Obviously, nobody wants to suffer an occupational injury that causes time away from work and difficulty returning. The employer loses a valuable employee, and the worker loses part of their life—or worse.
Rehabilitation is a broad term that often brings to mind parallel bars, weight training, or speech practice. Those are tools; quality rehabilitation begins with professional occupational therapy and a clear plan.
Quality rehabilitation begins with quality occupational therapy, a three step process:
Three-step process
- The individual is evaluated mentally, emotionally, and physically to help determine realistic personal goals.
- An intervention is designed to improve performance toward the long-term goals proposed.
- Evaluation of progress to assure success or indicate revising the plan.
The family or close associates are consulted along the way to support the plan and the injured person.
Evaluation
Does the employee want to return? Like a race driver who can’t emotionally get back in the car or a rodeo rider who loses their nerve, some employees cannot bring themselves to return to a hazardous job, and that must be part of the assessment.
In the evaluation process, the injured worker decides what their future is: return to the same job, modify duties, or retrain for other work. Objective clinical assessment combined with the worker’s preferences guides that decision.
Intervention
Physical therapy, strength training, walking programs, speech therapy, or other rehabilitation techniques can bring the employee closer to their former abilities. The chosen interventions should match the goals set during evaluation.
The intervention requires commitment from the injured person, family, employer, and therapist. The employee must stick to the plan to recover as fully as possible.
For information about workplace return-to-work programs and related coverage, see Vocational Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation.
Evaluation (ongoing)
Choosing the best technique is not always an exact science. The original evaluation may have been optimistic, too pessimistic, or new factors may appear during treatment.
Stay focused on the present condition. The injured person isn’t three weeks into therapy; they are at a condition today that mandates a specific direction. That direction may change as progress is measured.
Optimum outcome depends on the ability to adjust therapies as needed and to set realistic, new goals for the worker’s life and work.
If you need support coordinating coverage for a facility or program, see Medical Physical Rehabilitation Insurance for Rehab Facilities.
Try not to fixate on returning the employee to their exact former self; instead, get the help needed to meet their new goals in life and, if appropriate, talk to an agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does occupational rehabilitation usually take?
Duration varies widely by injury and individual goals; some programs last weeks while others take months of progressive therapy.
Who should be involved in planning rehabilitation?
The injured person, their clinician or therapist, family or close associates, and the employer should collaborate on goals and interventions.
What happens if an employee cannot return to the same job?
Options include modified duties, workplace accommodations, or retraining for new work, determined through evaluation and counseling.