What Should I Do If I am Injured While Working in a Healthcare Setting?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)) cites data showing that workplace injuries occur at a disproportionately high rate in healthcare settings. Indeed, injuries in healthcare settings are common due to the physically demanding and high-stress nature of the job. At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., we help healthcare workers navigate the claims process. Here, our Chambersburg workers’ comp attorney explains the steps that you should take if you are hurt in a healthcare setting in Pennsylvania.

Step #1: Seek Immediate Medical Attention

If you were hurt on the job, you need immediate medical attention. There is an unfortunate tendency for healthcare workers in Pennsylvania to downplay injuries due to familiarity with medical settings. Doing so is a mistake—and it can be a costly one. Whether it is a needlestick, musculoskeletal strain from lifting a patient, a slip on a wet hospital floor, or any other type of injury, you need to get it checked out the right way. Not only is the failure to do so bad for your health and recovery, but it can also undermine your workers’ comp claim.

Tip: Healthcare workers should always visit an authorized medical provider under their employer’s workers’ compensation panel.

Step #2: Report the Incident to Your Employer

All injuries that happen in a healthcare setting should be reported. You need to notify your employer, whether through your supervisor or HR, that you were injured or made ill on the job. Prompt reporting is essential in any workplace injury, but especially so in healthcare, where injuries may involve biohazards, infectious exposure, or patient-related issues. Further, if you fail to report the incident to your employer, you may not be able to get workers’ comp.

Step #3: Document Everything That Happens

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state for workers’ comp benefits. Still, the more information you have about the incident, the easier it will be to bring a claim and seek benefits. Accurate documentation can make or break your workers’ compensation claim, particularly so if a serious dispute arises. In a healthcare environment, this includes noting the time, location, specific equipment or procedures involved, and any witnesses. If your injury involves a biohazard, such as bloodborne pathogens, you should include details such as PPE worn, the patient’s known infectious status, and follow-up treatment that was administered.

Step #4: Get the Claims Forms and File for Workers’ Compensation

Notifying your employer of the incident is not the same thing as filing for workers’ comp benefits. You should follow up with your human resources or risk management department on the matter, get the right forms, and ensure that your workers’ compensation claim is properly filed. Many healthcare systems have dedicated occupational health liaisons to assist in this process.

Contact Our Chambersburg Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Health Workers Today

At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., our Chambersburg workers’ comp attorney has the experience that health care workers can rely on. If you or your loved one was injured while working in a healthcare setting, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free case consultation. With an office in Chambersburg and an office in Gettysburg, we represent injured health care workers throughout the surrounding region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.