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Legal Support for Healthcare Work Accidents and Injuries
Nurses, nursing assistants, hospital technicians, and other healthcare staff regularly lift or assist patients as part of their daily responsibilities. These tasks can place significant strain on the body, particularly when patients are immobile, unconscious, or require full physical assistance. A workers’ compensation claim may arise when a healthcare worker suffers an injury while transferring, repositioning, or lifting a patient during medical care.
At Pond Lehocky, our attorneys represent injured workers across Pennsylvania. Medical professionals often perform physically demanding tasks under time pressure in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and home healthcare settings. When an employee has an injured-lifting-a-patient workers’ comp claim, benefits may help cover medical expenses and lost wages during recovery.
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Why Patient Lifting Creates a Significant Risk of Injury in Healthcare
Patient handling is one of the most physically demanding tasks in healthcare environments. Unlike lifting boxes or equipment, patient lifting often involves unpredictable movement. Patients may lose balance, shift their weight unexpectedly, or require sudden support during transfers.
Many health care workers frequently lift patients while moving them between beds and wheelchairs, repositioning them in hospital beds, assisting them to stand or walk, and transferring them onto medical equipment such as imaging tables. These tasks may occur several times during a single shift. Because patients vary widely in weight, mobility, and physical condition, healthcare workers must often adjust their lifting techniques in real time.
Even when proper lifting techniques are used, repeated strain can still cause serious injuries. These situations frequently lead to workers’ compensation claims.
Healthcare Settings Where Patient Lifting Injuries Occur Most Often
Patient lifting injuries can occur in nearly every type of healthcare facility. However, some environments pose a higher risk due to the number of patient transfers required in daily operations. For instance:
- Hospitals are a common location for lifting injuries, especially in emergency departments, intensive care units, and surgical recovery units, where patients may be unable to move independently.
- Long-term care facilities and nursing homes also present elevated risk. Many residents in these facilities require full assistance with mobility and daily care.
- Rehabilitation centers often involve repeated transfers during therapy sessions, which can place strain on injured workers who assist patients during exercises or mobility training.
- Home healthcare workers may also face lifting hazards when assisting patients in private homes that lack specialized lifting equipment.
Because these environments involve frequent patient transfers, injured workers often seek assistance from our experienced attorneys after workplace injuries.
Injuries Workers Suffer from Lifting Patients
Those who assist with patient transfers frequently experience musculoskeletal injuries. These injuries may occur suddenly during a single lift or develop gradually from repeated strain over time.
Herniated Disc from Lifting a Patient
A herniated disc from lifting patient transfers is one of the most common injuries in healthcare settings. When excessive pressure is placed on the spine during lifting, the discs between vertebrae may shift or rupture.
This condition can cause severe back pain, numbness, nerve compression, and reduced mobility. It often requires extended treatment, including physical therapy or surgery in severe cases.
Rotator Cuff Tear from Lifting a Patient
Another common injury is a rotator cuff tear from lifting patient transfers. Rotator cuff tears may occur when a worker lifts a patient who suddenly shifts their weight or when workers attempt to stabilize a falling patient.
Rotator cuff tears can cause chronic shoulder pain, reduced strength, and difficulty lifting objects. In many cases, surgery and long-term rehabilitation may be necessary.
Lower Back Strains and Muscle Injuries
Lower back strains are among the most frequent injuries reported by those who work in healthcare. Repeated bending, twisting, and lifting during patient transfers can strain the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spine.
Knee and Joint Injuries
Patient lifting may also cause knee injuries when workers support a patient’s weight during standing or walking assistance. Sudden shifts in weight can place stress on the knees and other joints. These injuries can significantly limit a worker’s ability to perform daily duties.
Why Patient Lifting Injuries Are Such Common Risk Factors for Healthcare Workers
Several workplace factors contribute to the high rate of lifting injuries. First, staffing shortages can increase the physical workload on individual employees. When fewer staff members are available to assist with patient transfers, workers may attempt lifts without adequate help.
Second, some facilities lack proper lifting equipment, such as mechanical patient lifts or transfer devices. Without these tools, workers must rely on manual lifting techniques.
Third, workers often respond quickly to patient needs, especially in emergencies. When a patient begins to fall or loses balance, workers may instinctively attempt to prevent injury to the patient, even if doing so places them at risk. These circumstances frequently lead to workers’ compensation claims.
Workers’ Comp Benefits for Healthcare Lifting Injuries
Workers injured during patient transfers may qualify for benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, codified at 77 P.S. §1 et seq. This act provides financial and medical support for employees injured while performing job duties.
Medical Treatment Coverage
Workers’ compensation benefits typically cover medical bills related to workplace injuries. This may include emergency treatment options, physician visits, diagnostic imaging, surgery, medications, and rehabilitation therapy.
Wage-Loss Benefits
If an injured worker cannot return to work due to their injury, workers’ compensation may provide wage-loss benefits. These payments help replace a portion of the worker’s lost income during recovery.
Disability Benefits
If a lifting injury causes permanent physical limitations, disability benefits may apply. These benefits may support workers who cannot return to their previous healthcare role due to medical restrictions.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys Today
Those in healthcare dedicate their careers to helping others, but patient lifting injuries remain one of the most common occupational hazards in the medical field. If you suffered a herniated disc from lifting patients, a rotator cuff tear from lifting patients, or another injury during a patient transfer, a healthcare lifting injury attorney can help you understand the protections available under Pennsylvania law.
Workers’ compensation benefits may help cover medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost wages after a workplace injury.
With more than 250 years of combined legal experience, over 100,000 cases won, and more than 3,000 five-star reviews, Pond Lehocky has built a strong reputation for representing injured workers across Pennsylvania. We are committed to helping injured workers pursue the compensation and support they need to recover and move forward. Contact us today to schedule a case review.
