Why do some employees take much longer to recover than predicted by the average return-to-work duration for their conditions? There are many reasons why this can happen, but one of the most important to look at is the existence of comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions are other existing medical factors that can greatly extend the time … Continued
The August/September issue of Case in Point Magazine ran an excellent article by Mary Harris on how to identify and manage the variables of chronic pain in return-to-work situations. In her article, Ms. Harris talks about the role that fear, depression and anxiety often play in making it harder for employees with chronic pain to … Continued
If you know a lot of tennis or baseball players, you probably know someone who’s torn their rotator cuff. Rotator cuff tears also are common in those who perform overhead work (e.g., warehouse workers, laborers, carpenters, painters, construction workers). Men are twice as likely as women to sustain them, mostly because more men work in … Continued
Shepell·fgi, a Canadian provider of workplace health and productivity solutions, surveyed 100 Canadian organizations and concluded in a June 4, 2009 report that “that far too many supervisors and managers in the Canadian workplace are not equipped to deal with employee health, productivity, absenteeism, disability, and employees returning to work after an absence.” Recommendations from … Continued
A trio of experts at a recent Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in Florida said that while predictive modeling won’t replace knowledgeable insurance adjusters and underwriters, it is the ‘wave of the future” for the workers’ compensation industry. The panel’s remarks are covered in an excellent August 18th article by Daniel Hays, National Underwriter (P&C). The … Continued
PersonnelToday.com just posted an excellent Occupational Health article with tips on writing high-quality OH reports. Ken Addley, Isobel Hannah and Patricia McQuillan offered practical advice, including… #5: “If the employee is absent, guidance in relation to the timescale for a return to full or restricted duties should be provided, expected duration of any limitations and … Continued
Did you know that knee injuries are the second most common work-related accident? More than 3 million Americans have knee injuries each year, and the meniscus is the most commonly injured part of the knee. In the US, 61 of out every 100,000 people have experienced a meniscal tear. Knee meniscus disorders involve the medial … Continued
Great Comp Time blog article by Roberto Ceniceros of Business Insurance Magazine on the relationship between depression and musculoskeletal claims. Citing a paper published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Ceniceros says “back injury claims often prove difficult to resolve and depression is also very common among claimants and the U.S. population in … Continued
Is your company (or are you, personally) experiencing disability leaves because of carpal tunnel syndrome? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common workplace disability conditions. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition in which thickened tendons or ligaments in the wrist compress the median nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand. … Continued
Reed Group will be exhibiting at the DMEC (Disability Management Employer Coalition) conference in Portland, Oregon, July 19-22. Stop by our booth (#102) and get a demo of MDGuidelines.com and our exciting new Predictive Modeling Tool, which will allow much more accurate prediction of disability return-to-work durations and potentially save employers millions of dollars. I … Continued
Today’s New York Times ran an excellent article by Julie Weed titled If All Doctors Had More Time to Listen. The article puts forth substantive evidence that giving physicians enough time to spend with patients saves healthcare costs in the long run by emphasizing preventive care that cuts emergency room visits and by reducing diagnosis/treatment … Continued
