SBAR Communication Technique

The scope of home care services is key to minimizing risk and ensuring the safety of your employees and their clients. But clients and their families sometimes ask employees to perform tasks not covered in the program’s scope of services or that are beyond the competency of employees.

To ensure the integrity of care, employees need to communicate properly with clients and their

January 28th, 2020|Risk management, Uncategorized|

Protect your Business with Hired and Non-Owned Automobile Liability Insurance

It’s important to have the right Hired and Non-Owned Automobile Liability Insurance for your business if employees will be traveling with or on behalf of clients. That’s because the coverage that applies in an accident will depend on who’s driving and whose vehicle is being used.

Lockton Affinity offers Hired and Non-owned Automobile Liability (HNOA) insurance to help you protect your business in

December 31st, 2019|Home Care insurance, Uncategorized|

Animal Bite Prevention

Animal bite prevention is an important issue in the U.S. today. For the home healthcare worker, it is important to recognize when a client’s pet may be a problem to one’s safety.

Take the necessary animal bite prevention measures to acknowledge the pet is secured during the care visit. While pets come in a wide variety of types and breeds, this RiskTopic focuses

December 27th, 2019|Safety, Uncategorized|

Preventing Blood Borne Pathogen Exposures

Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) blood borne pathogen standard1 has been in place for years, many healthcare organizations continue to experience significant employee injuries involving blood borne pathogen exposures.

This RiskTopic explores blood borne pathogen exposures to home healthcare workers. It also offers guidance to help prevent injuries from blood and bodily fluids for those working in this environment.

Home healthcare

December 27th, 2019|Risk management, Safety, Uncategorized|

Responding to Combative Behavior in the Home Care Environment

This RiskTopic discusses why clients in the home healthcare environment may become aggressive and/or violent. It also offers considerations on how to respond to combative behavior and how to prevent related employee injuries.

Home care workers may be particularly vulnerable to client or family aggression because they generally work alone in the home environment. It is important the home health caregiver knows how

November 21st, 2019|Risk management, Uncategorized|

Transportation Safety Checklist

Do you do these things when transporting your clients?

  • Client’s seatbelt is secured properly
  • Your seatbelt is secured properly
  • ­Shoulder belt is not placed behind the client’s back or under the arm
  • ­Client is secured in back seat where appropriate
  • ­Driving distractions have been eliminated (such as cell phones)
  • ­Vehicle walk-around inspection completed
  • ­Vehicle engine, steering, lights, etc. are working properly
  • ­Vehicle
August 21st, 2019|Safety, Uncategorized|

What to Include on Job Applications

Prior to hiring a new employee, ensure the job description and job application are specific and reflect the actual position. This can help reduce confusion for applicants and ensure you get applicants with the right level of experience and education.

Job applications should include the following questions:

  • Full name
  • Addresses for past 10 years
  • Educational background
  • Detailed employment history
  • Reasons for leaving current
August 21st, 2019|Risk management, Uncategorized|

Bedbug Guidance

Consider training your employees on the identification of bedbugs and measures to reduce contamination or cross-contamination.

Your local extension office can often provide a bedbug training program or direct you to a local pest management company or authority for training. These programs often include ways to identify evidence of bedbugs like stains and molted skin, where bedbugs can hide and how to inspect

July 3rd, 2019|Safety, Uncategorized|

Safe client handling and mobility in the home care environment

This RiskTopic explores possibilities regarding why home healthcare workers may be injured while assisting in client care, particularly when aiding in mobility and client handling. It also offers guidance regarding how workers may safely move clients using safe client handling techniques and any available mobility technology.

Click here to download the full whitepaper.

July 3rd, 2019|Safety, Uncategorized|

Slip, trip and fall prevention in the home healthcare environment

Employee injuries from slipping, tripping and/or falling in the home healthcare setting are generally the first or second most frequent type of employee injury for the typical home healthcare operation. These incidents may be very costly and result in serious injury to the employee. Although they are preventable in some circumstances, it may be more difficult to implement normal controls because the

July 3rd, 2019|Safety, Uncategorized|