Engaging early and looking beyond physical injury can positively impact overall recovery outcomes. Needless time away from work after injury is often the result of inconsistent or ineffective health care management, with the employee, employer, and society bearing the cost. With the right tools, case managers can help restore confidence and ensure injured workers are emotionally and mentally ready to move through their recovery journey. The longer it takes for an injured worker to receive treatment, the less likely they are to return to work. In fact, a Department of Labor report showed the likelihood of an injured worker returning to work after a six-month absence is only 50 percent, dropping to 25 percent following a one-year absence. This session will share insights into the recently published American Physical Therapy Association Clinical Practice Guideline, “Optimizing Work Participation After Injury or Illness,” in which Michelle Despres co-authored, and will demonstrate how case managers can address work rehabilitation and identify ways to manage a patient’s behavioral or physical barriers, while proactively addressing administrative barriers that may prevent them from returning to work.

OBJECTIVES:

• Describe early engagement and recognize biopsychosocial factors that can influence an injured worker’s recovery journey.
• Review clinical practice guideline, identifying changes and suggested opportunities to encourage work rehabilitation.
• Discuss emerging trends and actionable research to improve injured worker outcomes. Demonstrate how case managers can rely on physical therapists to assess an injured worker’s level of function, identify work requirements and/or alternate work scenarios

PRESENTER:
Michelle Despres, PT, CEAS II, REAS, CETS