Impact of a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes on Return-to-Work and Re-injury Outcomes Following Work Injury.

There was no concurrent control group, because all centers received the program, so changes over time cannot be separated from other workplace or claims-management changes. Length of first disability episode decreased in many claim types, including injuries not related to resident handling, so the program cannot be credited with faster recovery from the first injury. The short-term disability analysis, limited to claims of 6 months or less, showed reductions only for non-resident-handling back claims, not resident-handling claims. The cost savings were projected estimates based on assumptions about what would have happened without the program, not measured employer savings. The study used workers' compensation claims, so it did not show how individual workers recovered or why they returned to work. Some claims may have been misclassified, although the authors expected this to be similar across time periods. The back-injury recurrence comparison had limited power because the number of cases was small. The program was implemented by a third-party company, and the second post period had no formal external training or standardization. Findings may not apply to acute care hospitals because patient tasks and acuity differ.

The authors declared no conflict of interest. The article is listed as supported by U.S. government Public Health Service research, and a third-party company implemented the program.

Do not conclude the program shortened first episodes of disability. Length reductions were also seen in injuries not related to resident handling, and the study had no control group.