NHRMA Mutual

Risk Management Core Practices

While NHRMA Mutual Members are largely responsible for their own workers compensation costs, NHRMA Mutual is a risk management pool and a portion of each member's costs can ultimately be borne by the other members. NHRMA Mutual Members have the ability to play a large role in controlling their own workers compensation costs. All NHRMA Mutual Members are expected to adopt the following Core Practices in order to minimize not only the individual members' costs, but those of the other members as well.

Post Accident Drug Testing

NHRMA Mutual Members are required to have a Post-Accident Drug Testing policy. A drug screen should be completed for those employees who sustain a work-related injury that requires off-site medical attention.

Designated Medical Provider

Members should establish a relationship with a qualified occupational healthcare provider (physician or clinic). This provider will be responsible for performing pre-employment physicals and evaluating all employee injuries.

Early Return to Work

Providing temporary alternative work duties to those employees injured on the job is crucial to controlling workers compensation costs. Your Designated Medical Provider should be used to determine what duties injured employees are capable of performing.

Pre-Employment Physicals

All new employees should be required to pass a physical. Using your Designated Medical Provider will make the physical an even more valuable tool.

Active Employee Safety Committee

An active safety committee is an integral part of an effective Risk Management Program. Safety committee activities should include, but not be limited to, reviewing all incidents and completing physical inspections of the facility.

Effective Accident Reporting/Investigation Practices

Employees must be required to report all incidents to their supervisor immediately. Supervisors must be required to investigate all incidents promptly for the purpose of preventing repeated incidents. All incidents that result in off-site medical attention must be reported immediately to NHRMA Mutual.

Modern Human Resources Practices

Practices include, but are not limited to, thorough new employee screening process, thorough new employee orientation program, concise disciplinary practices and ongoing contact with employees throughout their employment.

Thorough New Employee Orientation

New employee orientation should include workers compensation and safety training. Safety training should extend beyond the general orientation into departmental specifics.

Evaluation and Management of Resident Assist Needs

All residents must have a needs assessment conducted to determine what type of employee assistance is required. These needs must be clearly communicated to all employees, and employees must be expected to adhere to all protocol.

Health and Wellness Awareness Activities

The overall health of a facility's operations is greatly affected by the health of its employees. Members should strive to assist employees in improving and maintaining their health. This can be accomplished by educating employees on pertinent health risks and offering tools to assist employees in improving their health.