Hospital Workers' Compensation Risk Management
Best Practices Matrix   Our intent is to provide hospitals with the following: Effective internal risk management practices Specific tools to support best practices (forms, checklists, etc.) Effective benchmarking tools - accurate quantification is vital A network of peers to rely upon for input Outside resources to consider This material is subjective. What works for one hospital may not work for another. What we categorize as a "best practice" is just something for you to consider given your specific situation.
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Introduction

The cost of California hospitals' workers' compensation has risen dramatically in recent years, and there is no end in sight unless there is meaningful, comprehensive systemic change. Unfortunately, this cost increase comes at a time when hospitals can least afford it.

Most hospitals, even those of very moderate size, must now retain considerable risk in the form of a self-insured retention or deductible. Premiums for risk transfer have skyrocketed, and insurance options are extremely limited in today's seller's market. As a result, there has been much more emphasis on and commitment to workers' compensation risk management.

As a healthcare risk management specialist, Keenan decided to do its best to identify loss control methods that work well for California hospitals, many of which are our clients. In order to do so, we surveyed a number of hospitals, speaking primarily to personnel responsible for risk management and implementation. We have only begun the process, and are anxious to obtain more information from many more facilities. We feel that we now have enough data to deliver something back to those hospitals that were kind enough to lend their time and assistance to the project.

We understand that every hospital is different in its ability to allocate adequate risk management resources. The disparity we found in that regard was tremendous, and was not necessarily a function of financial strength. Often, what distinguishes a hospital's ability to control WC cost depends on the ability to sell solutions to senior management.

Our intent is to provide hospitals with the following:
- Effective internal risk management practices
- Specific tools to support best practices (forms, checklists, etc.)
- Effective benchmarking tools - accurate quantification is vital
- A network of peers to rely upon for input
- Outside resources to consider

This material is subjective. What works for one hospital may not work for another. What we categorize as a "best practice" is just something for you to consider given your specific situation.

We hope that this provides a valuable resource for you, and that you will help us make it a dynamic document that stays fresh. Please call us if you have any concerns about the contents or ways to improve it.