Round Table Discussion: The Role of the Insurance Industry in Providing a Safe Healthcare Employee Environment

While many safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) leaders make reference to the savings that can be made by preventing musculoskeletal injuries to healthcare staff who move, transfer, and mobilize patients, few of them fully understand the system of workers’ compensation available to employers and how that can impact policies and protocols in the clinical practice. This round table has 3 expert participants who all work in the field of workers’ compensation. They bring with them knowledge on the different options healthcare facilities have to support their financial risk, the importance of risk assessment and of facilities adopting appropriate risk mitigation strategies, and how these should be considered in the discussions on cost savings brought about by technology purchase and actual injury compensation.

Wright LR, Severson LA, Homola J

Keywords: workers compensation, employee safety, risk mitigation, safe patient handling