Active Rehab Works - Injury Management (IM) Services

What is Injury Management?

Injury management is a coordinated approach which assists injured worker in returning to work in a timely, safe and durable manner. Injury management underpins the occupational rehabilitation (OR) process.

Our Injury Management Services:

A Team Approach >

We take a team approach so all parties are involved, support each other and have a clear and common understanding of the purpose of the OR process and the management of the injury/s as part of that.

EMPLOYEE + = improved rates of recovery

SUPERVISOR + = faster return to work

DOCTOR + = safe return to work

CASE MGR = increased productivity

Early Intervention >

Early intervention underpins the success of our injury management programs. Liaison begins with the injured employee, their doctor, supervisor and other staff as required as soon as possible. We undertake a full workplace assessment so that if duties need to be modified to assist with the recovery process, this can occur as soon as possible.

Immediate, Intensive and Interdisciplinary Injury Management >

Injuries left untreated can take longer to heal resulting in the injured worker feeling less positive about their recovery and possibly less active in their rehabilitation program. A thorough medical examination as soon as possible provides a sound platform from which to establish an appropriate injury management program and return to work program. Employees and their doctors are educated about the importance of self responsibility in the recovery process, and that employees need to be actively involved in the treatments recommended to them.

Optimising return to work outcomes as part of the Injury Management Process >

We focus on the ability of the injured employee rather than their disability. We do this with all parties involved in the process including the employee, their supervisor and treating doctor. We achieve this by:

Establishing a strong rapport with the treating doctor at the outset of the OR consultation.

Explaining the background situation and overall purpose and aim of the OR consultation in managing the injury on behalf of the employee and employer.

Encouraging the treating doctor to involve the injured employee in their recovery, self management and a high level of self responsibility.

Encouraging early intervention e.g. treatment or counseling and workplace meeting/ return to work rather delayed treatment, rest, or total removal from the work place.

Proposing where appropriate a graduated return to work rather than unfit at all for any work duties.

Increasing weight lifting restrictions over time to sustain a durable and safe return to work

Emphasizing capacity versus incapacity (modified duties versus full pre-injury duties which at times employees and DRs focus on which reinforces unfit certificates and elongated time off work)

Ensuring treating doctor fully understands the work place, industry type, any organizational issues e.g. restructure, automation of manual process, job / task design, skills required, and any social or cultural diversity that may apply / exist.

Regular contact and follow up.

Forwarding a suggested RTW plan to the treating doctor before each medical certificate is renewed to encourage ongoing increase in functional capacity at work. E.g. increase weights, increase standing tolerance, re-introduce gradually pre-injury tasks.

© Active Rehab Works Pty Ltd 2007