An analysis of injuries among home health care workers using the Washington state workers' compensation claims database.
An examination of the Washington State workers' compensation claims for home health care workers was conducted. Some comparisons were made with nursing homes, acute care hospitals, and all other industries in the state. Between 1998 and 2007, the average claims rate for home health care workers was 1,375 claims/10,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) compared to 862 claims/10,000 FTEs for all other industries. The proportion of home health care workers' injuries resulting from interactions with another person (89.6%) was comparable to those for nursing homes and hospitals. Although this industry has important economic and social value, risks are poorly characterized. Continued research is necessary.
Howard
Ninica
N
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, 98504-4330, USA. howo235@lni.wa.gov
Adams
Darrin
D
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*