Workplace Disability Workplace Disability ManagementManagement

(Name of Presenter) (Name of Presenter)

(Date)(Date)

Disability ManagementDisability Management

““The process of The process of minimizingminimizing the impact of the impact of anan impairmentimpairment (resulting from injury, illness (resulting from injury, illness or disease) on the individual's capacity to or disease) on the individual's capacity to participateparticipate competitively in the competitively in the work work environmentenvironment.” .”

Dr. Donald Shrey, Sourcebook of Occupational Rehabilitation, Dr. Donald Shrey, Sourcebook of Occupational Rehabilitation, Plenum Press, New YorkPlenum Press, New York

Disability Management Disability Management refers to a management process refers to a management process

with 2 goals ...with 2 goals ...

1.1. Enhance Enhance the health and safety of all the health and safety of all employeesemployees

2.2. Diminish Diminish the impact of injury, accident, the impact of injury, accident, illness and absence on the employee & the illness and absence on the employee & the organizationorganization

Disability Management Disability Management Points to Consider:

The sooner an employee returns to work the more successful an employee will be in making the transition back to the work force

The program is structured and goal orientated, with established timelines

Effective communication with all stakeholders

Disability Management Disability Management To foster strong relationships while working towards the common goal of prevention and rehabilitation.

To work towards maintaining the employee at work and the progressive return of employees back to the workplace.

To maximize the employee’s work contribution within their capabilities.

With Successful Implementation With Successful Implementation We Will Expect to See:We Will Expect to See:

Reduction in Direct Costs Associated with

Employee Injury/IllnessReduction in Absenteeism (lost days)Productivity SavingsIncrease in Worker SatisfactionReduction in Human SufferingEnhance Public Relations within the employer - employee community

Workplace Disability Workplace Disability Management ProgramManagement Program

May include: May include: Safety and Loss Control Safety and Loss Control Health & Wellness Programs Health & Wellness Programs Ergonomics Ergonomics Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) Return to Work Programs Return to Work Programs

Workplace Disability Workplace Disability Management ProgramManagement Program

The TeamThe Team:: EmployeeEmployee Family PhysicianFamily Physician Rehabilitation Specialists: OT, PT, Kin.Rehabilitation Specialists: OT, PT, Kin. Case Manager/Return to Work Coordinator – Case Manager/Return to Work Coordinator –

employed by employer employed by employer Sponsoring Agents: i.e. WCB, STD, LTDSponsoring Agents: i.e. WCB, STD, LTD Employer - ManagementEmployer - Management Medical Specialist(s)Medical Specialist(s)

Role of Injured EmployeeRole of Injured Employee

• Early reporting of Early reporting of illness/injuryillness/injury

• Assist in development of Assist in development of RTW PlanRTW Plan

• Work with MD and Work with MD and Rehabilitation provider to Rehabilitation provider to minimize disabilityminimize disability

• Understand importance of Understand importance of communication with communication with stakeholdersstakeholders

Role of Family PhysicianRole of Family Physician

Communicate with RTW Coordinator via Communicate with RTW Coordinator via phone, fax or e-mailphone, fax or e-mail

Provide Provide medical-relatedmedical-related diagnosis, prognosis diagnosis, prognosis and restrictionsand restrictions

Defer to OT/PT functional data concerning Defer to OT/PT functional data concerning functional related restrictions and abilitiesfunctional related restrictions and abilities

Communicate with OT/PT and other health Communicate with OT/PT and other health care practitionerscare practitioners

Follow established guidelinesFollow established guidelines

CMA Policy---HighlightsCMA Policy---Highlights

Physician should facilitate and promote Physician should facilitate and promote timely RTWtimely RTW

Should knowledgeably utilize other health Should knowledgeably utilize other health care professionals when appropriatecare professionals when appropriate

Ultimately the employer determines the type Ultimately the employer determines the type of work available and whether a physician’s of work available and whether a physician’s recommendations concerning an employee’s recommendations concerning an employee’s RTW can be accommodatedRTW can be accommodated

Role of Family PhysicianRole of Family Physician

Look for Look for redred flags that would indicate further flags that would indicate further medical investigationmedical investigation

if none found, RTW process commences if none found, RTW process commences ASAPASAP

What does the Rehabilitation What does the Rehabilitation Clinic do?Clinic do?

Bridging the GapBridging the Gapbetween the Health System between the Health System

& the Work Environment& the Work Environment

Role of the Rehabilitation ClinicRole of the Rehabilitation Clinic

Screen EmployeeScreen Employee Intake: Initial PT Assessment & Program Intake: Initial PT Assessment & Program

Coordinator InterviewCoordinator Interview Review JSA – Job Description Questionnaire Review JSA – Job Description Questionnaire Objectively Test Physical Function Related to Job Objectively Test Physical Function Related to Job

Demands: Functional ScanDemands: Functional Scan Active RehabilitationActive Rehabilitation Facilitating Return to WorkFacilitating Return to Work

Role of TherapistRole of Therapist

Provide accurate description of the injuryProvide accurate description of the injury Provide an active treatment planProvide an active treatment plan Functional based program – based on JSA Functional based program – based on JSA

and functional informationand functional information Work with RTW Coordinator, MD and Work with RTW Coordinator, MD and

employee toward RTWemployee toward RTW

Program Coordinator InterviewProgram Coordinator Interview

Stakeholders identifiedStakeholders identified External CommunicationExternal Communication Emphasis on Restoring FunctionEmphasis on Restoring Function Pain and Activity QuestionnairePain and Activity Questionnaire Red Flags identifiedRed Flags identified

Pain and Activity Pain and Activity QuestionnaireQuestionnaire

Required Physical DemandsRequired Physical Demands

Job Description Job Description QuestionnaireQuestionnaire

Job Site VisitJob Site Visit

Job Site AnalysisJob Site Analysis

Functional AssessmentFunctional Assessment

•Functional ScanFunctional Scan

•Rehabilitation AssessmentRehabilitation Assessment

•Standardized Functional Standardized Functional AssessmentsAssessments

JSA & Functional Assessments JSA & Functional Assessments are used in the process to:are used in the process to:

Simulate job-specific work reconditioning Simulate job-specific work reconditioning taskstasks

Ensure the worker’s present functional Ensure the worker’s present functional capacities match those required for a safe capacities match those required for a safe return to workreturn to work

Enable the therapist to make practical Enable the therapist to make practical recommendations for reasonable recommendations for reasonable accommodationaccommodation

Functional RestorationFunctional RestorationReturn to Work ProgramReturn to Work Program

Work ConditioningWork Conditioning Work HardeningWork Hardening Worksite - ConditioningWorksite - Conditioning

Return to WorkReturn to Work

Full dutiesFull duties Partial duties/ModificationPartial duties/Modification Continued functional restorationContinued functional restoration Transitional Work PlanTransitional Work Plan

Role of Transitional Work PlanRole of Transitional Work Plan

Functional abilities

afterinjury/illness

Rehabilitation

Accommodation & Modification

Transitional Work Plan =

Return to

Work

Transitional Work PlanTransitional Work Plan

Roles and responsibilities identifiedRoles and responsibilities identified Goal(s) determined and agreed toGoal(s) determined and agreed to Structured plan with timelinesStructured plan with timelines Communication – copies of documentationCommunication – copies of documentation Follow-upFollow-up

Barriers for RTW – Barriers for RTW – BiopsychosocialBiopsychosocial

Unnecessary Unnecessary restrictionsrestrictions

Genuine physical Genuine physical limitationslimitations

Lack of suitable Lack of suitable employmentemployment

Unrecognized Unrecognized conflict conflict

Secondary gainSecondary gain MotivationMotivation

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION