When someone works in healthcare, they work hard to ensure that the injured and ill are well taken care of during their time of need. However, the job puts many healthcare workers in a position that puts them at high risk of becoming the next patient to need treatment.
Injuries And Illnesses Commonly Reported In Healthcare Jobs
The following are the most common injuries and illnesses reported by healthcare workers:
Joint Injury
In many cases, healthcare workers are expected to lift and move their patients. Although machines exist to help with this task, hospitals and other facilities don’t want to spend the money to purchase them. Additionally, many healthcare facilities are chronically understaffed, leaving workers to lift without help.
Knee and ankle injuries are common when a worker is not provided with the correct support during lifting.
Back Injuries
Back injuries, such as muscle tears, spinal cord compression, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae are all common and can result from improper lifting, slip and fall accidents, and other workplace accidents.
Injuries Caused By Violence
Sadly, healthcare workers who are only trying to help often become victims of violence. This may be the result of a patient who is mentally unstable, being caught in the crossfire between multiple parties, or drug-seeking patients – the result is the same. Stabbings, shootings, and physical assaults are common in healthcare facilities.
Traumatic Brain Injury
When the brain is damaged the soft tissue can swell, bleed, and may actually die. A closed or penetrating head injury can cause permanent issues with speech, mobility, fine motor skills, memory, and can even cause personality changes.
Occupational Disease
Diseases can spread through the air, through touch, and through exposure to blood. In healthcare, some of the more serious infectious diseases include:
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Tuberculosis
- Influenza
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Making the same motions over and over again can cause inflammation and damage in a joint – commonly the shoulder, knee, and elbow. Repetitive motion injuries occur over time and can be difficult to diagnose. It can be even more difficult to obtain coverage through workers’ compensation for these types of injuries
Healthcare workers who are struggling to obtain the compensation that they need through workers’ comp may want to consider contacting a workers’ comp law firm for a consultation.
