The profit killer

The evidence is clear that preventing injuries to therapists and healthcare workers must be a top priority. In a article published in Medical News Today, the APTA and OSHA have formed an alliance that focuses on work related musculoskeletal disorders and the safe handling of patients. There has been a growing concern over the increasing number and severity of musculoskeletal injuries associated with patient handling tasks.

Risk Management should be at the top of the list for all facilities providing health care services, especially for those that provide care for the most fragile among us. It has been well documented that both patients and clinicians are at risk of injury during a “Transfer”. Weather it is a transfer from the patients bed to their wheelchair or a transfer to a piece of rehab equipment from a wheelchair. There is a way to eliminate the number of transfers that are performed, the risk of injury can be reduced and if injuries are reduced, money is saved profits increased .

What if the therapist or clinician did not have to lift or aid or hold the patient ever. The technology exists but the investment doesn't. Many healthcare institutions simply are unwilling to see the the BIG picture. The good news is competition and outcome based reimbursement is changing the landscape and the forward thinking visionaries in the industry are out in front of the pragmatists.

The profit killer, injuries. Prevent them and the bottom line goes up. Ignore them and start counting the days until your facility either gets sold to another operator or simply closes down.