Injured Workers' Underreporting in the Health Care Industry: An Analysis Using Quantitative, Qualitative, and...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management
• Workplace Safety

Background:

• Underreporting of occupational injuries is a significant issue in healthcare settings.
• Existing data collection methods, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration logs, may not capture the full extent of workplace injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent and reasons for underreporting of occupational injuries in healthcare facilities.
• To analyze the discrepancies between official logs, workers' compensation claims, and self-reported injuries.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative, qualitative, and observational data.
• Analyzed Occupational Safety and Health Administration logs, workers' compensation records, and survey data from injured workers.
• Conducted observations within four healthcare facilities.

Main Results:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration logs captured only one-third of workers' compensation records.
• Forty-five percent of injured workers identified through surveys had corresponding workers' compensation claims.
• Workers self-reported only 63 percent of serious occupational injuries.

Conclusions:

• Significant underreporting of occupational injuries occurs in healthcare facilities.
• Factors contributing to underreporting include time pressures, concerns about eligibility, reputation, income, and career prospects.
• Managerial perceptions of worker moral hazard may exacerbate the underreporting issue.