The role of health-care providers in the workers’ compensation system and the return-to-work process

International research by the Institute for Work & Health has generated strong evidence that health-care providers have a key role in the return-to-work (RTW) process. However, pressure on consultation time, administrative challenges and limited knowledge about a patient’s workplace can thwart meaningful engagement.

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This multi-jurisdictional, two-year Institute for Work & Health study focused on health-care providers’ experiences within the workers’ compensation system and their role in the RTW process. Through document analysis and interviews with both health-care professionals and workers’ compensation case managers, the study sought to answer three broad questions:

  • What is the role of health-care providers in the workers’ compensation system and in the RTW process?
  • What challenges do health-care professionals face?
  • What can help engage health-care professionals in the workers’ compensation and RTW process?

 
The IWH report answers these questions based upon the study’s findings, and offers suggestions about practices and policies that can clarify the role of health-care providers and make workers’ compensation systems easier to navigate for all stakeholders.

Executive summary: The role of health-care providers in the workers’ compensation system and the return-to-work process (305 KB), Published: December 2016

Final report: The role of health-care providers in the workers’ compensation system and the return-to-work process (925 KB), Published: December 2016

If you have questions about the executive summary, or want permission to reprint the report, please contact:

Institute for Work & Health
481 University Avenue, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E9
info@iwh.on.ca

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