Common Injuries for Hospital Workers in Emergency Medicine
Maryland hospital workers in nearly any role can sustain injuries on the job, but hospital workers in certain areas can be at greater risk of injury than others. In particular, workers in emergency departments and emergency medicine are frequently among the types of hospital workers reporting the highest rates of injury and missed workdays. Why is this type of medicine so hazardous for workers, and what types of injuries are most common? Our Maryland hospital worker injury lawyers can explain in more detail below, and we can begin working with you on your workers’ compensation claim as soon as you are ready.
What is Involved in Emergency Medicine?
Emergency departments are often fast-paced environments in which there are patients with a broad diversity of medical needs that are all urgent. The care teams and staff members that make up emergency departments are also varied. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the health care team in an emergency room or department typically includes the following types of providers:
- Emergency physician;
- Nurse practitioner;
- Physicians’ assistant;
- Registered nurses; and
- Interns.
In addition, there are various staff members working in and moving through emergency departments at any given time, including but not limited to:
- Ambulance paramedics;
- Technicians;
- Administrative staff members;
- Environmental services staff members and custodians;
- Security staff;
- Pharmacists;
- Chaplains and other religious figures; and
- Social workers.
Types of Injuries Common in Emergency Departments
With various professionals and employees moving rapidly through emergency departments and working to handle the number of patients requiring urgent care, different types of accidents can happen that may result in injuries. In addition, emergency department employees can sustain injuries from repetitive motions over time rather than in a single traumatic accident. Some of the most common types of injuries reported by emergency department staff members, from emergency physicians to custodial workers, include the following:
- Exposures to infectious disease, both through coming into contact with patients or contaminated surfaces, as well as through needle sticks;
- Exposures to hazardous substances and chemicals, including sterilizing or cleaning products as well as certain medications or drugs being administered in the hospital;
- Assault-related injuries from patients or family members; and
- Musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive stress or overuse, such as lifting and turning patients.
Contact a Maryland Hospital Worker Injury Lawyer for Assistance with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
If you were injured on the job while working in an emergency department or in any facet of emergency medicine, it is important to know that you may be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. As we discussed above, due to the fast-paced nature of work in emergency departments and emergency medicine, as well as the range of medical issues that providers must attend to, these are high-stress environments where even minor mistakes can result in serious injuries. To find out more about seeking workers’ compensation benefits, you should reach out to one of the experienced Maryland hospital worker injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC to discuss the details of your injury and your eligibility for benefits. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Source:
emergencyphysicians.org/article/er101/different-roles-of-the-care-team
