Australian general practitioners' perspective on the role of the workplace Return-to-Work Coordinator

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Bohatko-Naismith ◽  
Maya Guest ◽  
Carole James ◽  
Dimity Pond ◽  
Darren A. Rivett
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Important Trait ◽  
Return To Work Coordinators

General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the return-to-work process, and yet their experiences working with workplace Return-to-Work Coordinators (RTWCs) have rarely been studied. The aim of this paper is to provide insights from the GP perspective about their experiences with workplace RTWCs and their preparedness for the role. GPs from Australian states and territories where legislation mandates workplaces employ a RTWC were requested to complete a questionnaire on their experiences with workplace RTWCs. Fifty GPs completed a questionnaire on the preparedness of RTWCs in relation to their role, with 58% (n=29) indicating RTWCs require more training. A total of 78% (n=39) of respondents considered RTWCs were important in assisting injured workers return to work, with 98% (n=49) ranking trustworthiness, respectfulness and ethicalness as the most important or an important trait for a RTWC to possess. Interestingly, 40% (n=20) of respondents themselves reported having no training in the return-to-work process. GPs acknowledge the importance of the workplace RTWC in the return-to-work process, and the results highlight the need for RTWCs to possess specific traits and undergo appropriate training for the facilitation of a successful return to work for injured workers.

Experiences of Medical Advisors in the Workers' Compensation System in British Columbia

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Lydia Arnold-Smith ◽  
Henry G. Harder
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Compensation System ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Attending Physicians

AbstractAttending physicians and medical advisors, physicians contracting their services to the Workers' Compensation Board, have key roles in assisting injured workers to return to work. A literature review of the role of the physician in the compensable return to work process reveals a lack of information regarding the experiences of medical advisors. This descriptive phenomenological study was undertaken to explore the lived experiences of four medical advisors in a northern rural service delivery location. The purpose of the research was to gain an understanding of the medical advisors' experiences in the compensable return to work process and in the compensation system. Analysis of the interview data revealed a central theme of commitment to quality medical care for injured workers, along with three major themes and several minor themes subsumed within the major concepts: providing medical opinions — requiring factual information, clarifying the diagnosis, no previous relationship with worker, categories of injuries; working with attending physicians and specialists — building relationships, evidence based treatment plans, role of the attending physician, role of the medical advisor; and, working within the workers' compensation environment — structure and policies, expedited services, and case management/team environment. This research report presents the central theme as the foundation through which the major themes are interconnected. This study does not generalise to all medical advisors, but relays stories that contain the essence of a lived experience.

scholarly journals Injured workers’ perception of loss and gain in the return to work process

2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 10 ◽  
pp. 7-16
Author(s):  
Hon Sun Lai ◽  
Grace Szeto ◽  
Chetwyn Chan
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Process

An exploratory study of the injured worker’s experience and relationship with the workplace return to work coordinator in NSW, Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Joanna Bohatko-Naismith ◽  
Carole James ◽  
Maya Guest ◽  
Darren Anthony Rivett ◽  
Samantha Ashby
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Work Process ◽  
High Turnover ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the injured worker’s perspective of experiences with their workplace return to work coordinator (RTWC), and explore some of the barriers they encountered in the return to work process. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten injured workers from New South Wales, Australia. The thematic analysis of transcripts was completed. Findings The findings provide an insight into the experiences of injured workers and their relationship with RTWCs. Five key themes emerged from the data: return to work experiences and the RTWC role, high turnover and lack of consistency in the role, RTWC “ideal”, knowledge and skills, communication skills and the RTWC role and GP visits privacy and conflict of interest with peer RTWCs. Practical implications The role of the workplace RTWC in the return to work process for injured workers is important and these findings are highly relevant to the return to work sector. Consistency within the role at the workplace and careful consideration of the specific traits and characteristics required by an individual to perform the role need to be observed during the selection process by employers when appointing a workplace RTWC to assist injured workers return to work. Originality/value This is the first Australian study to examine the injured workers views and experiences with the workplace RTWC and other factors that shape the return to work process.

scholarly journals The Role of Co-Workers in the Return-to-Work Process

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra A. Dunstan ◽  
Katrien Mortelmans ◽  
Åsa Tjulin ◽  
Ellen MacEachen
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Training Program ◽  
Canadian Research

There is a large body of research examining work disability management and the return to work (RTW) of sick or injured workers. However, although this research makes clear the roles of the returning worker and supervisor, that of the co-workers is less well understood. To increase understanding of this topic, we have identified, reviewed, and discussed three studies that emerged from our connection with a Canadian research-training program. The first study, conducted in Sweden by Tjulin, MacEachen, and Ekberg (2009), showed that co-workers can play a positive role in RTW, but this is often invisible to supervisors. The second study, undertaken by Dunstan and MacEachen (2013) in Canada, found that RTW could both positively and negatively impact co-workers. For instance, co-workers may benefit from learning new skills, but may also be burdened by the need to assume extra work to accommodate a returning worker. The third study, performed in Belgium by Mortelmans and Verjans (2012) and Mortelmans, Verjans, and Mairiaux (2012) reported the need to include the expectations and objections of co-workers in RTW plans and implemented a three-step RTW tool that involves co-workers. Taken together, these studies highlight the social context of work, the positive role played by co-workers in the RTW process, the impacts of workplace social relations on RTW outcomes, and the benefits to all of involving co-workers in RTW plans.

The Role of Mentors for People With Spinal Cord Injury and the Return-to-Work Process

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (4_Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 7111520296p1
Author(s):  
LaQwana Smith ◽  
Ashley Hartsfield ◽  
Jarius Lumpkin ◽  
Barbara Kornblau ◽  
Debora Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Cord Injury

The role of the case manager in an impairment-based return-to-work process

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-61
Author(s):  
Kimberly Mashburn ◽  
Kenneth Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Case Manager ◽  
Work Process
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