Injuries to workers at nursing homes happen quite frequently and a severe injury can lead to an unusually long furlough and may even be cause for a lawsuit. Because of this very serious issue, nursing homes workers comp is the best solution for averting a financial crisis for owners and managers of homes.

 

The workforce is exposed to a variety of situations where injuries can occur, not least of all in the handling of patients. If they are required to lift patients in and out of bed, for example, there is a good chance that they could become the victim of a back injury. But coming into contact with patients is not the only way that injuries could occur, as demonstrated by a case involving Marta Vandall, an employee at a Tennessee nursing center.

 

Slips, trips and falls can be a concern

 

Earlier this year, a nursing home worker who fell after saying she stepped in an unidentified sticky substance was credible enough to receive workers compensation benefits, even though her supervisors found no work-related cause for her fall, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in April 2013.

 

Ms. Vandall worked as a multiple data set coordinator for Allenbrooke Nursing and Rehabilitation Center L.L.C. in Memphis, Tenn., where she assessed patients' physical and mental status before they were admitted into the facility. Court records show she suffered the injury during her normal work hours.

 

During her employment in August 2009, she fell while walking at Allenbrooke, and was later diagnosed with a broken shoulder and a bruised knee and toe. Ms. Vandall testified in a 2011 trial for workers comp benefits that she fell after her foot became stuck in the unidentified sticky substance stuck to the floor at Allenbrooke, court records indicated.

 

She admitted in court that she did not see anything on the floor at the time of her fall, but said she fell near a medicine cart where patients were often served "very sticky" liquid medications. Records show that two of Ms. Vandall's supervisors testified that they found nothing on the floor after Ms. Vandall's fall.

 

One supervisor said Ms. Vandall was wearing large "Croc-type" shoes, which were prohibited at Allenbrooke because they could create falling hazards, and Ms. Vandall reportedly told Allenbrooke's executive director that she thought her shoes were too big. Regardless, the court ruled in her favor, which resulted in Allenbrooke having to pay benefits for the period that she was unable to work. This case clearly demonstrates the necessity of having nursing homes workers comp in place to deal with instances of this nature.