Your employer’s first response to a workplace injury
should be getting you immediate medical attention. Then the
goal becomes getting you back to work quickly and safely.
BWC and managed care
organizations (MCOs) share that same goal. Return to work (and job retention after
a return to work) is the goal of every rehabilitation plan.
The following are three return to work scenarios:
Actual Return to Work - the date the injured worker returns to
employment.
Vocational Rehabilitation Considerations - the injured worker has
returned to the workplace but may be participating in a vocational
rehabilitation plan. These types of plans include:
Employer incentive;
On-the-job training plan;
Transitional work program;
Gradual return to work services;
Work trial.
Released to Return to Work - the date the injured worker is
released by their physician of record (POR) to return to employment
(restricted or unrestricted), but has not actually returned to work.
Vocational Rehabilitation Considerations -
the injured worker may have been released to participate in
a vocational rehabilitation plan such as: job search/job seeking skills training
or retraining.
Other Considerations- injured worker is
released to return to work with restrictions but work is not
available within the restrictions. He/she may still be entitled to compensation.
Estimated Return to Work - the anticipated date the injured worker may be able
to return to employment.
