Lost Time Accidents: What they are, and why you should track them.

Get ready for a blog that is going to be distinctly un-sexy (disappointing, I know. Especially for a Friday post!). In a blog committed to the deep examination of how caregiving businesses can run more efficiently, safely, AND profitably (by increasing QUALITY!), we have come to a subject most might prefer to avoid thinking about.

Lost. Time. Accidents.

If these are words you’ve never heard before, let me explain. A lost time accident is when an injury occurs on the job that causes a loss of productivity. Lost time accidents are recorded in many industries, like manufacturing, as a matter of course. Why? Because it helps organizations to track how safety is impacting their bottom line.

Usually, a lost time accident is recorded when an employee is injured such that they can’t return immediately to work. In caregiver organizations, however, it needs to be defined a little differently. Why? Because in any caregiver interaction, there are AT LEAST TWO people who could be injured and lead to a loss of productive time. These people are, of course, the caregiver and the person they are caring for.

See, if a caregiver is injured on the job and cannot work (either for a period of time, or permanently), then there are two possibilities. One, is that that caregiver must be replaced, and replaced quickly. If the pool of caregivers available is not strong, is small, or has inconsistent skills sets, then replacing the injured caregiver quickly can be VERY difficult. Office staff, high level administrators, or even business owners may have to step temporarily into the caregiver role (meaning this is now also a lost time event for vital office staff functions, including growth, marketing, quality control, etc. Not to mention the difference in the cost of sending office staff or administrators to provide care vs. a caregiver. You can see how this issue has a domino effect.)

The second possibility is that the caregiver cannot be quickly replaced. The company has to refer to a competitor, or someone else outside the organizations steps in. Either way, that revenue is gone (and may well be gone for good. See how to calculate costs of lost clients HERE).

Now, those are just the effects if the CAREGIVER is injured. But what happens if the CLIENT is injured? Well, depending on the injury, they may need to be transported to the hospital. They may end up with a prolonged stay, or go to rehab, or not be able to return to their prior living situation. They could die.

They may not be injured severely, but now they have a quality complaint. The family isn’t happy and thinks about changing their loved one’s living situation. They think, maybe Mom or Dad needs a higher level of care…. Maybe this situation isn’t working… Maybe I should bring them home to me… maybe this company or community isn’t as good as we thought it was…. Now, maybe they forgive the situation and let it slide… but there is a good chance those questions are going through their mind (even if they don’t tell you about it.)

Either way, there is AT THE VERY LEAST the potential for lost time with that client, and the HIGH POTENTIAL for losing the client altogether. (calculate your organizations lost revenue from lost clients HERE). 

We won’t even get into your insurance costs here. 

Lost time accidents have a distinct impact on a caregiving organizations. They are demoralizing. They disrupt workflow. They reduce revenue and negatively impact growth potential. So, you need to STOP them.

You can’t prevent every accident ever from occurring, but if we’ve learned anything from quality control and systematic safety systems in lots of industries, we know that these problems are NOT out of our control.

Lost time accidents CAN BE PREVENTED. Through systematic, comprehensive, ON-GOING, HIGH-QUALITY training.

To start tracking your lost time accidents, or if this article struck a nerve, reach out. Emilia.bourland@aipctherapy.com

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