ABSTRACT
The healthcare environment starts with the emergency medical services that may be bringing the patient to the medical facility. Emergency medical services systems personnel respond to situations where the individuals may either be highly infectious from a variety of diseases or may be highly susceptible to disease because of existing chronic health conditions. A recent study by the Office of Inspector General, US Department of Health and Human Services indicates that there are numerous problems occurring in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes used by Medicare patients. The Office of Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2010 stated that poor hospital care contributed to the deaths of an estimated 180,000 patients in Medicare each year. The healthcare industry has the second largest number of injuries and illnesses to employees in the country. The number of non-fatal injuries and illnesses requiring time away from work has increased among healthcare workers.
