Safe Patient Handling

1. Safe Patient Handling Turning No-Lift from a financial burden to a profitable move . . . The economics of good healthcare ergonomics Presented by

2. The problem facing nurses

3. The Problem facing facilities Reduced revenues Cash flow Staff turnover Cost to replace staff Pressure from staff Cost of Workers’ comp Legislation & compliance Spiraling costs

4. What would it cost to implement a No-Lift policy? • NIOSH recommends 1 lift per 10 beds as a ‘rule-of-thumb’ • Assume: • 1 * 600 lb capacity lift per 10 beds • Each bed equipped with No-Lift Booster & Turner • Replacements every 6 months for Booster, Turner & lifter slings Based on the above for nursing homes and hospitals, using median values from national statistics the return on investment Is significant (better than 15:1).

5. Where will savings come from? • Workers’ compensation premium reductions • Fewer lost days – fewer replacement staff • Lower costs to provide care • Fewer recruitment costs

6. National Statistics • Assume a nursing ratio of 1:8 for a nursing home and 1:6 for a hospital* • Mean (non loaded) national salary nurses** • Nursing homes $48,220 • Hospitals $53,450 • Workers’ compensation premium (national median rates***) • Nurse (ea) in nursing home $5,088 • Nursing to handle 10 beds (based on nurse/resident ratio) $6,106 • Nurse in hospital $1,367 • Nursing to handle 10 beds (based on nurse /patient ratio) $2,317 • Cost to replace a nurse $42,000**** • Mean back injury cost per nurse $12,500***** • *National Nurse organizing committee/www.nnoc.net • **www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/salaries/php • ***www.allbusiness.com: www.wydoe.state.wy.us: www.wcirb.org • **** National Nursin organizing committee/www.nnoc.net • ***** Oregon OSGA Safe Patient Handling: A Worthy Investment, 2007, www.osha.oregon.gov

7. No-Lift saves workers’ compensation premiums …& backs Before After • (NIOSH longitudinal study of nursing home back strain injuries, before & after a safe mechanical lifting program, involving 6 facilities, 6 years and 2,646 nursing staff)

8. No-Lift saves lost time …& backs

9. . . . . .. AND staff turnover reduced from 300% to zero

10. Nursing Homes- Dramatic ROI For every $1 spent, . . . . you get $18 About $3,900 . . . . per bed year • Over 5 years • Invest $10,880 • Save $197,207 • Financial gain $186,327

11. * BLS.gov 2007 statistics

12. The Bottom Line • NO-LIFT is good business – even if the calculations are 50% out – its still a great financial outcome • Good staff are hard to find and expensive to induct. Good ones are looking for on-the-job safety • Reduction in job hazards associated with lifting means fewer costs and improved productivity

13. Hospitals - Dramatic ROI For every $1 spent, . . . . you get $18 About $3,700 . . . . per bed year • Over 5 years • Invest $10,880 • Save 196,922 • Financial gain $186,042

14. * BLS.gov 2007 statistics