To achieve an effective return to work, the return-to-work process begins at the initial stage of an accident, illness or chronic health condition, as soon as is medically feasible.
Guideline code
RTW_01800
Mechanism
Mechanism
- The return-to-work professional should act as the liaison person between the person concerned and their medical and vocational service providers.
- The return-to-work professional should educate the service providers in their community about workplace programmes, such as the return-to-work, employee and family assistance and wellness programmes, as well as other resources, such as job descriptions, job task analysis (JTA), accommodation opportunities and funding for medical and other reporting.
- The return-to-work professional should obtain initial, progress and final reports from the treating physician and other service providers to monitor the person’s progress, identify potential issues and assist with return-to-work planning.
- The management could support identification of the person’s occupational and social needs by instituting a visiting service from the first days of a clinic stay.
Structure
Structure
- The management should collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to establish a return-to-work policy that ensures that the return-to-work process begins immediately at the onset of injury or before an illness becomes chronic.
- The management should provide support and expertise and contribute other resources to ensure that the return-to- work process begins during the acute stages of injury or illness.
- The management should form alliances with medical experts and other health-care professionals to facilitate timely access to appropriate treatment for the person concerned and communicate progress regularly to relevant stakeholders.
- Medical experts and health-care and other service providers should be educated about their patient’s workplace and the benefits of work and be incentivized to focus their treatments on the return to work and not just recovery from the injury or illness.
Title HTML
Guideline 12. Beginning during acute medical treatment
Type
Guideline_1
Weight
22