No other remote worker demographic is more at risk right now that healthcare workers are literally, on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. Healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses are treating those with the deadly virus, selflessly putting their lives on the line to do so. This is evident in the fact that as of April 15, more than 9,000 healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19.
While still a dangerous place to work, hospitals are more predictable and potentially less dangerous than the homes of patients where home healthcare workers venture, often alone, to provide needed care.
Who Are These Home Healthcare Heroes?
Public health/community health workers, including those who compile, model, analyze and communicate public health information
Workers providing COVID-19 testing; Workers that perform critical clinical research needed for COVID-19 response
Caregivers (e.g., physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, speech pathologists and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists)
Hospital and laboratory personnel (including accounting, administrative, admitting and discharge, engineering, epidemiological, source plasma and blood donation, food service, housekeeping, medical records, information technology and operational technology, nutritionists, sanitarians, respiratory therapists, etc.)
Workers in other medical facilities (including Ambulatory Health and Surgical, Blood Banks, Clinics, Community Mental Health, Comprehensive Outpatient rehabilitation, End Stage Renal Disease, Health Departments, Home Health care, Hospices, Hospitals, Long Term Care, Organ Pharmacies, Procurement Organizations, Psychiatric Residential, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers)
Home healthcare workers during the pandemic
Even before the pandemic, these home healthcare workers experienced high levels of violence. The Government Accountability Office reported more than 730,000 assaults in the health care industry between 2009 and 2013 with nurses, psychiatric, home health, and personal care aides bearing the highest risk. Most of these violent incidents are a result of a patient-inflicted assault and unfortunately, the number of instances each year is steadily increasing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that between the years 2006 and 2016, the number of workplace assaults reported each year has increased by 63%.
On top of those startling number of assaults, healthcare workers experience a host of other injuries including:
Back injuries. Due to the demanding physical nature of most healthcare jobs, particularly in the home where the worker may be alone. Back injuries are estimated to total $7 billion per year.
Overexertion. Repetitive stress causes serious injuries.
Needle sticks.
Head injuries.
Slips and falls. When water or liquids are spilled on the floor of a patient’s home or hospital, a healthcare worker can fall on the slick floor.
Protecting Home Healthcare Workers
Equip all home healthcare workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, mask/face shield, and gown.
Provide a panic button for the worker. If assaulted or threatened by a patient, the healthcare worker can press the panic button.
If assaulted or if they fall or pass out and are unconscious, the fall-detection feature of a worker monitoring service will signal for help. If a healthcare worker is unable to call for help, the missed check-in with the worker monitoring service will signal for help.
Read More from this COVID-19: Essential Services Series
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Essential Services: Energy Workers Protecting the Lives of Those Who Power Our Communities
Essential Services: Protecting Our Water Workers and Keeping Our Communities Hydrated and Clean
Essential Services: Food and Agriculture Workers, Protecting Those Who Feed Our Communities
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