Work-Accident -Compensation Accident Claim Work: hospital acquired infections

Jumat, 01 Juli 2011

CDC Seeks to End Needle Stick Injuries

Infections caused by transmission through needle-stick injuries have plagued work comp systems for decades. Today the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has launched a public relations effort to prevent needle stick injuries.

Sharps injuries are a significant injury and health hazard for health care workers and also result in a number of direct and indirect organizational costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 385,000 sharps-related injuries occur annually among health care workers. More recent estimates from The Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet™) indicate this number may have been increasing steadily during the past nine years. It is estimated about one third of these injuries go unreported. Most reported sharps injuries involve nursing staff, but laboratory staff, physicians, housekeepers, and other health care workers are also injured.

Workers' Compensation benefits include temporary, medical and permanent disability awards. On many occasions, medical monitoring is ordered by the Court for the duration of the life of the injured workers. If the infections results in a fatality, then the employer may be responsible for dependency benefits payable to to surviving dependents.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

Kamis, 09 Juni 2011

3 Ways Infections Become Compensable in Workmens Comp

Infections are nasty and sometimes fatal. Ill employees maybe entitled to collect workmens comp benefits for the treatment and residuals of an infection. Infections are considered communicable diseases and are contagious. There are 3 types of infections that be eligible for payment.

Infections that flow from a traumatic event are generally compensable. Even if there is a delay in seeking professional medical care the injured employee may be entitled to benefits. Sometimes the infections is dormant and does not become manifest for some time after the traumatic event that caused the injury. Preventative antibiotic treatment is sometimes recommended.

Some infections are contracted during treatment such as infection that are acquired during hospital stay. Those are called Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI). These infection are expensive to treat and are a major concern to insurance carriers and government insurance programs such as Medicare. Medicare plans to impose economic penalties on hospitals for infections, ie. staph (MRSA), that patient acquired during hospital stays.

A third type of infections are those that are the result of occupational accident and injuries. First responders and medical personnel who suffer from exposure to meningitis, strep and HIV patients. These exposures may occur by simple contamination of the work area. In California legislation has been offered to establish a presumption that hospital employees infected on the job qualify for workers' compensation benefits.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

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