title: An economic analysis of a safe resident handling program in nursing homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational injuries, especially back problems related to resident handling, are common in nursing home employees and their prevention may require substantial up-front investment. This study evaluated the economics of a safe resident handling program (SRHP), in a large chain of skilled nursing facilities, from the corporation's perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  The company provided data on program costs, compensation claims, and turnover rates (2003-2009). Workers' compensation and turnover costs before and after the intervention were compared against investment costs using the "net-cost model."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 110 centers, the overall benefit-to-cost ratio was 1.7-3.09 and the payback period was 1.98-1.06 year (using alternative turnover cost estimates). The average annualized net savings per bed for the 110 centers (using company based turnover cost estimates) was $143, with a 95% confidence interval of $22-$264. This was very similar to the average annualized net savings per full time equivalent (FTE) staff member, which was $165 (95% confidence interval $22-$308). However, at 49 centers costs exceeded benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased costs of worker injury compensation claims and turnover appear at least partially attributable to the SRHP. Future research should examine center-specific factors that enhance program success, and improve measures of turnover costs and healthcare productivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA. supriya_lahiri@uml.edu
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.forename: Saira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Punnett
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data