Experimental Exercise #2 & #4

Experiential Exercise – Chapter 13 # 2 & #4

Exercise #2: Many of the maintenance staff (who are mostly male) at Hospital B are experiencing back injuries that have caused a shortage of technicians on any given shift. Hospital B recently began staff cutbacks, scheduling no male aids who are trained to assist with patient transfers. What correlations are there between the back injuries and staff cutbacks? What steps can Hospital B take to resolve both issues?

Analysis and Evaluation

Correlations: Direct and Indirect Costs of Injuries correlated to having to Cut Costs elsewhere (i.e. Staff Cutbacks) causing mandatory overtime of existing staff and more health problems related to stress, such as increasing the risk of muscle and skeletal disorders, heart disease, depression, and burnout.

Direct costs: workers' compensation payments, medical expenses, and costs for legal services.

Indirect costs: training replacement employees, accident investigation and implementation of corrective measures, lost productivity, repairs of damaged equipment and property, and costs associated with lower employee morale and absenteeism.

Steps: In recent years, several states have passed legislation limiting mandatory overtime for nurses except in emergencies, and as of February 2009, 15 states have at least some restrictions.

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Exercise #4: Hospital D has added a new process to its operations. The hospital has an excellent health and safety record, but its safety officer has just retired. Three weeks after the new process is implemented, employees began complaining of stiff joints, headaches, and tiredness. The timing of such complaints is coinciding with the active flu season. How does Hospital D differentiate between the two possible causes of the symptoms? Is the hospital obligated to pay medical costs associated with any testing? What questions should management ask, and how would management measure...