AHA Launches Ergonomic Risk Management Product Designed to be a Total Loss Prevention Program.

Health & Medical Writers/Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--March 2, 2000

To help make the health care workplace safer for employees, AHA Insurance Resource Inc., a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association, has awarded the exclusive AHA endorsement to Donald P. Maynes and Associates for AHA's Ergonomic Risk Management program called the "Caregiver Optimal Safety Transfer System" or (C.O.S.T.S.(c)). This program represents a total health care ergonomic safety solution--bringing together risk analysis, patient handling systems, customer service, awareness, training and a performance guarantee.

When employees and residents are injured, everybody loses. The injured and their family suffer and so does the health care facility. One study of nursing homes put average workers' compensation costs at $100,000 per claim and liability verdicts between $180,000 and $1.5 million (Nursing Homes, May 1993).

Through components such as risk and loss analysis, patient handling systems, service and support, C.O.S.T.S.(c) eliminates accidents and injuries in many departments of a health care organization, ensuring program success. Its BACKSAFE(TM) and SITTINGSAFE(TM) employee education modules prevent the musculoskeletal disorders inherent in patient handling as well as those encountered in dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, administrative, and laboratory environments.

The program, which includes a "guarantee" of performance offered through London insurers, is designed to be neutral on an accounting basis, meaning that the payment for the program is taken from the institution's funds previously allocated to pay for accidents. The guarantee means that the health care organization will save as much money as the program costs. If not, reimbursements will be made, dollar for dollar, and the health care organization will keep all services, equipment, and everything associated with the C.O.S.T.S.(c) program.

"We believe this program serves as the most effective ergonomic intervention plan for health care," states Tony Spohn, Vice President of Risk Management programs at AHA Insurance Resource. "This program simply makes economic sense and carries no front-end risk to the user because of the guarantee. Every organization with significant workers compensation expenses should implement this program."

C.O.S.T.S.(c) guarantees reduced compensation expenses. Other benefits include:

-    Reduced turnover because employees stay healthy and on the job
-    Increased employee morale as people see concern for their safety
-    Recurrent training for all new employees
-    Reduced malpractice losses involving patient handling incidents
-    Improved public relations through an enhanced patient care image
-    Advanced data analysis and financial reporting capabilities

The American Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA web site at www.aha.org.

AHA Insurance Resource Inc. is the insurance- and financial-product marketing subsidiary of the American Hospital Association. It functions as an industry advocate and resource agency to AHA-member hospitals and other health care organizations. AHA Insurance Resource evaluates the marketplace and collaborates with companies to create products and services for health care professionals. AHA Insurance Resource has an exclusive sponsorship of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), a professional association that includes more than 30,000 health care financial executives. For more information visit the Web site at www.aha.org/resources/aboutiri.html.

Donald P. Maynes & Associates (DPMA) is located in Iowa. Over the last six years, DPMA developed C.O.S.T.S.(c) as a comprehensive loss prevention program proven to reduce accidents and alleviate the burden of managing injury cases once they have occurred. Moreover, the intention of DPMA was to provide an answer to the increase in government regulation of healthcare facilities, and a means to improve profits for healthcare organizations already faced with declining revenues and earnings. For more information, please refer to the DPMA website found at www.costsprogram.com.

For additional information contact Tony Spohn at [phone].