#2

Lone Worker Safety

Home health workers have little control over their environment when they enter a person's home. Potential hazards include accidents, weapons, illegal drugs, verbal abuse, or physical violence.

Lone Worker Safety

Unlike a traditional healthcare setting, home health workers have little control over their environment when they enter a person's home. Potential hazards include accidents, weapons, illegal drugs, verbal abuse, or physical violence. Industry experts say incidents are increasing, and socioeconomic status doesn't appear to be a factor. "It is happening across the board," Andrea Devoti, executive vice president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, told Forbes. "Private pay patients, those with commercial insurance, those on Medicare, Medicaid, you name it."

A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that between 2015 and 2020, more than 117,000 homecare workers were treated in ERs for injuries. Ninety-three percent were women. While more than half suffered overexertion injuries, 15 percent were hurt in accidents, and another 15 percent suffered violence from either people or pets.

In an industry that's long struggled to find enough workers, pairing people up for additional safety is usually not an option. Not only do home health organizations want to find better ways to protect their people, but they're conscious that if the industry gets a reputation for being unsafe, it'll exacerbate staffing challenges.

Thankfully, it's an area where new developments in mobile technology can make a big difference. Stratix works with device makers and software providers that offer solutions like connected teams that frequently check in on each other and share information about "problem" appointments. Mobile devices can be configured with panic buttons that bypass lock screens and send GPS locations to a call center staffed with experts on home health situations who will respond appropriately and dispatch help. Even if there's no emergency, workers can utilize features like "walk with me" if they're in an area or situation where they're uncomfortable.

Using Mobile Tech to Keep Home Health Workers Safe

Unlike a traditional healthcare setting, home health workers have little control over their environment when they enter a person's home. So, what do we do about it? In this podcast episode, we talk with Morgan Kircher, Chief Development Officer for Katana Safety, about technology solutions for keeping workers as safe as possible.