Cheryl's Blogspot

A work injury is NO vacation!  Most of us would agree with that statement.  It's never fun to get hurt, yet it doesn't stop an injured worker from trying to turn recovery time into paid time off.  It is very common to have clients make requests to postpone procedures, therapy and return to work for personal reasons.  If this request is made to a physician under their group health insurance, it is not really an issue.  However when such a request is made during healing timeframe from a work injury, this is not an appropriate or reasonable request. As Case Managers, we must remind both the injured worker and providers that during recovery and rehabilitation time the injured worker's "job" is to heal and comply with appropriate treatment and work status.   Just this week, Deana Scott, RN had a client to request postponing her light duty return to work until she could finish outpatient therapy.  What Deana reminded her of, was that the activity of...

In the 20+ years I've been a case manager, I've certainly seen employers grow to embrace the idea and benefit of light duty work.  In the 1990's the Safety Director at one factory used to say "if the employee can't lift more than 10-lbs., they can't open our door to get in - We don't have room to babysit!"   Staff changes have come and gone several times since then, and the mindset of the company has totally changed now to one of accommodating pretty much any restriction in order to avoid lost time as long as it is in the best interest of the injured worker.  Right now, Kelli Wells, RN has an injury case with that same company that demonstrates how light duty can benefit everyone involved.  The injured worker sustained a bump to his shin that he didn't think was significant.  Within a week, it became apparent the resulting wound was not healing adequately, and the IW was referred to a general practitioner, who recommended referral to a wound...