The most prevalent exposures for Texas Medical Group Operations are falls, strains, cut/punctures, miscellaneous and struck-by.
To prevent falls:
- Download the “Slip/Trip/Fall Prevention Guide for Health Care Providers” from texasmutual.com or tengenixs.net.
- Develop system to identify patients that are more likely to fall and require assistance.
- Use slip resistant floor surfaces.
- Implement footwear policy and wear slip resistant shoes. Sample vendors: Shoes for Crews, Tredsafe (Wal-Mart), and SafeTStep (Payless Shoes)
- Spills should be cleaned up immediately. Use wet floor signs.
- Develop a housekeeping schedule. Conduct facility self-inspections.
- Train employees in proper use of ladders and step stools. Use three point contact technique for ladder egress. Secure or use a ladder stabilizer.
- Employees should use precaution during egress to client homes. Report unsafe physical work conditions.
To prevent strains:
- Conduct an assessment of patients and develop procedures for safe patient handling, lifting or transfer assistance and include requirements for additional personnel for non-ambulatory or difficult lifts
- Utilize various patient lift devices (i.e. stand-assist, ceiling mounted lift, portable lift devices, slide and transfer boards, draw sheet, trapeze bar) Train employees in equipment usage.
- Maintain lift aid equipment (i.e. patient lift, dollies, carts).
- Provide adequate staffing levels to deal with the workload to avoid single patient lifts.
- Train employees in Preventative and Management of Aggressive Behavior while working with patients.
- Download the “Back Injury Prevention Guide for Healthcare Providers” from texasmutual.com or from tengenixs.net
- Utilize ONLINE STREAMING BACK INJURY PREVENTION VIDEOS available from texasmutual.com
- See Texas’ Safe Patient Handling Law, SB 1525 Sec. 256.002 Safe Patient Handling and Movement Policy