ATTACK AT HOSPITAL WITH MEDICAL WORKERS STABBED: INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS # 40

Headlines reported that Encino Hospital Workers were attacked a stabbed by an Attacker.  These workers were reportedly in critical condition.  Dailymail.com

This article will discuss the immediate concern on this matter.

What Is the Major Concern with This Incident? 

Given the facts and the assumption that the same knife was used in the attack each victim, it is likely that the workers may have been exposed to each others blood.   Thus, a long term issue is the concern with respect to this injury is whether the workers were exposed to a  Blood Borne Illness.  Blood Borne Illnesses include Malaria, Syphilis, and Brucellosis, and Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  As such, treatment and monitoring for these illnesses would be part of the work injury protocol.  Thus, besides treating the Injured Workers  wounds and likely psychological injuries, an additional Internal Medicine Program will be included to provide prophylaxis treatment as well as testing and monitoring for blood borne pathogens.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

highway patrol car

CAN A POLICE OFFICER CLAIM INJURY WHEN HE WAS BITTEN BY HIS PARTNER? INJURED WORKER IN THE NEWS, #26

In Florida, a Police Officer sustained a work-related injury when was bitten a fellow Police Officer. His K9 partner may have tried to take a bite out of crime but instead bit his partner’s arm.  It is reported that the dog became agitated during an attempted arrest.  The dog bit his handler. Dailymail.com 

This fact pattern raises the questions as to whether an Employee can file a workers’ compensation claim when they get injured as a result of a co-worker’s mistake.   The fact pattern raises a treatment issue. Dog bites present unique issues.

Can an Injured Worker File a Claim If They Are Injured By A Co-Worker?

Yes.  Generally, workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system   This applies to the actions of co-workers.  Thus, the dog bite by his K-9 Partner is a valid workers’ compensation claim.

What Type Of Treatment Can Be Provided? 

In the instance of a dog bite, there is a concern whether the dog may have had rabies.  Thus, the Police Officer may be put on rabies treatment protocol. Likewise, treatment may be necessary to prevent infection.

Labor Code Section 4600 provides that “(a) medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, and hospital treatment, including nursing, medicines, medical and surgical supplies, crutches, and apparatuses, including orthotic and prosthetic devices and services, that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the worker’s injury shall be provided by the employer. In the case of the employer’s neglect or refusal reasonably to do so, the employer is liable for the reasonable expense incurred by or on behalf of the employee in providing treatment. (b) As used in this division and notwithstanding any other law, medical treatment that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the worker’s injury means treatment that is based upon the guidelines adopted by the administrative director pursuant to Section 5307.27.”

Thus, the medical providers treating these type of bite injuries, within the guidelines, will provide treatment to prevent infection on this matter.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

doctor looking at a teeth x ray

COVID-19 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CASES AND PERMANENT DISABILITY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

A Stanford University Study reported on the residual complications from COVID-19. This study is important to Injured Workers who have filed COVID-19 related claims.

This article will address the study and what it means for Injured Workers.

What Was the Study About?

The study looked at COVID-19 patients, most of them who had been hospitalized, who reported symptoms and signs months after they became ill.  Stanford Press Release.

What Did the Study Find?

The study reported 84 different symptoms and signs from the patients. “Among the most common lingering symptoms were shortness of breath, fatigue, and sleep disorders.   In all, 84 different symptoms and clinical signs were reported, including loss of taste, and smell, cognitive disorders such as loss of memory and difficulty concentrating, depression, anxiety, chest pain and fevers.” Stanford.

Also, these persistant symptoms were found present in about 70 percent of those patients coming out of moderate to serious COVID-19. Stanford.

What Does This Mean for Injured Workers?

At some point, if these symptoms remain persistent, the Treating Doctors, Qualified Medical Evaluators, and Agreed Medical Evaluators will need to make a determination that these symptoms should be considered as permanent impairment. An assignment as permanent impairment allows an Injured Worker to collect permanent disability benefits.  The medical providers, in order to do so, may need to do make these determinations ahead of additional studies that may come in the future.

Further, due to the myriad of symptomology, a variety of specialties may be necessaryt to address these impairments.  These specialties may include internal medicine doctors, neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

What You Need To Know About Healthcare Workers, Covid-19’s Mental Health Impact, And Workers’ Compensation

Many California Healthcare Workers are in the frontline of treating COVID-19 treatment.  Treating pandemic patients can take an emotional toll on healthcare professionals.

A recent study looked into this psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare workers. Healthcare workers who suffer emotional symptoms as a result of their work may need to seek medical attention.  If this is the circumstance, these emotional symptoms may give rise to a work injury claim.   As a result, a workers’ compensation case may be claimed.

This article will look into COVID-19’s emotional impact on frontline health care workers and how they can address this issue.

What are the General Mental Health Challenges of Healthcare Workers?

Irrespective of COVID-19, Healthcare Workers are at risk for emotional injuries, burnout is a common emotional problem. “Burnout in healthcare workers is widely understood as having three separate dimensions.”  It can include feelings of emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced personal achievement. (Freudenberger, 1974; Selamu et al., 2019). Deng D, Naslund JA. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Frontline Health Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Harv Public Health Rev (Camb). 2020;28:https://harvardpublichealthreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deng-and-Naslund-2020-28.pdf.

Studies have demonstrated prevalence of burnout to be as high as 70% for physicians and 50% for nurses in some high-income countries (Aiken, 2002; Lamothe et al., 2014). Supra.

How Can a Public Health Crises Impact the HealthCare Workers Emotionally?

 “Public health crises such as infectious disease outbreaks, in the form of either epidemic or pandemic, can often bring about high levels of acute and chronic stress in both the victims and frontline health workers. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 5th edition (DSM-5) as a constellation of emotional and behavioral changes in response to traumatic events. Individuals with PTSD often experience recurrent flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable anxiety.” Deng D, Naslund JA. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Frontline Health Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Harv Public Health Rev (Camb). 2020;28:https://harvardpublichealthreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deng-and-Naslund-2020-28.pdf.

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Healthcare Workers Emotionally?

Several emotional conditions have been connected to COVID-19. Studies have found increase level of PTSD and Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Insomnia among healthcare workers. Supra.

Are There Risk Factors with Respect to Healthcare Workers’ Emotional Reactions?

Yes.

Direct Contact With COVID-19 Patients: Healthcare Workers in direct contact with COVID 19 patients were found to have higher prevalence of emotional symptoms.

Work Experience: Workers with fewer years of work experience were found to be at risk of emotional symptoms.

Sex:  Female workers had a higher prevalence of affective symptoms than male counterparts.

Occupation: Nurses were found to have more emotional issues versus other medical staff. Supra.

What Can a Health Worker Do If They Are Having Emotional Systems?

First, they should seek medical attention. This can be done via Health Insurance, an Employee Assistance Program or Workers’ Compensation.   It is recommended that a Healthcare Worker consult with an attorney prior to deciding which route to initially take.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for over 28 years. Contact us today for more information.

RADIOGRAPHIC WORKERS AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Radiology Workers have safety challenges when they perform their duties. They are exposed to a variety of things that make them susceptible to work injuries.

In event they get injured while performing their duties, they would be entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim to collect benefits and receive medical care.

This article will discuss the Radiology Worker Occupation, Industrial Exposures that place them at risk of industrial injury and the mechanisms of injury.

What Are Radiographic Workers?

Radiographic Workers are medical professions. They handle medical imaging of the human body.  There are many different technologies that are used to perform such imaging.  Imaging studies that that Radiologists can perform Computed Tomography Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine Imaging (This includes Positron-Emission Tomography (PET)), Ultrasound, and X-Ray.

Some of these imaging studies require the patients to have dyes injected into their bodies to allow for enhanced imaging.

Radiographic Workers can work in both the public and private sections. They can work in hospitals, prisons and other medical facilities.

What Types of Medical Conditions Can Radiology Workers Be Exposed to at Work?

Radiology Workers can sustain industrial injuries to practically all body parts and systems.  Radiology Workers are at risk of infectious disease in the workplace. Radiology Workers are at risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. Occupational Health and Radiation Safety of Radiography Workers Hasna Albander

What is an Infectious Exposure? Are There Different Forms?

Infectious exposure is an exposure that is transmitted from one source into a host.  The term host refers to the infected person. Thus, the Radiology Worker becomes the host of the infectious disease. Essentially, these occupational exposures enter the worker’s body and causes illness.

How Many Forms of Infectious Exposures Are There?

There are six forms of Infectious exposure.  They are Direct Transmission, Indirect Transmission via Fluids, Indirect Transmission by vectors, Indirect transmission by Vehicles ,Indirect Transmission via Vehicles, Indirect Transmission via Airborne Media, and Indirect Transmission via Droplets. Occupational Health and Radiation Safety of Radiography Workers Hasna Albander

What Is Direct Transmission?

Direct Transmission is when the infectious agent is transmitted by direct contact of the infectious agent from one individual to a susceptible host (worker. CDC)  For example, direct transmission can be skin to skin contact.

What Is Indirect Transmission via Fluids?

Indirect Transmission by Fluids. An example of indirect transmission by fluid is urine.

What is Indirect Transmission via Vectors?

Indirect Transmission by Vectors. The term vector essentially refers to insect bites. Examples of transfer by vector would be bites from mosquitos, fleas and ticks.

What is Indirect Transmission via Vehicles?

Indirect Transmission by Vehicles is essentially when an object carries the infection. Examples of vehicles include a number of items such as food, water, biologic products (blood), and fomites (inanimate objects such as handkerchiefs, bedding, or surgical scalpels). CDC.

What is Indirect Transmission by Airborne Media?

Indirect Transmission by Airborne Media is when the agents are suspended in the air.  An example of this agents includes dust and droplets that contain microorganisms or spores.  CDC

What is indirect Transmission by Droplets?

Indirect Transmission by Droplets is when there is a liquid transmission. Eye, Nose or Mouth fluids are examples of this transmission. Thus, sneezing, coughing and tearing are forms of droplet transmission.

What Types of Illnesses Can Arise from Transmission?

Per the CDC, “[w]orkers in the healthcare industry are also at risk for influenza as well as airborne (such as tuberculosis “[TB]) and percutaneously transmitted (such as HIV) infection from patients” Su CP, de Perio MA, Cummings KJ, McCague AB, Luckhaupt SE, Sweeney MH. Case Investigations of Infectious Diseases Occurring in Workplaces, United States, 2006-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019;25(3):397-405. doi:10.3201/eid2503.180708

What Are Examples of Cumulative Trauma Musculoskeletal Exposures of Radiology Workers?

There are a variety of ways that repetitive trauma musculoskeletal injuries are described in literature. This includes recurrence motion injury, repeated strain and cumulative trauma disorder. Occupational Health and Radiation Safety of Radiography Workers, Hasna Albander

Cumulative Trauma injuries can be specific to the imaging that the worker performs.  For example, “[c]omputerized technologists are more likely to experience spinal stress and RSI from intensive keyboard work. Intense keyboard work. RSI keyboard affects CTD ‘s hands and grips. Like tendinitis, carpal and ganglion syndrome. Occupational Health and Radiation Safety of Radiography Workers, Hasna Albander

Sonographers are also at risk for cumulative trauma injuries due to equipment design, low posture, constant transducer pressure, difficult movements, unsatisfactory breaks, and overall stress. Occupational Health and Radiation Safety of Radiography Workers, Hasna Albander

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

 

 

 

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