Healthcare workers are among the most generous employees. Risking their own health and safety to care for a victim of illness or injury involves great courage. When healthcare workers face illness or injury themselves, however, they may wish to obtain workers’ compensation.
If you work within the scope of your employment and conduct various activities required for your position, you may confront danger or be subjected to serious, contagious illnesses. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) works to provide ways to promote best practices for safely engaging in workplace activities. Yet sometimes, healthcare workers still come into contact with bodily harm. Workers’ compensation gives healthcare workers the opportunity to obtain reimbursement for medical costs of their work injuries or illnesses.
Common injuries to nurses, physicians and hospital aid
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare workers face multiple hazards that could inflict illness or injury.
Among the most common include infectious agents, or illnesses such as:
- Bloodborne pathogens: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
- Flu
- Ebola
- Tuberculosis
Healthcare workers may touch or ingest chemical hazards that burn or cause allergic reactions that may inflict life-threatening symptoms.
Lastly and most commonly, healthcare workers face physical injuries. Handling patients and operating heavy equipment may cause temporary and lifelong pain in the neck, back, wrists and knees. The CDC reports that healthcare workers even face violent encounters with uncooperative patients during the course of a shift.
Workers’ compensation for healthcare workers
Just as workers’ compensation provides reimbursement for factory, maintenance and construction workers, the law requires healthcare companies to carry insurance to help remedy costs associated with medical personnel’s’ illnesses and injuries. You acknowledge the risks that your position applies, but you deserve compensation if you face injury while working.
In a workers’ compensation claim in a healthcare career, you can obtain reimbursement for:
- Medical costs
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medication
- Loss of work, should you need recovery time
You may deserve compensation should you face injury or illness when you take care of patients in the healthcare industry. Should you wish to bring a workers’ compensation claim against your employer, you want to contact an experienced attorney to help you file all correct documentation and evidence, so that you can receive all required benefits.
