The Role of Early Intervention in Workplace Rehabilitation

We believe early intervention is crucial for reducing the long-term impact of workplace injuries. In our experience, addressing injuries promptly can lead to faster recovery times and lower costs for both workers and employers. Taking a proactive approach, we believe, benefits not only individuals but also cultivates a more engaged and resilient workforce. If you’re looking to take early intervention seriously, we’re here to help guide you with our tailored advice and services.

According to an October 2022 report by Safe Work Australia (Safer, healthier, wealthier: The economic value of reducing work related injuries and illness) “Work-related injuries and illnesses pose a significant burden on those affected, their employers and, more broadly, the Australian community. Such impacts manifest in the form of additional health expenditure, reduced participation in the labour market and other financial costs.” The report goes on to show that “Australia’s economy would be $28.6 billion larger each year, and 185,500 more jobs would be created in the absence of work-related injuries and illnesses. In addition, Australian wages would increase by an average of 1.3% each year.”

According to C omcare; “Effective early intervention programs have been shown to deliver a five-fold return on investment. This is mostly due to increased employee productivity.”

The literature not only documents the direct and indirect costs of workplace injuries, such as absenteeism, presenteeism, loss of productivity, health cost expenditure, employer costs (namely workers compensation claims, hiring, and training new staff), and financial implications for the worker and family, but also the potential deleterious effects of prolonged absenteeism, such as deconditioning, and the development of secondary physical and psychological health issues, which can further complicate recovery, loss of the worker and other life roles, as well as estrangement from the workplace and work disability.

Given the above, there is a strong argument for early intervention as a worker, health, business and economic investment.

So, what does early intervention typically look like?

Early intervention requires early identification (as soon as possible, when there are signs or symptoms of a potential injury, and no later than three months after a workers compensation claim lodgement) and timely intervention. This approach does not prevent a worker from lodging a workers’ compensation claim, and early intervention should happen irrespective of a claim.
The business having early intervention policies, and procedures, which support early referral and intervention, and which have been disseminated to all employees in the business.
Timely access to a designated/company specific team, such as a General Practitioner, allied health care practitioner such as a Physiotherapist, as well as a Rehabilitation Consultant. It is advantageous if the service providers have an understanding of the nature of the business, and any policies for supporting modified duties.

The Rehabilitation Consultant will conduct a workplace or initial needs assessment, preferably at the workplace with the injured worker and their employer. A biopsychosocial approach is taken to this assessment, to better understand the mechanism of injury, the psychosocial risk factors that can potentially act as barriers to recovery, to determine any supports available, to address the worker’s concerns, as well as gaining an understanding of the requirements of the pre-injury role and duties. The importance of remaining at work, if medically appropriate, whilst recovering is well documented in the literature, and this initial meeting lends itself to collaborating with the worker and employer around availability of suitable duties, workplace modifications, reasonable accommodations, and return to work progression as the worker recovers. Should a period off work be medically indicated, a Rehabilitation Consultant can advocate for an early return to modified duties, as the effect of prolonged absenteeism is well documented in the literature. According to a Com care return to work article, after 45 days of work absence, the return-to-work rate is at 50%, and this decreases to just 35% after 70 days of work absence.

Availability of services, such as Employee Assistance programmes, can also be determined and accessed early, if indicated.

Should a Workers Compensation claim be lodged, this engagement early on also serves to demystify the process, and empower the worker and employer, assists with managing expectations and understanding obligations, and promotes good communication, co-ordination, and collaboration between all involved parties. Early intervention policies/programmes contribute to the worker feeling supported by their employer, and promotes worker engagement and morale. According to a Comcare return to work article, strategies for employers include early contact; “Make early contact with the injured employee (within three days). This results in a 26% higher return to work rate for physical claims, and 45% for psychological claims.”

In collaboration with all members of the worker’s care team, a Rehabilitation Consultant will utilise their injury management expertise, and assist with a tailor-made approach. This includes case conferencing with the General Practitioner to understand the diagnosis, prognosis, estimated recovery time frame, investigation, and treatment requirements, as well as collaborations on a return-to-work plan. As a well-established Occupational Rehabilitation service provider in the ACT, Ascent Rehabilitation has built relationships with service providers, and can make recommendations for experts in the areas required by the worker. Ascent will then facilitate a referral to these treatment providers to prevent delays in accessing the required treatment, and will work closely with the worker’s team to support recovery and resumption of their pre-injury duties when medically indicated. Referring to the Comcare article, which stresses the importance of early, appropriate health care access; “A greater focus on medical support and care results in a 8% higher return to work rate for physical claims.”

The early intervention approach aims to reduce the risk of delayed recovery, complications and development of chronicity, as well as early fostering of self-efficacy. Regular workplace reviews with the worker and employer during the process will also allow for proactive identification of any ongoing barriers and concerns that pose further risk to recovery.

References

Safe Work Australia. (2022). Safer, healthier, wealthier: The economic value of reducing work-related injuries and illnesses. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/2022-11/safer-healthier-wealthier-nov-2022.pdf
Comcare. (n.d.). Return to work. https://www.comcare.gov.au/safe-healthy-work/healthy-workplace/benefits