A business case for patient care ergonomic interventions.
This article provides a framework for a business case for patient ergonomic programs that accentuates the financial gains to be realized from such programs as compared to meeting safety requirements. An introduction is made to such commonly used measures as payback period, net present value analysis and internal rate of return. Financial measures on a successful patient handling project in the Veterans Health Administration are outlined and policy implications discussed.
Siddharthan
Kris
K
Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. kris.siddharthan@med.va.gov
Nelson
Audrey
A
Weisenborn
Gregory
G
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000191:economics*; D005431:Florida; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies