Do you want more information on rehabilitation referrals?

You can help identify injured workers who are potential candidates for rehabilitation. Studies show that early referral substantially increases the chances for successful rehabilitation.

To refer an injured worker for rehabilitation services, contact your managed care organization (MCO).

Rehab creates a win-win situation. Rehabilitation programs help the injured worker regain fitness and the capability to work again, and they also help you get back a trained, experienced employee.

Return to work programs
An employer's first response to a workplace injury should be getting the injured worker the medical care he or she needs. Then, the goal becomes returning the injured worker to the workplace. Return to work (and job retention after a return to work) is the goal of every rehabilitation plan.

Taking a proactive approach and establishing effective working relationships with the involved health-care and rehabilitation providers is crucial for overall success. These steps facilitate the medical process and serve as the foundation for early intervention and successful medical management.

Work-site job analysis
A work-site job analysis is a valuable tool when developing and implementing successful return-to-work programs. The analysis should be developed for each position prior to any injury and should include attributes of the workers' responsibilities such as:

• Job description, including task details;
• Detail of tools and equipment used;
• Work schedule;
• Analysis of physical demands for required tasks;
• Other special demands.

A rehab professional such as a physical or an occupational therapist can assist an employer in creating the analyses, and then also provide recommendations for physically appropriate modified duties given an injured worker's functional capabilities.