Modules
The five injuries that hurt healthcare workers most, coded the same way everywhere.
Every hospital in HIPS uses the same definitions, so a patient handling injury in your hospital means the same thing as one in your peers'. That is what makes the comparison fair.
Patient handling and movement
Lifting, transferring and repositioning patients is the single biggest cause of overexertion injuries in healthcare.
82% of patient handling injuries with equipment data happened without lifting equipment. MMWR
What HIPS captures
- The activity: repositioning in bed, transfer to or from a bed or chair, lateral transfer
- Whether lifting equipment was used
- Contributing factors, such as a patient who moved unexpectedly
- Body part, type of injury and severity
- Unit, job and shift
Answers: Which units and tasks need lift equipment or a lift team first?
Slips, trips and falls
Falls happen in patient rooms, kitchens, corridors and parking lots, so prevention has to follow the data.
What HIPS captures
- Fall type: same level, to a lower level, or slip without a fall
- The hazard: floor contaminant, cord or tubing, ice, an object
- Footwear and other contributing factors
- Location and area, indoors and out
Answers: Where do floor-care, footwear or signage changes pay off?
Workplace violence
Most assaults on healthcare workers come from patients, and rates rose between 2012 and 2014.
The Joint Commission expects hospitals to report and analyze workplace violence incidents and trends. HIPS gives you that trend analysis. Joint Commission
What HIPS captures
- Assault type: verbal, physical or against property
- Patient factors, such as behavioral health or cognitive impairment
- Unit, area, time of day and hours on duty
- Severity and treatment
Answers: Which units and hours need more staffing, training or de-escalation support?
Sharps and needlestick injuries
Every needlestick carries a risk of bloodborne infection and a follow-up cost.
Helps you keep the sharps injury log under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
What HIPS captures
- Device type and purpose
- Whether it had a safety feature, and whether it was activated
- Stage of use: before, during or after use, or during disposal
- Whether the injured worker was the original user
Answers: Which devices and procedures to switch to safer designs?
Blood and body fluid exposures
Splashes and contact exposures are often under-reported and under-protected.
What HIPS captures
- Route: mucous membrane, non-intact or intact skin
- Agent, such as blood or other body fluids
- Protective equipment worn: eyes, hands, body, mouth and nose
- Duration and amount
Answers: Where are gaps in protective equipment and practice?
Start with your own numbers.
Three hospitals can join the founding pilot at no cost.