The economic benefit of rehabilitation was examined in a study. Improvements in fitness for work two years after an accident revealed an average net benefit of CHF 534,000 per case and an average cost-benefit ratio of 1:15.5. This means that one franc of rehabilitation costs yields 15.5 francs in pension benefit savings The effects of occupational rehabilitation measures was all the greater the earlier these were carried out. They were also greater in SUVA clinics than in non-SUVA clinics. This allows the conclusion that the economic benefit of rehabilitation is fundamentally great and occupational rehabilitation should be started as early as possible in highly specialised institutions.

Based on this conclusion a systematic early triage process was set up. This ensures that all individuals insured with the SUVA for occupational rehabilitation are initially screened 8-12 weeks after the accident with further clarification as required. Approximately 20 per cent of those insured are then allocated to rehabilitation. This approach improves the outcome, generates high economic benefit in our view and contributes towards reducing the number of pension cases for the SUVA. Patient satisfaction is increased when the insured individual is better prepared for rehabilitation.