Any federal employee can get hurt or develop an illness while working. This is no exception for workers at VA hospitals and clinics. This post will look at some of the most common injuries or illnesses that affect VA workers; slips and falls, torn muscles, psychological disorders, and more.
Slip and Fall Injuries
This is probably most prevalent in VA hospitals and clinics. Nurses, doctors, and medical technicians can easily be injured this way. Tripping over a cord or slipping in the hallway are all common, especially if there is an emergency and a nurse needs to get to a patient quickly.
Torn Muscle Injuries
This seems to be one of the most common injuries we see. The reason is simple: lifting a patient, or something too heavy, can cause back injuries, torn muscles, and damaged discs. One VA hospital, the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, reported that they have reduced injuries among the nursing staff by up to 80 percent. They have done this by using an approach called “safe patient handling”. These are special machines that lift patients, like motorized hoists that are used to lift heavy parts in factories. Most hospitals have not adopted this method.
Pushing gurneys can be another way that workers become injured. Pushing something too heavy and having to maneuver it through narrow hallways may easily result in a torn muscle. Gurneys that can be “driven” with the push of a button would be a big help in reducing these injuries. However, new equipment means new training and ongoing training.
Psychological Disorders
Stress is a big factor in these types of illnesses. Working in any hospital environment creates undue stress that can lead to not only psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety but also physical ailments as well.
Who We’ve Helped
We have helped many VA employees with their federal disability retirement claims. With over 25 approved VA cases in 2016 alone (and many more awaiting decision), we have helped VA employees get approved for mental and cognitive disorders, visual disturbances, spondylosis, dysthymic disorder, stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and much more. Nurses are not the only profession that can get injured. We have successful cases that have involved professions as gardeners, program support assistants, police officers, financial administrative specialists, medical supply technicians, veterans service representative, and many more. If you are a VA worker who can no longer perform your job duties, please don’t hesitate to call us at 877-226-2723, or fill out this inquiry form, and find out how we can help you!
Here are what just a couple of our past VA clients have had to say:
“Making the decision to apply for disability retirement from my government position was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made! When I made that decision, many people advised me that there was no need to hire an attorney because I could submit all the necessary paperwork myself. That may have been true, but I truly believe that without your guidance… the outcome of my case would have been very different! Due to your vast knowledge of the requirements to qualify for disability retirement, I was able to obtain the information from my medical providers in a format that was clearly documented to provide the information needed by OPM to support my claim. Something I would never have been able to do on my own. Filing for disability retirement was also an extremely stressful experience. The process takes so long that it’s impossible not to become discouraged upon occasion. I appreciate that you were always willing to answer questions and calm my fears. Your emotional support was valuable to me. I want to thank you for everything! I would recommend Harris Federal Law Firm to anyone planning to file a claim for disability retirement from federal service.”
P.G. – Ocala, FL – VA Medical Center
“I would like to share my appreciation for your law firm. I thought I was all alone when trying to deal with the bureaucracy of being an injured employee. I tried to handle things myself but continued to get the runaround. When I was down and felt defeated, Harris Federal Law Firm picked me up and took over. It started with the initial call to Chandra. She was so bubbly and respectful during our conversation. Then I received a call from Cal to talk about my case and to see what my chances would be. He was very knowledgeable, well-spoken, and easy to talk to. He never rushed our conversation and made me feel very comfortable. Lastly, I was given Candace as my case manager. Thank you for assigning her my case. She was also very knowledgeable. She was very compassionate and empathetic to my situation. I was very impressed with her work ethic and drive. I definitely felt like I was in great hands. Mr. Harris, you have a terrific team. I am so glad I was referred to you. The best advice I received in a long time, hand down. Thank you so much!”
J.M. – Allenton, WI – VA RN
