Emergency department visits for work-related injuries

Abstract

Background: Work-related injuries are commonly seen in the emergency department (ED). This study sought to analyze characteristics of ED patient visits that were billed under workers' compensation.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of visits during 2015 that were billed under workers' compensation at an academic ED. The following variables were collected: age, gender, mechanism of injury/exposure, diagnoses, imaging performed, specialty consultation, operative requirement, follow-up specialty, and ED disposition.

Results: In 2015, 377 patients presented to the ED for work-related injuries. The most common mechanism of injury was fall. Frequent diagnoses included lower extremity injuries and hand/finger injuries. The most common consulting service was orthopedics. Only five patients were referred to occupational medicine for follow up.

Conclusion: Knowledge of the types of occupational injuries and subsequent care required may help guide both workers and employers how to best triage patients within the healthcare system. Alternative settings such as occupational medicine or primary care services may be appropriate for some patients.

Keywords: Emergency department; Trauma; Worker's compensation.