Fair Sept.Accident Investigation

Enhanced Employee Health functions in 03, 04Strengthened Return to Work. Enhanced Transitional Duty.

Pre w ork screens Ergonomic Services. EH RTW, Fit For Duty exams enhanced.

Fit for Duty Evaluations 02

Chart by Wendy Stephenson, Denise Hollis

8.70

10.10

8.26

7.06

8.308.60

6.98

6.00

8.107.70

6.70

5.76

8.108.60

5.59

4.04

5.464.99

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

National South Carolina PHT SRMC

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) 622 (Hospitals)

Cases counted in this measurement are all injuries that require treatment beyond basic first aid and all sharps injuries.

OSHA State & National stats, SRHS OSHA 300 log 2/2008

OSHA defined Total Case Incident Rate: injuries treated beyond basic first aid, and all sharps injuries

OSHA defined DART: Lost work days, days transferred to another job, and/or transitional duty (restrictions).

3.6

3.3

2.3

0.87

3.43.5

2.632.71

3.3 3.3

2.15 2.11

3.2

3.6

1.88

1.03

1.961.87

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

National South Carolina PHT SRMC

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) 622 (Hospitals)

Cases counted in this measurement are all injuries that have resulted in an injured worker losing work, being transfered due to the injury, or having restriction/limitations placed on their current job tasks.

OSHA State & National stats, SRHS OSHA 300 log 2/2008

Reducing the RisksEmployee Incentive Program

• Studies show incentives as most beneficial as awareness of employee safety. Keep them thinking Safety.

• Reward employee safety behaviors with SF cards.

• Studies show that safety awareness benefits both patient and employee safety.

Create a culture of Safety by Rewarding Employee Safety Behaviors

• Supervisor confirmed training/classes attended

• Performs Intervention to prevent healthcare worker injury (PPE, lift assist, sharps safety)

• Intervention in unsafe situation

• Equipment safety/ intervention and instruction

• Safe driving practices- (driving while on duty)

• Interventions to encourage building safety behaviors

Employee Incentives

Safety Awareness Campaigns

1. Utilized a variety of overall and department specific safety education including SafetyFirst Newsletter, Story Boards, Employee Safety Fairs.

2. Development of an Employee SafetyFirst internal website. 3. Required Training for managers and supervisors including

accountability for a safe work environment.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional

• The majority of healthcare injuries result from sharps injuries and patient handling injuries. (Pushing, pulling, moving, manipulating a patient.)

• Increased obesity in the general population, heavier patients.

• An aging workforce.

Pilot Minimal Lift Program

• Established Patient Handling Policy and Procedure• Selected 5 key areas with the highest rate of patient

lifting/pushing/pulling injuries. (46 injuries in the 5 areas in 6 months).

• Trained Mobility Coaches from each area, trained all employees in these areas.

• Purchased patient lift equipment, educated patients on the use.

Results: Reduction of employee injuries from 46 to 0. After reviewing the return on investment for the pilot areas,

leadership approved system-wide implementation of the SafetyFirst Minimal Lift Program.

System Wide Minimal Lift Implementation

• Nursing Department accepted ownership of the program and appointed a coordinator

• Participation of 29 Nursing Units for a total of 34 Areas

• Appointed 150 Transfer Mobility Coaches on each shift and on each unit

System Wide Minimal Lift Implementation

• Trained 750+ Employees initially, and annually • Intranet Listing of Equipment Location/Use/

Policies/Procedures/Etc. • Each patient is initially assessed for mobility needs,

appropriate equipment is assigned, Patient Care Plan is a part of the chart.

• Equipment is made readily available. • Employees are accountable for proper use.

Improving Employee Safety at Spartanburg Regional

SRHS

A healthier workplace, with a focus on employee injury prevention and caring compassionately for those that are injured.

Denise Hollis, RN, COHPMEmployee Health Directordhollis@srhs.com(864) 560-6192

Mike Arntz, CHSPROH, Senior Practice Mgrmarntz@srhs.com(864) 562-5208

Contacts: