II. Guideline: Enlist team Approach
- Foster early patient-employer communication
- Employer defines alternative work duties
- Consider Occupational Health for difficulties
- Health-care team
- Physical Therapy
III. Guideline: Lay out anticipated course
- Discuss realistic healing and recovery times
- Early progressive activity maximizes outcome
- Write activity prescription
- Reduces Chronic Pain risk
- Avoids illness reinforcement (see Somatization)
IV. Guideline: Approach recommendations systematically
- Maintain patient confidentiality
- Obtain all relevant medical records
- Clearly notify patient when ready to return to work
- Patient should receive a copy of work recommendations
- Specifically define work capabilities
- Consider workplace policies, resources, and demands
- Foremost, protect public and co-worker safety
- Clearly outline recovery plan (see above)
V. Approach: Medical Disability Claims
- Criteria for medical Disability
- Physiologic or psychologic Impairment
- Work status affected by Impairment
- Protocol
- Assess that patient meets Disability criteria above
- What Disability certification is patient seeking?
- What defines Disability for certification requested?