Healthcare workers are expected to help others recover from illnesses and injuries, so it is important for them to be able to do their job. Too often doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers spend so much of their life on the frontline helping others that they may neglect their own health and wellness. Healthcare workers are essential to our well-being, but who takes care of them when they need help?
Healthcare Workers Can Experience Back Injuries from Work
According to this study, back injury ranks second among all causes of occupational injuries in all occupations.
Healthcare workers and nurses are at risk of having back injuries, such as musculoskeletal disorders, on the job.
This is caused by lifting or handling patients while moving them to other rooms, transferring them to wheelchairs, or adjusting their position in hospital beds. These work activities make healthcare workers, especially nurses, at risk of back injuries, or injuries to other joints or parts of the body. Healthcare workers who work in their patients’ homes also face a risk of physical injury while working, as they assist their patients with daily activities.
Other Workplace Injuries That May Require Physiotherapy Treatment
Healthcare workers are constantly experiencing physical demands on the job such as lifting, repetition, awkward postures, and prolonged activities. This can lead to common issues including neck tension, low back pain, rotator cuff tendonitis, overuse injuries, sprains, and strains.
Additionally, in hospitals especially but also in other work environments, there are risks for slips, trips, and falls, which can lead to other workplace injuries requiring rehabilitation for the healthcare worker to return to full health.
When Healthcare Workers Are Not Well, How Is Patient Care Impacted?
When healthcare workers are injured or ill, they are unable to provide care, or the care that is provided suffers. This can lead to healthcare shortages in hospitals and other medical facilities. With healthcare shortages, the medical industry runs into challenges in ensuring that all patients receive prompt and proper care. Shortages not only affect the care to patients; they also can affect healthcare workers who are on the job through increased stress. Expectations for greater job responsibilities and the demand on healthcare workers to provide more care can lead to the risk of experiencing exhaustion and burnout.
That’s why it is imperative for those who help others to not forget to help themselves too.
We Can Offer Personalized Advice
A physiotherapist has your back, or in this case, your entire body.
Physiotherapy is a type of treatment to rehabilitate work-related injuries that make it hard for you to move around and do everyday tasks. It will help you move better and may relieve your pain. It will also help improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level.
Our physiotherapists can assess your range of motion, muscle strength, and overall flexibility, which play a key role in rehabilitation of and prevention of injury. They will offer you personalized advice based on your individual needs, recommending treatment and designing a rehab program just for you.
How to Get Started with Physiotherapy
You do not need a referral to get started with physiotherapy. You can simply call our clinic and book an appointment with a physiotherapist. Call 604.783.8300 to get started.
Most healthcare workers have insurance through their employer for physiotherapy. However, if you have an injury due to a workplace incident, physiotherapy is offered free of charge on WorkSafeBC accepted claims.
What’s The WorkSafeBC Process?
BC’s WorkSafe program allows you to get the treatment services that you need to get well as soon as possible. Physiotherapy treatments are covered by WorkSafeBC as part of your rehabilitation plan.
When you plan to get physiotherapy as part of treatment of your work injury, you must consider these items:
- You must report the injury to your employer and to WorkSafeBC (1-888-967-5377) before seeking treatment.
- A doctor’s referral is not necessary; however, we do recommend that you visit your doctor for a full medical assessment.
- We direct bill to WorkSafeBC. Once WorkSafeBC has approved your claim, you will receive physiotherapy treatments at our clinic at no direct cost to you.
- You will need to provide your WorkSafeBC claim number to us at your initial appointment so that we can get the direct billing setup for you.
What is WorkSafeBC’s Contact Information?
WorkSafeBC Health Care Services
6951 Westminster Highway
Richmond BC V7C 1C6
Lower Mainland 604 232-7787
Toll-free 1 866 244-6404
