Learn about workplace rehab and its role in helping injured workers recover and return to work.
Workplace rehabilitation is the process of helping an injured or ill worker recover and return to work in a safe and timely manner.
Also known as workplace rehab or work rehab, the process involves several stages. The process can look different for everyone as each injured worker faces their own unique set of challenges.
Broadly speaking, any workplace rehab process would consist of the following stages:
- Initial Assessment: An evaluation of the worker's physical and mental health. This step is crucial to identifying the employee's current limitations and capacity for work, as well as to develop an appropriate Return to Work Plan.
- Functional Assessment: An in-depth assessment designed to measure an individual's ability to perform work-related tasks and activities of daily living (ADL).
- Workplace Assessment: An assessment of the worker's work environment and pre-injury duties to see if these are safe and suitable for them. This step aims to identify potential hazards, ergonomic concerns, and any factors that might impact the safety of the worker.
- Rehabilitation Program: A treatment program developed by the worker's support team, aimed at facilitating the worker's return to suitable employment. Ongoing evaluation is also necessary to ensure the rehab program remains aligned with recovery goals.
- Medical Case Conference: A meeting organised periodically between the Nominated Treating Doctor (NTD) and the injured worker to check on their progress, and to see if any adjustments to their treatment are needed. The insurer and work rehab provider may also be involved.
- Return to Work (RTW) Plan: The doctor and rehab provider will put together a custom plan tailored to the worker's recovery needs, with the aim of returning the employee to work over a gradual period. The RTW plan can include an estimated recovery time frame and recovery goals.
It is important to note that the stages might not occur in this order.